Been snipe hunting lately? Some “friends” once took a group of us into the woods and left us alone in the dark holding a burlap sack. Our instructions were to point our flashlights into the sack and whistle for the snipes. They, meanwhile, were going to beat the bushes and “drive” the snipes toward us. We were young and a little slow to catch on, but they had a good laugh on us. We came back to camp dragging our empty sacks.
Simon drug home the empty nets. Not only were the nets empty, but they were damaged. As he and his friends busied themselves with repairs, a man was pressed by a crowd almost into the sea. They had seen this preacher guy before, but now he stepped into Simon’s boat and pressed him into service. He, Simon, the captain of the ship, was taking orders from this “preacher.”
After he spoke to the crowd, Jesus spoke to Simon. Perhaps Simon had experienced the Galilean version of “snipe hunting” out on the water. Been there, done that. He could have felt like Jesus wanted to have some sport at his expense. Instead he gave a remarkable reply to Jesus’ request that set his feet on a pathway to destiny.
“Master, we’ve worked hard all night. But because you say so I will let down the nets.” (Luke 5/5) In the original language, this phrase reads “…on-the-basis-of-but-the-word-of-you, I will let down the nets.” Not because it is reasonable, or rational, or because it makes sense, but because Jesus said it.
Are empty nets ( or empty sacks ) a part of your story? No matter how full our lives may seem, all of us have some empty sacks tucked away somewhere. Simon was resigned to the empty net. Jesus saw within him a man called Peter that was made for full nets.
Jesus fills nets fashioned and shaped by man’s hands. He also is the One who fills nets fashioned by Divine hands. We may be resigned to an empty net ( our heart ) but He wants to fill it with dripping wet, wriggling, flopping LIFE!
Not because what He asks makes sense, but because the only one worthy to take over our ship says it.
RGW May 9,2000
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourself. Do what it says.” James 1/22