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But The Net was NOT Broken!

 

 

The New Testament has recorded two miraculous catch of fish at Jesus’ words. What significance do they have? And what is the difference between these two incidents?

 

 

symbolic meaning of fish and net

 

In our previous blog post “God’s Chosen Leaders”, we mentioned that fish can be compared to God’s chosen people. Since Israelites have been scattered all over the world after the exiles and could no longer be gathered together like a flock of sheep as in the Old Testament, fishermen were called by Jesus to catch them like fishermen casting their nets into the sea.

 

Then He (Jesus) said to them (Peter and Andrew), “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” ~ Matthew 4:19

 

 

But the Net was Not Broken!

 

In the first incident, it was recorded that the catch was so big their net was breaking. When they signalled their partners to help, both boats began to sink.

 

When He (Jesus) had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. ~ Luke 5:4-7

 

In the second incident, large quantities of fish were caught likewise, but this time the net was NOT broken!

 

Simon Peter said to them (other disciples), “I am going fishing.”They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish ….. Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. ~ John 21:3-11

 

 

interpreting these two incidents

 

As mentioned, fish symbolise people to be saved, and fishermen are Jesus’ disciples. 

 

The first incident happened when Peter was called to be a disciple. At that time, many people were ready to return to God after many years of sufferings, and have already repented and received the baptism of John. However, the disciples were not equipped and they were unable to pastor the multitudes. Even though they asked for help (“partners in the other boat”), both boats started to sink. 

 

Then He (Jesus) said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” ~ Matthew 9:37-38

 

The second incident happened after Jesus’ resurrection. In this incident, Jesus actually foretold that His disciples will receive the Holy Spirit. With the help of the Holy Spirit, disciples can now receive infinite power and wisdom, and they will have unlimited capacity to minister to believers.

 

 

But Why 153?

 

But why was the number of fish caught 153 specified in the second incident? The Bible did not provide a direct answer, but my guess is, 153 is related to the number of people to be saved.

 

Jesus told us that in the End of Days, He will separate the “goat nations” from the “sheep nations”. "Goat nations" will be gathered to His LEFT for destruction, and "sheep nations" will be gathered to His RIGHT to be saved! Since Jesus told His disciples to cast their nets specifically to the RIGHT side in the second incident, I believe the number 153 is related to the number to be “harvested”. It could be 153 nations, 153 races, 153 trillion people, or other classifications??

 

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 

 

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 

 

Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. ~ Matthew 25:31-46