The Miraculous Catch of Fish
Nets breaking after a fruitless night — and fishermen who leave it all to follow.
After a night of catching nothing, Peter obeys Jesus' word to let down the nets again, and hauls in so many fish the nets break and the boats begin to sink. Overwhelmed, Peter falls at Jesus' knees; Jesus says, fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men — and they leave everything to follow him.
What happened
And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
Nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net... they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And they forsook all, and followed him.
What it means
Peter was the expert; Jesus was a carpenter telling fishermen how to fish, at the wrong time of day, after they had worked all night for nothing. Peter's response is the turning point of faith: nevertheless at thy word. He obeys against his own experience and better judgment, simply because Jesus said so.
The overwhelming catch does not fill Peter with delight but with dread — depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. The nearness of holiness exposes his sinfulness. This is the true reaction of a soul that glimpses who Jesus really is, and Jesus meets it not with departure but with reassurance: fear not.
The miracle is a parable of their calling. These men who caught fish will now catch men, and the same principle applies: their success will come not from their own skill but from obeying the word of Christ. They forsook all, and followed him — the abundant catch let go for the greater calling.