Understanding the Purpose of the Net

In the process of discipling, Jesus announced to Peter that he would make him a fisher of men. Peter understood fishing but had no idea what that meant to be a fisher of men. Peter was an experienced fisherman who was good at what he did. Yet, I can imagine Jesus’ charge to him to follow had to be filled with questions of what it meant to be a fisher of men when all he knew up until then was fishing for fish.

It’s interesting that many churches consider what they do is in their estimation of being fishers of men. Those that are truly fishers of men are recognized as such because they are merely net casters. Net casters throw out the net and the fish who are drawn to the net get drawn into the boat. Some people, however, are not net casters. They are merely in the boat marveling at the fish that are already in the boat.

We are seeing a ministry mind shift by those who are marketplace ministers. They are recognizing that it’s nice having fish in the boat, but they’re not satisfied with what has already been caught. They know that there are more fish to be caught. Their heart is for casting a wider net because they are expecting a great haul to be caught there.

The purpose of a net is to draw and catch fish. If Peter was to be a fisher of men, he had to have a different kind of net. Peter’s net had to be attractive and compelling. Peter’s net had to do more than just look nice. His net had to have a greater attraction than the other nets that are being cast by the culture.

We’re seeing a shift in culture by Christians who are no longer satisfied with maintaining the status quo. The miracle is in the drawing of those who have not heard or seen. The miracle is in the drawing of those who did not even know the net was an invitation to them. The Pharisees were confused by Jesus because he went to those that they readily rejected. Jesus kept company with “tax collectors, sinners, gluttons and drunks (Matthew 9:10-11, Matthew 11:19)”. Jesus responded that it is those who are sick who have need of a physician, not those who are well (Matthew 9:12). While Jesus was not necessarily saying that the Pharisee had no need for him, he was pointing out that he was the cure for a people who had a need that was not being met.

Those who are fine-tuning their hearts to reach and minister to those who have been neglected are using a different kind of net, confounding the Pharisaical people of today. They are taking the gospel in places where it has not gone before, presenting it in ways that it has not been presented before. The amazing thing is the evidence of the success in reaching and drawing those who were known as misfits and rejects.

Those who are called for such a time as this must recognize that there is a need for a new net and understand that its purpose is for drawing those who have not been reached. This different net is a call to those who have unmet needs in the same way that a shepherd who left the 99 to go after that one sheep that wandered away from the others. The new net is being cast by those who have creative minds, hearts, and eyes that see differently. If you are such a person, pursue the new net and cast it where God says there are people to reach. Cast the net wide and see the miracle of a great draw.