It was a hard, disappointing night spent in exhausting and fruitless labor. The sea would not yield its bounty. It will be time to go home soon. It will be an unpleasant answer when asked, “How was work today?” But first, the nets must be washed and mended. Tonight, the work begins again.
Out from among those milling about the shore walks the preacher. He has been causing quite a stir in the synagogues lately. Without hesitation, he walked on to Simon’s boat and asked to be “put out a little from the shore” so he can teach the people. Uninvited, he commandeered the workman’s boat and launched into a sermon. When done, he asked the man to work again, “Cast out your nets.” “Master,” comes the reply, “we have labored all night and caught nothing. Nevertheless, you asked, so we will do it.”
All the hours of fruitless labor were voided. The nets were full to the breaking point.
Simon did not know how much his life and human history was changing that day. Simon followed as Jesus preached, healed the sick, cast out demons, opened blinded eyes, and gave Jairus his daughter back from the dead. Over the next few years, Simon will be transformed as this preacher from Nazareth commandeers not only his boat but also his house, his mind, his heart, and ultimately his life.
Simon knew none of this that day on the banks of the Galilee. All he knew that day was he had nowhere to hide. The Light of the World was shining on him, and he did not like what it revealed. Something broken in Simon cried out to something whole in Jesus, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
Luke’s account of the story speaks of them “washing” their nets. Matthew refers to James and John “mending” their nets. The word used for “mend” is also translated “complete, prepare, restore, to establish, to create, and to equip.”
Simon did not know it then, but those nets were giving witness to everything Jesus will do in and through him. Jesus will start “washing” and “mending” Simon because he is to be “a fisher of men.”
It is as though God were saying to Simon, “You are broken and worn out. Just as these fishermen are washing and mending their nets, as you have done from your youth, today I am washing and mending you. I will cleanse you. I will heal you. I will restore you. I will complete you. I will establish you. I will equip you. And what you lack I will create in you. This is what I will do in you, and this is what I will do through you.” The purpose of God through our life (to be “fishers of men”) flows out of God’s process in our life (“washing” and “mending”).
Paul writes in Ephesians 4:11-12, that Christ, “gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, to equip the saints…” The word “equip” is from the same root word for “mend.” The purpose of our ministry is that those under our care will be “complete, prepared, restored, established, and equipped.” We who are “washed” and “mended” now serve others so they too can be “washed” and “mended.”
Jesus calls us unto himself to be “washed” and “mended,” then he casts us out into a sea of broken humanity with good news of great joy. Today, I embrace his calling and his promise, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Lord, welcome into my heart and mind. Wash and mend me. I am in need today.
Lord, help me to be a vessel of your restoring grace in the life of someone today.
Debbie and I serve as the FMI Global Associate Director for MENACA and Europe. We focus on cultivating disciples, leaders, and church planting movements.
