net not torn
On two occasions, Jesus helps His disciples bring in a miraculous catch of fish.
The first is in Luke's version of The Gospel, before they became disciples. It's a key reason they decided to follow and serve Him. Jesus gets into Peter's boat to preach to a large crowd on the shore, then tells him where to catch fish. Peter replies that they tried all night to no avail. Silly landlubber. But because Jesus says so ... they catch such a large number of fish that their nets begin to break. With their partners' help from another boat, they fill both boats almost to the point of sinking. They are astonished, with Peter coming under conviction of sin in the Presence of such a One. Jesus tells him that he will be fishing for people, so they all leave their nets to follow Him.
Fast forward three years. The second fishy story is at the end of John's version of The Gospel, after they had been disciples, thought they were no longer disciples, and then were restored to discipleship with Jesus' Resurrection. Peter seems frustrated, manifesting that same conviction, now shame, for his sorry discipleship during Jesus' arrest and trial. Peter decides to go back to fishing, and again, all night, they catch nothing. This should have been deja vu all over again, but Jesus is not in the boat with them this time. It's six of them together, with a man on shore telling them where to fish. And because he said so .... they catch such a large number of fish (153) that the six of them can't even haul them in. And yet, this net was not torn.
Perhaps I'm reading into things, but John points out that untorn net. I wonder if this is a sign to them that, even without The Resurrected Jesus on-site, they will indeed be fishing for people, lots of them. They already had been, when He sent them out two by two to do everything He had taught them, with the Authority He had given them. As they work together as a group, with Him guiding from another Shore, their life together will be like that strong net, able to sustain the 3000, plus the 2000, plus the many more that the Lord would add daily of those who were being saved (Acts 2:41,47,4:4).
Friends, perhaps in some of our lifetimes, we will see an unprecedented outpouring of the Holy Spirit, who will call many who are being saved. They will literally be running to us because of The Lord our God (Isaiah 55:5). As we unite together with believers far and wide, joining hands together in prayer and service in our Master's fishing expeditions, it's only then that we'll be capable of drawing many into God's Kingdom, because the net of our communion will not fail in The Hands of the one who will be drawing with us.