John 21:6, “And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.”
In John chapter 21 we find the disciples fishing on the Sea of Tiberias. After fishing the “night” they had caught nothing. Jesus came to them and asked if they had any meat? Their response was, “No.” In verse six, the Lord commanded them to “Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.” Upon doing as the Lord commanded the disciples caught such a multitude of fishes that they “were not able to draw” the net. The question that I often ponder in my mind is, which side was the right side? If I were standing on shore, my right would have been their left (if they were facing me), and my left would have been their right. I’m also confident that these seasoned fishermen had already cast the net on that side. Yet, when they did as Jesus commanded they caught fish (something they did not do in their previous efforts that night). The only answer for the “right side” is that it’s the side Jesus commanded for them to cast.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, there is a precious lesson in this passage of God’s Holy Word for us today. If we do things our way, just as the disciples labored diligently and had nothing, we too will find ourselves suffering from the emptiness the world is so known for producing. But if we take heed to the commands of Jesus Christ our Savior and do things His way, we can find peace, rest and success in our endeavors. The Lord commanded Joshua in 1:7-8, “Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Also, in Matthew 7:13-14 we read, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” And in Matthew 11:28-29, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Amen!