Wisdom's Corner
Cast a Net

Mark 1:16-17, "Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men."

There were several types of nets that fishermen used in the first century. The net used in the scripture above and in Matthew 4:18 was a casting net. It was shaped like the top of a tent but was inverted, or upside down.

The net used in Matthew 13:47-48 was a drag-net or seine. It was sometimes a half mile long. It swept through the sea and trapped fish of all kinds.

The net used in Luke 5:4-9 was a bagnet used in deep waters. The opening of the net closed at the boat when the fishermen believed they had caught enough fish.

Each net was used in specific waters and normally was used to catch different kinds of fish. Jesus told the disciples that he wanted to make them fishers of men. The gospel is what is used to fish for men. We cannot change the content of the gospel. But we can use different approaches for different men.

We might give someone a tract to read. We might preach over the radio or television. We might study with someone in their home. We might invite someone to hear the Bible preached in a gospel meeting. We might teach someone over the internet. All of these approaches are different types of nets. But the nets are all made up of the pure gospel contained in the Bible.

Keep studying your Bible. Learn how to be a fisher of men. Get the wisdom of God. And if any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.

Mark McWhorter

Copyright 2001

Published by The Old Paths Bible School
(http://www.oldpaths.org)