Throw Your Net

He (Jesus) said: “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”

After a sleepless night of trying but unable to catch any fish, here comes a stranger telling the disciples to do something very simple – to throw their net on the right side of the boat.

I wonder why, as expert fishermen, they didn’t question him. I’m sure they were too tired to obey a stranger telling them to do something that they have been doing for a long time. But this man was different, his delivery of the instruction was remarkable in such a way that it elicited trust and respect from the disciples.

The night before Jesus was arrested, he gave a clear instruction for his disciples to meet him in Galilee.

Matthew 26:32 “But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."

True enough, after the disciples confirmed that Jesus has resurrected, they went to Galilee to wait for him. While waiting, Peter was impatient (as he used to be) – and maybe hungry. He decided to go to the sea and fish. The others decided to join but there was not even one fish caught in their net.

While they were exerting their effort trying to survive in their emotional, physical and psychological crisis, Jesus stood on the shore.

I wonder how many hours Jesus spent watching them while preparing the grilled “fish and bread” breakfast. But surely he did not let out any emotional panic and anger. He could have been walking back and forth or jumping up and down while pointing his fingers on them and saying: “What did I tell you to do in Galilee?” “Why are you out there fishing?” and “You see, you are reaping the consequences of your reckless decision.” Or he could have rushed to the boat and grabbed their net and threw it away.

But Jesus… “stood on the shore.” and waited for them.

Genuine leaders stay CALM in any crisis situation. They exercise empathy while they assess the situation.

While Jesus stood on the shore, he greeted them and made sure to communicate a simple but clear instruction: “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”

Jesus could have lectured them with the theory of fishing. He could have let them do more trial and error as a punishment for not waiting for him. Worse, he could have left them to struggle on their own. But Jesus knew that the disciples were “lost” and all they needed at that time was a leader who cares, connects, keeps calm, and who communicates with clear instruction of what they need to do next.

Genuine leaders COMMUNICATE with simple but CLEAR instructions taking into consideration the current situation of the members.

What kind of a leader have you been in this time of crisis?

Stay tuned as we continue to find out more characteristics that are essential for a leader in times of crisis.

John 21: 1-6 New International Version (NIV)

1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way:

2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), , Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.

3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered.

6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.