Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1890-03-15
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
MARCH 10.
Lesson Text: 1.-THE Draught OF Fishes"
Luke ", 11I-Golden Text: Luke
W, 1O.-Commentary on the
Lesson.

W. OAA WIG
Lesson.
1. ''The people pressed upon Him to hear
the Word Of God' Our last lesson left Him
on His tour through Galiee preaching the
Gospel of the kingdom, and healing all man.
ner Of sickness and all manner of disease
among the people Matt. iv., 23). We now
find Him again by the sea Of Galilee, or, as
it is in our lesson, the lake Of Gennesaret,
and probably at or near Capcrnaum, where
Peter lived Most Of our Lords public life
was spent in the neighborhood of this sea,
which was also called the sea of Tiberias. 1t
is about thirteen miles long and six broad,
and in His day there are said to have been no
less than nino cities on its shores. Its 6OC
feet below the Mediterranean; its waters are
clear and sweet, and are said to abound in
fish now as in the days Of Jesus. The Jordan
flows into it, through it, and out of it. See
Jesus standing on the shore He created
this sea and everything living Tn it, the river
that flows through it and the hills that sur
round it; by Him and for Him were all
things made, and He upholdeth all by the
word of His power tCol. j., Ii; Heb. l., 81.
g "And saw two boats standing by the
lake, but the fishermen were gone out of them,
ullQ neI0 Wuouillo uiiCll 1lSto. W. "a 49, "
of these fishermen had already been with
Jesus some time had seen His miracles and
heard His words yet had not wholly left
their calling to follow Him. How many
Christians there are now who are truly the
Lords have heard gladly His word. seen some
thing of His power and yet while the multi
tudes are hungering for the word of God,
they are washing nets that have taken moth
ing.
8. "He sat down and taught the people out
of the boat" Having stepped into Simons
boat, He meellly asks him to push out little
from the land, and sitting down, He from
the boat teaches the people as they stand, an
eagerly attentive crowd, upon the shore.
(. sic said unto Simon, Launch out into
the deep and let down your nets for a
draught" Simon having kindly given the
use of his boat, Jesus will now reward him
for il and teach him at the same time many
things Simon had for II little season cheer
fully given himself and his boat to the Master
for His work. and now this gracious Lord
and Master is about to give special attention
to Sinlon'S work.
5. Master, we have toiled all the night
and have taken nothing" Soreplicd Simon,
confessing their unavailing toll and their
presentnced. So also after the resurrection,
after night of fruitlesS toll, in reply to the
question Of Jesus: Children, have we any
lneat:' They answered, No John xxi, 81 1t
is q good thing to find cut that all our efforts
are unavailing. There were plenty Of fish IN
the sea and they were no mean fishermen,
but ''toied and taken nothing" describes the
result of their labor. Nevertheless, at Thy
word I will let down the metz Jesus is now
the Captain, and they are simply obeyinS
orders; He is responsible for results.
6. "And when they had this done, they in
closed great multitude OF fishes, and their
nets brake" Whether it be great fish TO
swallow Jonah, or smaller fish to bring a
piece Of money, or multitudes Of fish to I'LL
these nets. ali are obedient to Film who
created Them and who also created Adam
and said unto Him, Have dominion over
the fish Of tile sea-" The one before us is
none other that the last Adam, who shall re-
move the curse and restore the dominion.
Let us be as obedient to Hin us the fishes
and birds and beasts. Let us Yield all 10
Him, for only il His service is there rest
:. They came and filled both tile ships, so
that they began TO sink" We are told IN the
tenth verse that James and John were part
ners with Simon. and finding that ne had
more fish taan he could mGnage. he called MS
partners and they found fish enough TO III
both the boats TO overlooking: Cur Lord
Jesus loves TO have empty vessels, and not
with the pot OF oil beam 10 pour INTO Tue
empty vessels the oil kept coming till every
vessel was filled. When Jesus fed the thol!-
sands they did all eat and were filled. Both
tabernacle and temple when finished were
filed with His glory. AtPentecost and again
and again the disciples were filed with The
Holy Spirit. In Him dwellcth all tue tullnesS
OF the Godhead bodily; and Ills own words 70
us are: blessed are they that hunger and
thirst after righteousness, for they shall be
filed
8. depart from me for nm sinful man,
o Lord This is the LANGUAGE OF Simon feler,
as seeing this great miracle he realizes some.
whatin whose presence he stands, una iaiiS
at Jesuss knees with these words. IhlS is
part of the employing process; deep con-
viction of sin as we see ourselves in Gods
sight. n .,,a.
.. '.For lie was astonished, and all that
were with him. The Revised Version says
that he was amazed. So Saul OF IarSus,
when convinced of his sin on the way to Da-
mascus. ''tretnbling and astonished," said,
Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do!' we
nut forth our best efforts in most approved
fashion, and labor unwearyingly for the sal
walton of souls and for the quicSening OF pe
levers, but how often we have TO confess u
to the result, nothing In some unlikely
way, and perhaps through soine weak nlll
empty vessel, the Spirit of God %orkS aho
we all stand astonished. Our wisdom Is COL
founded, our plans upset, and 1t becomes
rlorio,lsjy manifest that this is the hand oil
God.
10. "And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear
not" When convicted of sin we fall al
Jesus's feet in our helplessness and unworth!-
ness. Then it is that We hear His "teal
not.n or when we, all unworthy, are wiling
to be vessels for His service tDnn. *, IL, III
Rev. l.. II; Luke j., Is, 3U. It Is only TIT
willful and rebellious who have cause to
fear. or the proud and hard OF heart, fol
they shall be broken and brought down, anG
made to know that tie Most High doetl
according to His will both in heaven and on
earth. and those that walk in pride lie !:
able to abase dan. iv). But from the first
Fear not in the Bible Gen. KY, j down
to the last in Revelation there IS no place
where the penitent and broken Ill heart are
taught 10 fear. All is for them comfort,
and peace, and joy, and strength, and
prosperity in the Lord.
''From henceforth thou shalt catch men,
or, as in Matt. w., 10: Follow me and wiii
make YOU fishers of men, Here we see the
snirit of prophecy most marked; listen to
Jeremiah xvi, 10y: "Eehold, will send for
many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall
fish them" And again, to Ezekiel (xlv1l., w
''The fishers shall stand upon 1t, from Engedl
even unto En-eglaim." Each passage refers
to the Kingdom of Israel in its glorious fr-
ture. If we would hasten that kingdom, we
must follow Jesus, that He may make US
s,illful and successful fishers Of men from
among ali nations, that SO His marriage day
NAV be fastened, and the time OF Els return
for Isracrs restoration.
II. 'sAnd when they had brought their,
ships to land, they forsook all, and followed
Him" ''1f any man will come after Me, let
him deny himself, and take up his cross, and
follow Me-" whatsoever he be of you that
forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot De
My disciple" Matt. xvi. 24; Luke xiv, so.
Jesus does not ask us to drop what we have
without showing us something better. When
Peter one day spoke Of their giving upa Tor Tor
Him, He told them Of the throne OF His
glory and the thrones that awaited them.
When Paul saw His glory, he was able to
count all earthly glory but dross. Stephen,
seeing Him. thought nothing Of being stoned
10 death Let us only get our eyes upon the