The Tupelo journal., 1904-01-29
H SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson In h International Series
for January 81, ~18O4-Jesus
Calls Four Disciples.
THE LESSON TEXT.-Luke. Sill

ealing OF four disciples. .... Matt. 4:1S-22
SSaauuiing OF tour disciples........Mark 1:l6-2o
Calllhg OF four disciples. ....... Lux Sill
Ilme.-lmmedidatdely following the last
lesson and before the events of 4:31-43.
Place.-Shore of the Sea of Galiiee. near
Capernaum.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
THE multitude" Not mentioned in
Matthew and Luke. The three accounts
should be read, as they supplement each
other. Jesus was now a prominent fig
ure in Judea and Galilee, and though
He had just come to Capernaum. His
Tame had preceded Him, and and crowds
followed Him everywhere. THE word
OF God" Word from God. Jesus
brought word" good news, a communi-
cation from God. "The lake of Genne-
saret:" More commonly called the Sea
OF Galilee. 1t is 10 miles long, and, at
one point, eight miles wide. When Je-
sus, who had been driven from Naza-
reth, descended to tit lies $50 feet be-
low the level Of the seat was one OF
the most beautiful spots in the world.
Inc upper hills were covered with fine
oaks, and the lake was surrounded with
stately palms. Now the hills are bare
except for clumps of thorn bushes and
thlckets OF oleander. Few of the palm
trees have survived. In the time of
Christ there were nine cities on the lake,
averaging Is. 1000 inhabitants each. Only
one remains, the miserable, fever
stricken town of Liberals. The lake Is
no longer covered with the sails of fish
Ing fleets, though it is still full of fish.
Washing their nets" The nets were
similar to the large seines used now.
Such nets always collect more or less
dirt, water-logged sticks and the weeds
that grow on the bottom. Taught the
multitude out of the boat" The rabbis
always sat down to teach. This is one
OF the fascinating pictures of Christ. He
did not wait for them to come to His
church. but He went to them. He Joined
the fishermen at their work and taught
them while they worked from a boat.
and 1t was so that He won His first dis
ciples.
The final appeal of Jesus to these
sturdy fishermen was a strong one. 1t
was not high logic, nor did 1t seek to
win them through their emotions. He
simply entered their sphere of life and
made Himself one of them. For the mo-
ment He was a fisherman and a master
fisherman, apd under His quiet direction
these men who had followed the sea all
their lives accomplished what they had
not been able to do in a whole nights
toll. They were amazed, impressed.
o Nothing wins its way into the
heart of the able and honest working
man like the discovery that one who is
distinctly above him, as men commonly
rate things, N who he himself sees Is
far above him Intellectually and spirit
ually. does not consider himself made
of a better kind Of clay, but knows like
a master the work in which he is himself
engaged. Jesus showed the fishermen &
mastery OF the sea which no man had
ever before approached, and this, in adj
1it1on to the marvellous Gospel of the
Father which He preached. They were
His. heart and soul, from that day forth.
Master, We toiled all night" etc.
Peter seems to have made the attempt
in Difference to Jesus than because
of great hope of success. At the same
time he had seen enough of Jesus to
have confidence in Him ever when He
spoke of things not spiritual. 1t was
real faith.
Simon Peter, when he saw it." His
full name is here given, for this is the
turning-point in his life; he enters now
on a new career, in which the new name
is better known."-Prof. Riddle. DE
part from me-" ETC.: "St. Peter did not
mean the Depart from me- he only
meant-and this was known to the
Searcher of hearts-'I am utterly I'M
worthy to be near Thee, yet let me
stay. '"-Farrar. James and john"
The elder would probably be named
first. James was the first of the disci-
pies to be martyred. John we know as
the beloved disciple" and author of the
Gospel of John. Andrew, who was prob
ably with Peter, is not mentioned by
Luke. Partners with Simon" The
first men Jesus took to work with Him
were men who had learned to work to-
gether.
"Fron henceforth thou shalt catch
men," The announcement to Peter
that he had a mission-that men, not
fishes, were to interest him from that
time on. And Peter believed Jesus. He
had seen too much of Him to doubt.
"They left all and followed Him." An
drew, James and John were called as
we'll as Peter. They were completely
won and cast in their lots with Himfo
life. Now it was unbounded personal de-
votion. Later there was added to it de-
votion to the cause 1t was a serious
time for them. They could not look far
into the future, and it is a mercy they
could not. In less than three years their
Master was to go to the gallows or It's
oriental equivalent, and few of them
were to die natural deaths, but for all
that no men in the worlds history ever
had a more blessed life than they, and
their names to-day are among those held
sacred in every Christian land.
Figs and Thistles.
Only the grateful heart grows in time
of goodness.
Sinners blame the law for the fruits
of their lusts.
Better be handicapped by God than
paced by the devil.
No one praises a bad man even for
his good works.
The calm of complaisance is not the
peace of pardon.
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