The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1904-01-28

Removal to Capernaum. ..........L Luke l:S1
Ssiiinng Ssiiining q four ,dlseiples'.."'Matt i:s-%
calling of four disciples. Sill
Time. me.--lmmedidatdely following the last
lesson and before the events of 4.31-43.
Place.-Shore of the Sea of Galilee, 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 prominent ng-
ure In Judea and Galilee, and though
He had just come to Capernaum, His
fame had preceded Him, and and crowds
followed Him everywhere. "The word
of Gods" Word from God. Jesus
brought word" good news. a communi-
cation from God. "The lake of Genne-
saret:" More commonly called the Sea
of Galllee. 1t Is 13 miles long, and, at
one point, eight miles wide When Je-
sus, who had been driven from Nsza-
reth. descended to tit lies $50 feet be-
low the level Of the seat was one of
the most beautiful spots in the world
The 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
thickets Of oleander Few of the palm
trees have survived In the time of
Christ there were nine cities on the lake,
averaging $1,000 inhabitants each. Only
one remains. the miserable. fever
stricken town of Tiberlas. 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
cid 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 worried from boat
and It was so that He won His first dis
ciples.
The final appeal of Jesus to these
sturdy fishermen was strong one. II
was not high logic, nor did II 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 n master
fisherman, and under His quiet direction
these men who had followed the sea ell
their lives accomplished what they had
not been able to do in whole nights
toll. They were amazed. impressed,
won. 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, one 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 n
mastery of the sea which no man had
ever before approached, and this. in ad-
alton 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
more 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 even when He
spoke of things not spiritual. II was
real faith.
Simon Peter, when he saw IT," 'TTis
full name Is here given, for this Is the
turning-point in his life; he enters now
on 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-T am utterly ur-
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 discl-
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
we're men who had learned to work to-
gether.
From 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
well as Peter, They were completely
won and cast in their lots with Hin for
life Now il was unbOunded personal de-
yotion Later there was added to IL de-
yotion to the cause. It was a serious
time for them. They could not look far
into the future, and 1t Is 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 more blessed life than they, and
their names to-day are among those held
sacred in every Christian land
FIGS and ThistIes.
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.
They who obey God blindly often see
Him most clearly.
OF course charity Is born at home.