The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-02-10
INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL
 LESSON
First Quarter. Lesson VI. Luke, v, 1-1
 February ii, 10O0.
.Jesu. Calling Fishermen.


 There was no need to ring bell to
 secure Jesus an audience. People new
 to Him like filings to a magnet. In
 this instance it Is said the people press
 cd on Him to hear The little company
 who first discovered Him on His early
 morning walk by the lake, quickly
 grew to a great concourse. The Mas
 ter's fertility in expedients had another illustration. 1t only took Htna mo- ment to convert a boat into a pulpit.
 The scene makes a theme for an artist.
 The lake beneath, the sky above, the nine considerable cities on the hill slopes, looking down like distant ob- servers; the mixed multitude crowdins
 to the edge of the shore. their faces rnirFored in the water at their feet, and in the hsherman's boat, screened by the loosened sail. the prince of all preachers speaking from the bosom of the placid lake, itself an emblem of the peace He could give. But the sermon was only an incident His real errand that morning was to call His Apostles. He had already given them what might be called a prelimi- nary or probationary calls. From these the disciples were afterward dismissed to attend to their worldly affairs, and while doing so, in their old and fa- milar environments. and free from ex- citement of novel situations to think on what they had heard and seen. The calls were also progressive. But this one was final. Jesus had had an open rupture with the ecclesiastical estab- Ilshment. He must needs now organize His followers. He knew where His pledged men were. and came to enlist them for active service. He prefaced the cal by a thrilling pictorial miracle. Nothing could have more sig 4nr fhaua vuhaf thGxr to be and do. The command, Launch forth into the deep. and let down your net for draught," was surprise. But hesitation, If there was any, was mo- mentRry. Peter quickly laid all his
 isherman's lore at Jesus feet as a sacrihce to his faith. That last catch" after the old order was a symbol of the future occupation. The size of the take was a pledge of fu- ture success in the new calling. That miracle took Peter and his comrades where they were, in their natural en- vironment and everyday employment. It was all the moro significant tot hem, the better understood and appreciated. The considerateness of Jesus in thus encouraging His disciples Is characteristic and worthy of note. He was asking these men to join their fortunes with His. an excommuni- cated man, to sunder ties of tribe and family to abandon the only means of livelihood they were familiar with. Again they were called. not merely to he learners like the followers of the | average rabbis. not to be recipients, but doers. They were to launch | out and let down their net into the sea ] of human life. They were (to tran l slate 1t literally) to take men alive; | to persuade and make converts. And | th at. too. under the very shadow of a |
 |. If ever men need | ed to be heartened. 1t was the four men | Jesus called that day. If ever men | had immediate and divine encourage | me ent. 1t was in this instance. That | miracle put gimp in their backs. The moment they could get their ships ashore. they forsook all and followed Him.
 The Teachers Lantern.
 It Is helpful to recall Jesus previous dealings with these men. During Jesus forty days in the wild | eEness, His Messianic character and | work fully dawned upon Him. There | He evolved His plans and the principles | 1f procedure, to which He adhered to | he very close of His Career. He came back to the vast concourse | ,tIll attending the ministry of John the | Baptist at the lords ur the Jordan as | % a human quarry from which he l ,ould select living stones as the foun- | iation of that spiritual edifice He de- l signed to rear. Nor was He disap- | pointed. He found five out of the | .welve. When John saw Him, | le gave Him joyous welcome. No | made of jealousy crossed his noble | ,eart. He unequivocally cast the full 1 weight of his phenomenal influence ipon the side of the new teacher, cry ng. Behold, the Lamb of God! On the morrow. as Jesus reappear- ,d, John repeated his significant ex- ,lamAtion with even increased empha- ifs. It was as if he had said, Who ,ver wishes to leave me now and fol- ow this greater Teacher, is at full iberty to do so." Two Of the choicest Ipirits among Ills converts, John and Andrew, take the hint and separate themselves forever from the rugged Baptist to follow the lowly Jesus. The . sazarene hears their footsteps, a. d. uTning, encourages them with look nd word They are drawn to him. as on to the magnet. Under the fresh ut boughs of a pilgrim booth, or in he cool depths of some grotto, they ! it ar His feet and learn of Him. their carts burning within them as He up- oldE to them the DrinciDfeR of His