Evening star., 1927-04-02
Sunday School Lesson

made upon the moment, was a lasting
/ one, and revealed the patriotic and
/ spiritual character of the fisherman,
| who was destined to leave his mark
! upon the history of the world as the
outstanding leader of the early church
| throughout the critical years of its
history. His errors can be traced to
the impulSive disposition that he in
herited and his nationalistic concep-
tion of the Messiah's kingdom that
he had been taught so that he regarded
all of Christ's teachings from the view
point that Jesus was among men to
/ fulfill the political hopes and national
aspirations of his fellow countrymen.
During our studies we shall see the
progress Peter made in overcoming
these two inherited faults, and through
his associations with Christ, although
not a graduate of the schools of learn
ing and theology. the apostle was able
to defeat men SO trained by his initia-
tive, resourcefulneSS, courage and 10y
atty to Christ.
Healing Peters MOfher-i1-Law
John puts the call of Peter after
Jesus had used the boat of the fisher
man for a pulpit, and had paid them
by directing them in securing great
haul of fish. Certainly on the way to
L
become the Masters headquarters,
Peter and the others who had accept
ed the Masters invitation to enter His
school as disciples had their faith and
decision confirmed by the authority ex.
hibited by the Master in His teachings
and in the performing OF miracles in
the synagogue, where He cast out
demons and cured many of their men
tai and physical ailments. Having
demonstrated His power, they turned
toward the home of Simon Peter.
Arriving at Peters home, the party
found that "Simons wifes mother lay
sick of a fever" Just as many of us
have found ourselves weakened after
influenza, so there is fever called by
the Arabs father of the knees" be-
cause the sufferer is left so weak in
his body. The malaria and sand fly
fever of Palestine leaves one quite en-
feebled The lavish entertainment of
Jesus by the members of Peters house
hold was hindered by the illness of the
aged sufferer The sympathetic Jesus
was appealed to by the members of
the home, reporting her condition to
the Master. who Immediately went to
her, took her by the hand, and raised
her up and the fever left her, and she
ministered unto them"
lDC SOCtol SClNIG VI Tie CIluiCu
ries on today the healing ministry of
the Christ by reaching out after men
and women to train them to become
fishers of men. Every Christian is
called to help evangelize the world.
We must follow the precepts, prin-
ciples and practices of Christ. who
spent much time in prayer, and start
ed off early the next morning to train
His disciples in His peripatetic school
of study and service, where the dis
ciples learned by doing how to catch
men alive. His ministry of enlighten-
ment, enlistment and efficiency Com
menced to transform Simon from be-
ing a shifting and unstable man Of
sand into a consolidated, rocklike
character and consecrated champion
of the Christ. Just as Jesus could use
Peter, so He can use us and fit us to
do His work in helping to win the
world for Him by personal endeavor.
Peter was brought to Christ by his
own brother, and became disciple by
responding to the Masters invitation
to join. His school as disciple.