, 1935-01-04
OIL
LESSON
Text: John 1850; Mark 1: l4-iS
The international Uniform Sunday
School Lesson for Jan. 6
BY WIN. 4. GILROY, ID. ID.
Editor Of Advance

Editor Of Advance
The starting point. or turning
point, In the career OF q great man
Is always Of particular interest.
A man destined TO play a great
part In the founding of Christian
ity was the apostle Peter. How did
he come TO know Jesus? What led
him to accept the Masters call to
discipleship? ,,
It is this simple beginning with
which our lesson deals. The pic
ture Is one of John the Baptist
standing with two of his disciples
Looking upon Jesus who was walk
ing nearby. John said. Behold. the
Lamb Of God"
The two disciples who heard
John say this. followed Jesus. and
Jesus. turning. asked them what
they were seeking. Their reply
was to ask Jesus where He dwelt
To this Jesus said, Come and
see.' and the two disciples Of
John spent that day with him.
One OF the two who heard Johr
speak, and who thus came to know
Jesus was Andrew. We do not know
a great deal concerning Andrew. Sc
far as we can Judge from the New
Testament record. he was q plain
patient man. capable of large faith
and devotion. but in whose life ex-
perience there were nc great temp
tations and no great crisises.
So far Us the record goes, the most
notable thing that Andrew did was
to 20 and find his bbrother. Simon
later called Peter. and bring him u
Jesus. Then began that intimate
relationship in which Jesus imme'
diately gave Simon a new name, OF
nickname. Thou shalt be called
Cephas, which is by Interpretation
Peter" o. a rock
SO much for the record in Johns
Gospel.
The record in Marks Gospel II
similar and less complete. II ];
perhaps, also. inexplicable excepl
when one takes into account thu
fuller story In Johns Gospel.
Mark tells us that, after John wa
arrested, Jesus came into Gables
preaching the Gospel. AS he pass,
ed by the Sea Of Galilee, he saw
Simon and Andrew fishing. and gave
them the invitation, Come We az
ter me and I viii make you to be
come fishers OF men," The two
fishermen followed him.
The record as 1t stands i!
strange and difficult. II seems hard,
ly conceivable that two fishermen
would leave their occupations on a
chance invitation from n whom
they had never heard or seen before
yet Mark gives is nothing Of the
background.
The Gospel Of John tells what
had taken place before the Cal
recorded in Marks Gospel. Peter
and Andrew had already hac
some opportunity to know Jesus, anc
they were ready 10 respond TO Hi
call because the allurement Of Hi!
life and teaching had already giver
Him power over them.
The record seems even in botf
Gospels very simple; but are moi
the great decisions and calls In life
thus simple? The men who fee
with most overwhelming power tho
demands Of a new age. or a new sit.
uation. respond with such com
pleteness Of decision that the mat
ter seems easy.
Nevertheless, we may understand
something of what 1t meant to these
fishermen to leave their nets and Il
follow Jesus. IL may be that they
were stirred with visions of theil
place in a Messianic kingdom which
they hoped that He would establish
adventurous spirit to stake their al
upon their faith and hope.
One cannot but dwell, also, upor
the part that men like Andrew have
played in great conversions. Ont
hears hereafter little OF Andrew, buI
a great deal Of Peter.
Great men have been won to Jesus
and great careers have been begun
in His service. through the simple
witness OF humble souls who may