The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-01-05

ulu ne come to kUOW JeSuS! what led him to accept the Masters call to discipleship?
 It is this simple beginning with which our lesson deals. The pie ture is one of John the Baptist standing with two of his diciples. ookLing upon Jesus who was walking nearby, John said, "Be- hold, the amb 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 John speak, and who thus came to know Jesus, was Andrew. We do not know a great deal concerning Andrew. So far as we can judge from the New Testament record, he was plain, patient man, cap able of large faith and devotion, but in whose life experiences tI1ere were no great temptations and no great crises.
 So far as the record goes, the most notable thing that An drew did was to go and find his brother Simon, later called Peter, and bring him to Jesus. Then began that intimate relationship in which Jesus Immediately gave Simon a new name, or nickname. Thou shalt be called, Cephas, which is by interpretation, Peter" or a rock.
 So much for the record in Johns Gospel.
 The record in Marks Gospel is similar and less complete. It is, perhaps, also, inexplicable except when one takes into account the fuller story in Johns Gospel.
 Mark tells us that, after John was arrested, Jesus came into he passed by the Sea of Galilee, ing. and gave them the invita- ton, Come ye after me and will make you to become fishers of men," The two fishermen "straightway" left their nets and followed him.
 The record as it stands is strange and difficult. It seems hardly conceivable that two fishermen would leave their occu- pations on @ chance invitation from one whom they had never heard or seen before; yet Mark gives us nothing of the back ground.
 The Gospel of John tells what had taken place before the call recorded in Marks Gospel. Peter and Andrew had already had some opportunity to know Jesus, and they were ready to respond to His call because the allure- ment of His life and teaching had already given Him power over them.
 The record seems even in both Gospels very simple; but are not the great decisions and calls in life thus simple? The men who feel with most overwhelming power the demands of a new age, or a new situation, respond with such completeness of decision that the matter seems easy. Nevertheless, we may unders. stand something of what 1t meant to these fishermen to leave their nets and to follow Jesus. It may be that they were stirred with visions of their place in a Mes- sianic Kingdom which they hoped that He would establish, but they were at least men of sufficiently adventurous spirit to stake their all upon their faith and hope. one cannot but dwell. also. upo .nthe part that men like an- drew. rave played in great conver- sions. One hears hereafter little of Andrew, but 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 never have been heard of themselves, or whose part in Gods great plan has ben little recognized by their fellow men. Yet God was in their faithful witness.