The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-04-01
PETER AND JOHN BECOME
DISCIPLES OF JESUS

DISCIPLES OF JESUS
LESSON TENT-John 1:29.42: Mark I:l6.
GOLDEN TEXT-And Jesus said unto
them, Come We after me, and l viii make
yOu 10 become fishers Of men.-NIark III.
Personal faith in Christ is the
heart of Christian experience. Since
persons are won by other persons it
was vitality important that the Lord
choose the right disciples at the very
beginning Of the Church. Outstand-
ing among the twelve disciples were
Peter and John, whose lives and
letters we study during the next
three months.
The manner in which they became
disciples is Of unusual intereSt-and
is instructive as well. We will OBJ
serve that our Lord is working in
much the same way on the Peters
and Johns Of our own day. They
came to Him by way Of
l. Testimony-TEcy Heard About
Jesus John 1:29-34, 4D.
John, who modestly refrains from
naming himself w. 400, heard about
Jesus from John the Baptist. His
testimony is notable for its pointed
presentation Of Christ, and its I'M
mistakable desire that they follow
Him. John was an important man
with a vigorous message, but he rec
ognizcd that his only real business
for God was to point men to Christ.
He enjoyed having men follow him,
but only that he might lead them
to Jesus.
In doing Christian work we should
learn so to bear our testimony that
we may magnify Christ, and not
ourselves. We must be careful to
win men to Christ, and not to our
selves or our cause or church.
Peter was brought to Jesus by his
brother Andrew. Andrew was a qui-
ct, modest man of whom we do not
read that he preached a single SER
mon. But he did do personal work
(see John 6:8, 9; 1921, 22). He has
been called "AndreW the finder. "
May "his tribe" increase. We need
more like him.
Hearing about Jesus is not enough.
There must be the next step, the in
dispensable personal meeting with
the Lord.
II. Experience-They Saw Jesus
John 1859, 42).
The necessity of personal eX-
perience with Christ is so clearly
stated in Scripture that one can only
marvel that it is so neglected in
many churches today.
Neither John the Baptist nor, lat
er, Andrew was content to tell about
Jesus. They brought John and Pc
ter to the Lord. John said, "Behold
the Lamb of God" ". $50; and An
drew drought him to Jesus ".
40. These sum up the soul-Win-
ner's duty. We must bring our fam
lily, our friends, yes, the stranger
with whom we deal, into the pres
ence of Jesus.
He will look into their eyes and
into their souls and see in them all
the gifts and graces which may
make them useful to Him ". 42)
John was the brother Of James and
Peter the brother of AndreW-just
two humble fishermen in the sight OF
men. But Jesus saw in them two
of the most useful men who have
ever lived. Let us give Him g
lance TO deal with our friends and
acQuaintanccS.
Hearing and seeing are both eX.
cellent, but they lack one final steE
and here it is
III. ActiOn-They Followed Jesus
John 1:40; Mark 1:16-20).
First of all they followed Jesus If
becoming believers on Him as the
Messiah. That experience of Johns
we find in John 1;40, and of Peter
(by inference) in verse ~. There is
no salvation apart from that act o.
the will which follows a knowledge
OF Christ.
In the passage in Mark we find Him
calling them to leave their secular
calling as fishers of fish to follow
Him and become fishers of men
Before they could become what Ht
wanted them to be, they had to dc
something-rise up and follow HIM
Their unquestioning response md
Gated their faith, but, more than that
it showed that they were the kind o
obedient men who could be used o
the Lord. Jesus might have callet
His disciples from the learned ant
the mighty. But one wonders wheth
er they would have been willing II
respond without argument, and t.
learn of Him without prejudice o
prcconccivcd ideas Of theology.
God must often pass the might,
and the noble of this world, and cal
those who are foolish enough to be
lieve Him and obey (read l Cor
1:1729). The reason is given there
''That no flesh should glory IN nj
presence The glory belongs to tn
Lord, not to His servants.
Because they did obey they be
came fishers of men" He led them
trained them, encouraged them
blessed them, and used them.
A disciple is a learner" but h
is learning for a purpose. Lear
ing for its own sake, as an orns
ment or a selfish pleasure, is a
ways a sad thing, but with the disc
pie of Christ it cannot be that If h
rightly knows Christ.
The disciple is to win other dis
cipIes. That is the very heart
Christian witness.
-V-
A constitutional amendment to di