"I will make you fishers of men."--_Matt. 4:19._
I TOLD you Andrew and Peter and John were fishermen. They used to go
fishing at night in boats, on the blue lake of Galilee, shut in between
the high mountains. One night, they had been out in two boats, trying
hard to catch fish, but none would come to their nets.
[Illustration: JESUS TEACHES NICODEMUS.--John 3:2, 3.]
In the morning, they saw JESUS standing on the bank, with a great crowd
of people round Him, come to see and hear His teaching. He called to
Simon Peter to come and take Him into his boat, so that He could teach
the people from thence without being crowded.
When He had done speaking, He told Andrew and Peter to go out into the
deeper water, and let down their nets. They said, "Master, we have
toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at Thy word
I will let down the net." And instantly the net was so full
of fishes, that Andrew and Peter could not draw it up without the help
of John and his brother James, who was with him in his boat; and both
boats were quite full of fish, and ready to sink with the weight.
[Illustration: JESUS AND THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA.--John 4:25, 26.]
[Illustration: JESUS HEALS THE SICK OF THE PALSY.--Mark 2:4, 5.]
[Illustration: Our Father who art in Heaven]
[Illustration: He hath fulfilled his word
ELIJAH'S SACRIFICE ON MOUNT CARMEL
HALLOWED BE THY NAME]
[Illustration: JOHN PREACHING IN THE WILDERNESS
CHRIST AND NICODEMUS
ST. PAUL AND THE PHILIPPIAN JAILOR
THY KINGDOM COME]
[Illustration: CHRIST IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE
JACOB WRESTLING WITH THE ANGEL
THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN]
[Illustration: CHRIST FEEDING THE MULTITUDE
I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD]
[Illustration: RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL SON
THE PHARISEE AND THE PUBLICAN
STEPHEN FORGIVES HIS ENEMIES
THE KING FORGIVES HIS BROTHER
O LORD HAVE MERCY
PAY ME WHAT THOU OWEST
PUNISHMENT OF THE UNFORGIVING
FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THEM THAT TRESPASS AGAINST US]
[Illustration: THE TEMPTER IN EDEN
THE TEMPTATION OF CHRIST
DRIVEN FROM EDEN
PETER DENYING CHRIST
THE REMORSE OF JUDAS
LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION]
[Illustration: CHRIST STILLING THE STORM AT SEA
THE ANGEL DELIVERING PETER FROM PRISON
CHRIST PROCLAIMING DELIVERANCE TO THE CAPTIVES
DELIVER US FROM EVIL]
When the boats came to land, our Lord told the four disciples that they
were to come with Him, for He would make them fishers of men, for they
were to draw disciples to Him, instead of catching fish. They believed
Him, and left all they had to follow Him, and they were always with
Him--His dear friends who followed Him everywhere, and stored up His
holy words in their hearts.