THE TWO SEARCHERS
Peter was tired of doing the same thing over and over and he wanted achange. Ever since he could remember he had fished and sold the fish hehad caught. He had made nets and mended them. First he had done it for hisfather, and now he owned the boats and nets and fishing implements. But hestood on that bright summer day close by the beautiful Lake of Gennesaretin Galilee, wishing over and over that he could do something that was moreworth while.
There was a reason why Peter was more discouraged than ever on thismorning. He had fished all through the night before in the hope of gettinga good catch so that he might skip a day's work and go to hear the greatteacher about whom men were talking and whom Andrew, his brother, hadseen. But though he had worked hard, not a fish had he caught. So now hewas mending the holes in the net with a very discontented look on hisface. What was the use of it all, anyway? He twisted the rope this way andthat, showing by the pulls that he made that his mind was full oftrouble.
Suddenly he heard Andrew talking to him. "Peter," he said. "Peter, see thecrowd coming over the hilltop. Perhaps the teacher is coming. I do hopeso, for I would hear more of the words he was telling us yesterday. Come,let's go and meet him."
"No," said Peter, "I must finish this net. What will he care for us? Weare only poor fishermen."
But Andrew had not waited to hear his answer--he had already begun toascend the hill. How eager he was to hear another story from the greatstory-teller!
Peter mended one hole after another, keeping his eye on the crowd that wascoming closer and closer to the lakeside. Then he heard a kindly voicesay, "Would you mind letting me take your boat, for the multitude pressupon me and I have many things to say to them. If I can get away from theshore, they can all hear and understand."
Silently Peter brought the fishing boat to shore. The Master wanted to usesomething that he had. After all, a fishing boat was useful sometimes,even if he were tired of it. Of course he would be glad to help him. SoJesus, the teacher, sat in the end of the boat and Peter rowed him out infront of the crowd. Then Peter sat and listened and looked.
What a wonderful face the teacher had! Peter had never seen the like. Itwas browned by the sun but in the eyes there was a kindly light that madePeter love to look at him. When he smiled, somehow Peter felt the smile goall through him. How gentle his voice was! What made it so? How eagerlythe people were listening, yet he was only telling them a little storyabout the love of his father, God.
"I wish I had a face like that and a voice like that and could teach likethat," thought Peter. "But I am only a poor fisherman. Oh dear, I wish Icould be worth something."
But Jesus had finished teaching and had bidden the people go to theirhomes. Peter turned to row to the shore, but Jesus was not ready for that.He had been teaching the multitude and now he wanted a chance to talk withPeter and Andrew. So he said to Peter,
"Launch out into the deep and let us fish for a while."
Peter thought of the long night of useless toil, but Jesus had asked himto go. This was a chance to stay longer with the teacher, so he said tohim frankly,
"Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing. Nevertheless, atyour word, I will let down the net."
So together the brothers let down the net and Peter began to row.
This was a good chance for Jesus to study Peter. How strong andweatherbeaten he looked! His was a good honest face, and Jesus saw theredetermination and courage and trustworthiness. Jesus was searching for menwho could be trusted to carry in their minds and lives the most preciousthing he had--his message to the world--so as he rowed out into thefishing grounds of Lake Gennesaret that day, he was searching Peter'sface. It would take courage, for some of his followers would even have todie for him. It would take determination, for there would be many thingsagainst them. Yes, Jesus liked Peter as he watched him and talked to him.Peter was one of the men for whom he was searching.
Suddenly the net was full of fishes--so full that Peter and Andrew couldnot manage it. Quickly they called to their partners, James and John, tocome and help them. And when Peter saw the multitude of fishes that werein the net, he was overpowered with the greatness of the man who hadhelped them. Quickly he fell on his knees before the Christ and said,"Depart from me, O Lord, for I am a sinful man."
Then Jesus turned to Peter and with a whole world of meaning said,
"Peter, it is a great multitude of fishes that you have caught, but youcan do greater things than that. You can do far greater things than catchfish from the water. If you will come with me, I will teach you how tocatch men and you shall be my worker. I need you, Peter. Will you come?"
Would he come? Peter, who had been longing to make his life worth while;Peter, who had been longing to know what it was that made Jesus sowonderful as he went among men. Would he go and let Jesus teach him? Wouldhe be a follower of the Master and go out in the big world to help winmen?
A great happiness filled the mind of Peter and when he lifted his face tothe Christ, the answer to the question of the Teacher was written on it.
So Jesus found a helper and Peter found a task that was worth while.
"And when he had brought his boat to land, he gladly forsook all andfollowed Christ." So well did he follow that we read in the Book of Actsthat after Peter had talked to the multitude on the day of Pentecost,there were added to the church, at one time, three thousand persons whobelieved the word that he had spoken to them.