the desire of ages-第40章

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　John　the　Baptist；　who　was　languishing　alone　in　his　dungeon。　He　had　thought　of　the　prospect　before　Jesus　and　His　followers；　of　the　ill　success　of　the　mission　to　Judea；　and　the　malice　of　the　priests　and　rabbis。　Even　his　own　occupation　had　failed　him；　and　as　he　watched　by　the　empty　nets；　the　future　had　seemed　dark　with　discouragement。　〃Master；〃　he　said；　〃we　have　toiled　all　the　night；　and　have　taken　nothing：　nevertheless　at　Thy　word　I　will　let　down　the　net。〃

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Night　was　the　only　favorable　time　for　fishing　with　nets　in　the　clear　waters　of　the　lake。　After　toiling　all　night　without　success；　it　seemed　hopeless　to　cast　the　net　by　day；　but　Jesus　had　given　the　command；　and　love　for　their　Master　moved　the　disciples　to　obey。　Simon　and　his　brother　together　let　down　the　net。　As　they　attempted　to　draw　it　in；　so　great　was　the　quantity　of　fish　enclosed　that　it　began　to　break。　They　were　obliged　to　summon　James　and　John　to　their　aid。　When　the　catch　was　secured；　both　the　boats　were　so　heavily　laden　that　they　were　in　danger　of　sinking。

But　Peter　was　unmindful　now　of　boats　or　lading。　This　miracle；　above　any　other　he　had　ever　witnessed；　was　to　him　a　manifestation　of　divine　power。　In　Jesus　he　saw　One　who　held　all　nature　under　His　control。　The　presence　of　divinity　revealed　his　own　unholiness。　Love　for　his　Master；　shame　for　his　own　unbelief；　gratitude　for　the　condescension　of　Christ；　above　all；　the　sense　of　his　uncleanness　in　the　presence　of　infinite　purity；　overwhelmed　him。　While　his　companions　were　securing　the　contents　of　the　net；　Peter　fell　at　the　Saviour's　feet；　exclaiming；　〃Depart　from　me；　for　I　am　a　sinful　man；　O　Lord。〃

It　was　the　same　presence　of　divine　holiness　that　had　caused　the　prophet　Daniel　to　fall　as　one　dead　before　the　angel　of　God。　He　said；　〃My　comeliness　was　turned　in　me　into　corruption；　and　I　retained　no　strength。〃　So　when　Isaiah　beheld　the　glory　of　the　Lord；　he　exclaimed；　〃Woe　is　me！　for　I　am　undone；　because　I　am　a　man　of　unclean　lips；　and　I　dwell　in　the　midst　of　a　people　of　unclean　lips：　for　mine　eyes　have　seen　the　King；　the　Lord　of　hosts。〃　Dan。　10：8；　Isa。　6：5。　Humanity；　with　its　weakness　and　sin；　was　brought　in　contrast　with　the　perfection　of　divinity；　and　he　felt　altogether　deficient　and　unholy。　Thus　it　has　been　with　all　who　have　been　granted　a　view　of　God's　greatness　and　majesty。

Peter　exclaimed；　〃Depart　from　me；　for　I　am　a　sinful　man；〃　yet　he　clung　to　the　feet　of　Jesus；　feeling　that　he　could　not　be　parted　from　Him。　The　Saviour　answered；　〃Fear　not；　from　henceforth　thou　shalt　catch　men。〃　It　was　after　Isaiah　has　beheld　the　holiness　of　God　and　his　own　unworthiness　that　he　was　entrusted　with　the　divine　message。　It　was　after　Peter　had　been　led　to　self…renunciation　and　dependence　upon　divine　power　that　he　received　the　call　to　his　work　for　Christ。

Until　this　time　none　of　the　disciples　had　fully　united　as　colaborers　with　Jesus。　They　had　witnessed　many　of　His　miracles；　and　had　listened　to　His　teaching；　but　they　had　not　entirely　forsaken　their　former　employment。

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The　imprisonment　of　John　the　Baptist　had　been　to　them　all　a　bitter　disappointment。　If　such　were　to　be　the　outcome　of　John's　mission；　they　could　have　little　hope　for　their　Master；　with　all　the　religious　leaders　combined　against　Him。　Under　the　circumstances　it　was　a　relief　to　them　to　return　for　a　short　time　to　their　fishing。　But　now　Jesus　called　them　to　forsake　their　former　life；　and　unite　their　interests　with　His。　Peter　had　accepted　the　call。　Upon　reaching　the　shore；　Jesus　bade　the　three　other　disciples；　〃Follow　Me；　and　I　will　make　you　fishers　of　men。〃　Immediately　they　left　all；　and　followed　Him。

Before　asking　them　to　leave　their　nets　and　fishing　boats；　Jesus　had　given　them　the　assurance　that　God　would　supply　their　needs。　The　use　of　Peter's　boat　for　the　work　of　the　gospel　had　been　richly　repaid。　He　who　is　〃rich　unto　all　that　call　upon　Him；〃　has　said；　〃Give；　and　it　shall　be　given　unto　you；　good　measure；　pressed　down；　and　shaken　together；　and　running　over。〃　Rom。　10：12；　Luke　6：38。　In　this　measure　He　had　rewarded　the　disciple's　service。　And　every　sacrifice　that　is　made　in　His　ministry　will　be　recompensed　according　to　〃the　exceeding　riches　of　His　grace。〃　Eph。　3：20；　2：7。

During　that　sad　night　on　the　lake；　when　they　were　separated　from　Christ；　the　disciples　were　pressed　hard　by　unbelief；　and　weary　with　fruitless　toil。　But　His　presence　kindled　their　faith；　and　brought　them　joy　and　success。　So　it　is　with　us；　apart　from　Christ；　our　work　is　fruitless；　and　it　is　easy　to　distrust　and　murmur。　But　when　He　is　near；　and　we　labor　under　His　direction；　we　rejoice　in　the　evidence　of　His　power。　It　is　Satan's　work　to　discourage　the　soul；　it　is　Christ's　work　to　inspire　with　faith　and　hope。

The　deeper　lesson　which　the　miracle　conveyed　for　the　disciples　is　a　lesson　for　us　also；that　He　whose　word　could　gather　the　fishes　from　the　sea　could　also　impress　human　hearts；　and　draw　them　by　the　cords　of　His　love；　so　that　His　servants　might　become　〃fishers　of　men。〃

They　were　humble　and　unlearned　men；　those　fishers　of　Galilee；　but　Christ；　the　light　of　the　world；　was　abundantly　able　to　qualify　them　for　the　position　for　which　He　had　chosen　them。　The　Saviour　did　not　despise　education；　for　when　controlled　by　the　love　of　God；　and　devoted　to　His　service；　intellectual　culture　is　a　blessing。　But　He　passed　by　the　wise　men　of　His　time；　because　they　were　so　self…confident　that　they　could　not　sympathize　with　suffering　humanity；　and　become　colaborers　with　the　Man　of　Nazareth。　In　their　bigotry　they　scorned　to　be　taught　by　Christ。　The　Lord　Jesus　seeks　the　co…operation　of　those　who　will　become　unobstructed

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channels　for　the　communication　of　His　grace。　The　first　thing　to　be　learned　by　all　who　would　become　workers　together　with　God　is　the　lesson　of　self…distrust；　then　they　are　prepared　to　have　imparted　to　them　the　character　of　Christ。　This　is　not　to　be　gained　through　education　in　the　most　scientific　schools。　It　is　the　fruit　of　wisdom　that　is　obtained　from　the　divine　Teacher　alone。

Jesus　chose　unlearned　fishermen　because　they　had　not　been　schooled　in　the　traditions　and　erroneous　customs　of　their　time。　They　were　men　of　native　ability；　and　they　were　humble　and　teachable；men　whom　He　could　educate　for　His　work。　In　the　common　walks　of　life　there　is　many　a　man　patiently　treading　the　round　of　daily　toil；　unconscious　that　he　possesses　powers　which；　if　called　into　action；　would　raise　him　to　an　equality　with　the　world's　most　honored　men。　The　touch　of　a　skillful　hand　is　needed　to　arouse　those　dormant　faculties。　It　was　such　men　that　Jesus　called　to　be　His　colaborers；　and　He　gave　them　the　advantage　of　association　with　Himself。　Never　had　the　world's　great　men　such　a　teacher。　When　the　disciples　came　forth　from　the　Saviour's　training；　they　were　no　longer　ignorant　and　uncultured。　They　had　become　like　Him　in　mind　and　character；　and　men　took　knowledge　of　them　that　they　had　been　with　Jesus。

It　is　not　the　highest　work　of　education　to　communicate　knowledge　merely；　but　to　impart　that　vitalizing　energy　which　is　received　through　the　contact　of　mind　with　mind；　and　soul　with　soul。　It　is　only　life　that　can　beget　life。　What　privilege；　then；　was　theirs　who　for　three　years　were　in　daily　contact　with　that　divine　life　from　which　has　flowed　every　life…giving　impulse　that　has　blessed　the　world！　Above　all　his　companions；　John　the　beloved　disciple　yielded　himself　to　the　power　of　that　wondrous　life。　He　says；　〃The　life　was　manifested；　and　we　have　seen　it；　and　bear　witness；　and　show　unto　you　that　eternal　life；　which　was　with　the　Father；　and　was　manifested　unto　us。〃　〃Of　His　fullness　have　all　we　received；　and　grace　for　grace。〃　1　John　1：2；　John　1：16。

In　the　apostles　of　our　Lord　there　was　nothing　to　bring　glory　to　themselves。　It　was　evident　that　the　success　of　their　labors　was　due　only　to　God。　The　lives　of　these　men；　the　characters　they　developed；　and　the　mighty　work　that　God　wrought　through　them；　are　a　testimony　to　what　He　will　do　for　all　who　are　teachable　and　obedient。

He　who　loves　Christ　the　most　will　do　the　greatest　amount　of　good。　There　is　no　limit　to　the　usefulness　of　one　who；　by　putting　self　aside；

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makes　room　for　the　working　of　the　Holy　Spirit　upon　his　heart；　and　lives　a　life　wholly　consecrated　to　God。　If　men　will　endure　the　necessary　discipline；　without　complaining　or　fainting　by　the　way；　God　will　teach　them　hour　by　hour；　and　day　by　day。　He　longs　to　reveal　His　grace。　If　His　people　will　remove　the　obstructions；　He　will　pour　forth　the　waters　of　salvation　in　abundant　streams　through　the　human　channels。　If　men　in　humble　life　were　encouraged　to　do　all　the　good　they　could　do；　if　restraining　hands　were　not　laid　upon　them　to　repress　their　zeal；　there　would　be　a　hundred　workers　for　Christ　where　now　there　is　one。

God　takes　men　as　they　are；　and　educates　them　for　His　service；　if　they　will　yield　themselves　to　Him。　The　Spirit　of　God；　received　into　the　soul；　will　quicken　all　its　faculties。　Under　the　guidance　of　the　Holy　Spirit；　the　mind　that　is　devoted　unreservedly　to　God　develops　harmoniously；　and　is　strengthened　to　comprehend　and　fulfill　the　requirements　of　God。　The　weak；　vacillating　character　becomes　changed　to　one　of　strength　and　steadfastness。　Continual　devotion　establishes　so　close　a　relation　between　Jesus　and　His　disciple　that　the　Christian　becomes　like　Him　in　mind　and　character。　Through　a　connection　with　Christ　he　will　have　clearer　and　broader　views。　His　discernment　will　be　more　penetrative；　his　judgment　better　balanced。　He　who　longs　to　be　of　service　to　Christ　is　so　quickened　by　the　life…giving　power　of　the　Sun　of　Righteousness　that　he　is　enabled　to　bear　much　fruit　to　the　glory　of　God。

Men　of　the　highest　education　in　the　arts　and　sciences　have　learned　precious　lessons　from　Christians　in　humble　life　who　were　designated　by　the　world　as　unlearned。　But　these　obscure　disciples　had　obtained　an　education　in　the　highest　of　all　schools。　They　had　sat　at　the　feet　of　Him　who　spoke　as　〃never　man　spake。〃




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　26

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　At　Capernaum


At　Capernaum　Jesus　dwelt　in　the　intervals　of　His　journeys　to　and　fro；　and　it　came　to　be　known　as　〃His　own　city。〃　It　was　on　the　shores　of　the　Sea　of　Galilee；　and　near　the　borders　of　the　beautiful　plain　of　Gennesaret；　if　not　actually　upon　it。

The　deep　depression　of　the　lake　gives　to　the　plain　that　skirts　its　shores　the　genial　climate　of　the　south。　Here　in　the　days　of　Christ　flourished　the　palm　tree　and　the　olive；　here　were　orchards　and　vineyards；　green　fields；　and　brightly　blooming　flowers　in　rich　luxuriance；　all　watered　by　living　streams　bursting　from　the　cliffs。　The　shores　of　the　lake；　and　the　hills　that　at　a　little　distance　encircle　it；　were　dotted　with　towns　and　villages。　The　lake　was　covered　with　fishing　boats。　Everywhere　was　the　stir　of　busy；　active　life。

Capernaum　itself　was　well　adapted　to　be　the　center　of　the　Saviour's　work。　Being　on　the　highway　from　Damascus　to　Jerusalem　and　Egypt；　and　to　the　Mediterranean　Sea；　it　was　a　great　thoroughfare　of　travel。　People　from　many　lands　passed　through　the　city；　or　tarried　for　rest　in　their　journeyings　to　and　fro。　Here　Jesus　could　meet　all