Story Ten

 •  4 min. read  •  grade level: 5
 
A NET FULL OF FISHES
Matt. 4:18 to 22; Mark 1:16 to 34; Luke 4:33, to 5:11
YOU remember that when Jesus was by the river Jôŕ dan, a few young men came to him as followers, or disciples. We have read of these men—Ăń drew and Jŏhn, Pḗ te͂r and Phĭĺ ĭp, and Nā̇-thăń a-el.
While Jesus was teaching near Jē̇-rṳ́ sā̇-lĕm and in Sā̇-mā́ rĭ-ȧ, these men stayed with Jesus; but when he came to Găĺ ĭ-lee, they went again to their homes and their work, for most of them were fishermen from the Sea of Găĺ ĭ-lee.
One morning, soon after Jesus came to Cā̇-pe͂ŕ na-ŭm, he went out of the city, by the sea, followed by a great throng of people, who had come together to see him and to hear him. On the shore were lying two fishing boats, one of which belonged to Sī́ mon and Ań drew, the other to James and Jŏhn and their father Zĕb́ é dee. The men themselves were not in the boats, but were washing their nets nearby.
Jesus stepped into the boat that belonged to Sī́ mon Pḗ ter and his brother Ăń drew, and asked them to push it out a little into the lake, so that he could talk to the people from it without being crowded too closely. They pushed it out; and then Jesus sat in the boat, and spoke to the people as they stood upon the beach. After he had finished speaking to the people, and had sent them away, he said to Sī́ mon Pḗ tĕr:
"Put out into the deep water, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”
"Master," said Simon, "we have been fishing all night, and have caught nothing; but if it is your will, I will let down the net again.”
They did as Jesus bade them; and now the net caught so many fishes, that Sī́ mon and Ăń drew could not pull it up, and it was in danger of breaking. They made signs to the two brothers, Jāmes̝ and Jŏhn, who were in the other boat, for them to come and help them. They came, and lifted the net, and poured out the fish. There were so many of them that both the boats were filled, and began to sink.
When Sī́ mon Pḗ te͂r saw this, he was struck with wonder, and felt that it was by the power of God. He fell down at the feet of Jesus, saying, "O Lord, I am full of sin, and am not worthy of all this! Leave me, O Lord.”
But Jesus said to Sī́ -mon, and to the others, "Fear not; but follow me, and I will make you from this time fishers of men.”
From that time these four men, Sī́ mon and Ăń drew, Jāmes and Jŏhn, gave up their nets and their work, and walked with Jesus as his disciples.
On the Sabbath after this Jesus and his disciples went together to the synagogue, and spoke to the people. They listened to him and were surprised at his teaching; for while the scribes always repeated what the other scribes had said before, Jesus never spoke of what the men of old time had taught; but spoke in his own name, and by his own power, saying, "I say unto you," as one who had the right to speak. Men felt that Jesus was speaking to them as the voice of God.
On one Sabbath, while Jesus was preaching, a man came into the synagogue, who had in him an evil spirit; for sometimes evil spirits came into men, and lived in them, and spoke out from them. The evil spirit in this man cried out, saying:
"Let us alone, thou Jesus of Năź a-rĕth! What have we to do with thee? Hast thou come to destroy us? I know thee and I know who thou art, the Holy One of God!" Then Jesus spoke to the evil spirit in the man, "Be still; and come out of this man!”
Then the evil spirit threw the man down, and seemed as if he would tear him apart; but he came out, and left the man lying on the ground, without harm.
Then wonder fell upon all the people. They were filled with fear, and said, "What mighty word is this? This man speaks even to the evil spirits, and they obey him!”
After the meeting in the synagogue Jesus went into the house where Sī́ mon Pḗ te͂r lived. There he saw lying upon a bed the mother of Sī́ mon's wife, who was very ill with a burning fever. He stood over her, and touched her hand. At once the fever left her; she rose up from her bed and waited upon them.
At sunset the Sabbath-day was over; and then they brought to Jesus from all parts of the city those that were sick, and some that had evil spirits in them. Jesus laid his hands upon the sick and they became well; he drove out the evil spirits by a word, and would not allow them to speak.