to the people. He told
them that these words that he had just read were even then com¬
ing true; that he was doing just the things that Isaiah said the
Christ would do.
For a little while they were glad to listen to him, for he spoke
very gently and lovingly. But soon they began to ask one
another: “ Is this not
the son of Joseph the
carpenter? We know
his father and mother,
and we know him.
He is no better than
we are. What does
he mean by saying
that he is the Christ?
How can he do all
these things?» They
wanted him to do some
miracle to prove that
he was the Christ.
When they saw he
would do no miracle,
but only wanted to
talk to them, they
grew more and more
angry, till at last they Jesus rejected at Nazareth
were too angry to
listen any longer. They rose, took hold of him, and led him out
of the room to a high hill, meaning to throw him down and kill
him. But Jesus passed through the midst of them and went
away, very sad.
42
A CHILD’S STORY OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST
Jesus went from Nazareth to Capernaum, and there the people
made him very welcome. As soon as they heard of his being in
the city they crowded around him to hear him talk. One morn¬
ing as the people were pressing close about him lie stood by the
Sea of Galilee. There
were two fishing-boats
on the shore of the lake
belonging to his four
disciples. The fisher¬
men were not in their
boats but were near
by washing their nets.
Jesus stepped into one
of the boats, which be¬
longed to Peter and
Andrew, and asked
Peter to push out a
little from the land.
He could talk more
easily if the people
were not so close about
him. Peter did as he
was asked. Then Jesus
sat down and taught
Christ on the Shore of the Lake
the people.
When he had finished talking he said to Peter, «Now push
out into deep water and let down your net for a haul of fishes.»
Peter had seen enough of his Master to trust him, and obeyed at
once. But when they came to the deep water he said, “ Master,
we have been out all night, and have caught nothing. Yet, be¬
cause you have asked me to do so I will let down the net.» And
he let it down. When he began to pull it in it seemed heavy.
THE MINISTRY OF THE CHRIST
43
He looked; the net was so full of fishes that it had broken. He
and Andrew could not pull it in, and called to their friends in the
other boat to come and help them. John and James came at
once, and together the four men pulled in so many fishes that
both boats were full, and began to sink. How surprised they
were!
Peter, who had obeyed his Master because he loved him, but
who had not believed that they would catch any fish, fell down at
his Lord’s knees and
said, “ Depart from me,
for I am a sinful man,
0 Lord.» He said this,
not because he wanted
Jesus to leave him, but
because he did not feel
good enough to be the
friend of this wonderful
Christ.
Jesus knew what he
meant, and after they
had taken their boats
to land he asked Peter
and the other disciples
too, if they would not
like to go with him and
become fishers of men.
How could they be
that? By helping to Christ and the Fishermen
