The Desire of Ages
by Ellen G. White
Chapter 25: The Call by the Sea
This chapter is based on Matt. 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20;
Luke 5:1-11.
Day was breaking over the Sea of Galilee. The disciples,
weary with a night of fruitless toil, were still in their fishing boats on the
lake. Jesus had come to spend a quiet hour by the waterside. In the early
morning He hoped for a little season of rest from the multitude that followed
Him day after day. But soon the people began to gather about Him. Their numbers
rapidly increased, so that He was pressed upon all sides. Meanwhile the
disciples had come to land. In order to escape the pressure of the multitude,
Jesus stepped into Peter's boat, and bade him pull out a little from the shore.
Here Jesus could be better seen and heard by all, and from the boat He taught
the multitude on the beach. {DA
244.1}
What a scene was this for angels to contemplate; their
glorious Commander, sitting in a fisherman's boat, swayed to and fro by the
restless waves, and proclaiming the good news of salvation to the listening
throng that were pressing down to the water's edge! He who was the Honored of
heaven was declaring the great things of His kingdom in the open air, to the
common people. Yet He could have had no more fitting scene for His labors. The
lake, the mountains, the spreading [245] fields, the sunlight
flooding the earth, all furnished objects to illustrate His lessons and impress
them upon the mind. And no lesson of Christ's fell fruitless. Every message
from His lips came to some soul as the word of eternal life. {DA 244.2}
Every moment added to the multitude upon the shore. Aged men
leaning upon their staffs, hardy peasants from the hills, fishermen from their
toil on the lake, merchants and rabbis, the rich and learned, old and young,
bringing their sick and suffering ones, pressed to hear the words of the divine
Teacher. To such scenes as this the prophets had looked forward, and they
wrote:
"The land of Zebulon and the land of Naphtali,
Toward the sea, beyond Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles,
The people which sat in darkness
Saw a great light,
And to them which sat in the region and shadow of death,
To them did light spring up." R. V. {DA 245.1}
Beside the throng on the shores of Gennesaret, Jesus in His
sermon by the sea had other audiences before His mind. Looking down the ages,
He saw His faithful ones in prison and judgment hall, in temptation and
loneliness and affliction. Every scene of joy and conflict and perplexity was open
before Him. In the words spoken to those gathered about Him, He was speaking
also to these other souls the very words that would come to them as a message
of hope in trial, of comfort in sorrow, and heavenly light in darkness. Through
the Holy Spirit, that voice which was speaking from the fisherman's boat on the
Sea of Galilee, would be heard speaking peace to human hearts to the close of
time. {DA 245.2}
The discourse ended, Jesus turned to Peter, and bade him
launch out into the sea, and let down his net for a draught. But Peter was
disheartened. All night he had taken nothing. During the lonely hours he had
thought of the fate of 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." [246] {DA 245.3}
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. {DA 246.1}
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." {DA 246.2}
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." Daniel 10:8; Isaiah 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. {DA 246.3}
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 had 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. {DA 246.4}
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. [249] 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. {DA 246.5}
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." Romans 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."
Ephesians 3:20; 2:7. {DA
249.1}
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. {DA 249.2}
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." {DA 249.3}
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 [250]
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. {DA 249.4}
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. {DA
250.1}
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. {DA 250.2}
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. {DA
250.3}
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, [251]
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.
{DA 250.4}
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. {DA 251.1}
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." {DA
251.2}
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"At Capernaum"
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