Lesson 129 - Elementary

Memory Verse

"Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit"  (Matthew 7:17).

Notes

Fishers of Men

Did you ever see a lake that looked very, very blue? In our land there are some bodies of water that look especially blue. In the land across the sea there is a body of water called the Sea of Galilee that is of a beautiful blue colour. In the long, long ago, there was always something of interest happening on or near that sea. Often, perhaps, one could see a great many brightly-coloured boats tossing about on the sun-kissed waves, fishermen washing their nets along the shore, or groups of children playing in the sand.

One day a Man walked along the shore of Galilee -– He had a kind, sweet face. You know who the Man was: He was Jesus Christ. He saw the many fishing boats and the fishermen. He called to two brothers, Peter and Andrew, who were casting their nets into the water: "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” [MAT:4:19]). By this, Jesus meant that Peter and Andrew would no longer catch fish in the Sea of Galilee; they would go out into the cities and villages and find men who needed Jesus, and help them to be saved. Jesus needed some helpers, and He knew that Peter and Andrew would be good workers for Him.

Miracles of Jesus

Immediately, Peter and his brother followed Jesus. They watched their Friend as He went about making people happy. They saw Jesus make sick people well again. If a man could not see, Jesus opened his eyes and let him see. Peter listened as Jesus told many people about His Father in Heaven and His great love for them.

Do we remember the lesson about Peter walking on the water? He and the other disciples were out in a boat one day when a storm arose on the water. As the boat was tossed about on the waves, the disciples suddenly saw Jesus coming toward them, walking on the water. It was Peter who said, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” Jesus said to him, "Come.” So Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water to go to Jesus. But soon he saw the waves around him and became frightened. Just as he was about to sink beneath a big wave he called to Jesus, "Lord, save me.” We all know that Jesus did not let Peter sink, but reached out His hand and held him.

Peter did not doubt that Jesus was the Son of God. One day Jesus asked the disciples, "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” Then Peter said, "Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God.”

Do you know what the name "Peter” means? It means rock, and we all know that a rock is firm and solid. Peter had been a true Christian and really loved Jesus. However, one day something happened. He said some words that made Jesus feel very sad. He was untrue to Jesus -– his best Friend. But when he saw how much he had hurt Jesus, he was very, very sorry and cried and cried! Jesus forgave him and made Peter happy once more.

Power for Service

Then came the day that Jesus left this world and went to His Father in Heaven. We believe Peter was one of those who stood on the mountain with the people who watched Jesus as He went away. Then Peter did as Jesus told them, and went back to the City of Jerusalem, and prayed in that upstairs room. He preached a sermon to the people there. He was still there praying and waiting when the Holy Ghost came to those in that room on the Day of Pentecost. Now Peter had the power to go out and work for Jesus. He probably said to himself, "Jesus told us to go into all the world and tell people about God's love. I want to help people as Jesus helped them. I will go and tell about my Friend, Jesus, and about God's great love.”

So Peter left his home. He went to many towns. He told everyone he met about his Friend, Jesus. He preached to great crowds of people and told them to repent of their sins and be saved. Just think, one day three thousand people were saved in one meeting! People also brought their sick folks to Peter that he might pray for their healing. Some brought sick ones into the streets and laid them on beds and couches so that the shadow of Peter passing by might fall upon them [ACT:5:15]). They had faith that their sick would then be healed; and they were, too.

One day Peter met a man who had been sick in bed for eight years. How very sad his life must have been! Do you know what Peter did? He said to the sick man. "Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed.” At once the man arose from his sickbed, and was well.

The Dead Raised

Another day Peter prayed for a woman who had died, and she was brought to life again. The woman's name was Dorcas and she had been a very good woman. She had made little coats and garments, perhaps for the poor little children who needed clothes. When Peter went into the room where the dead woman lay, the women were standing around weeping. They showed peter the little garments Dorcas had made. Peter must have been very sad, too. But he knew that Jesus could make her alive again, for he had seen Jesus heal the sick and even raise the dead. So he knelt down and prayed. Then he told her to arise. He took her by the hand, and lifted her up, and she lived again. He called her friends in to see her. What joy must have filled their hearts to have again this kind woman with them, well and happy. Peter surely used the power he had received when the Holy Ghost came upon him!

A Winner of Souls

When we work for Jesus, we may sometimes meet with trouble. Satan, the wicked one, does not like to have Christians doing good things for God. He tries to stop them. He tried to stop Peter, by causing the wicked king to have Peter put into prison. We shall learn more about this soon, and we shall see that Jesus delivered Peter from prison so he might go on with his good work.

Peter had probably never gone to school -– he was a fisherman -– but he had a heart that obeyed the voice of Jesus. When Jesus said, "Follow me,” he immediately followed Jesus. He worked for Him and became a winner of souls. We, too, can follow Jesus today. If we are saved we want others to hear about Jesus and be made happy. Let us begin today to try to win souls for Jesus. Although we cannot preach like Peter, there are many other ways we may work for Jesus. We can invite children to our Sunday School, and we can tell people about Jesus. We should love Him and live for Him every day.

Questions

1. What did Peter say to the man sick with palsy? [ACT:9:34].

2. Was Dorcas a good woman? [ACT:9:36].

3. What had she done? [ACT:9:39].

4. Tell what happened to her. [ACT:9:37-40].

5. Did Peter know who Jesus was? [MAT:16:16].