Mother Stories from the New Testament | Page 3

Him that sent Me."
[Illustration: "SON, WHY HAST THOU THUS DEALT WITH US?"]

THE WONDERFUL DRAUGHT OF FISHES
One day, as the crowds pressed round Him to hear the Word of God,
Jesus came to the Lake of Gennesaret and saw two boats drawn up on
the shore. Now one of these belonged to a man named Simon Peter,
who was at the water's edge washing his nets. Jesus entered into this
boat and asked Simon to push it off from the land a little. Then He sat
down and taught the people from the boat. And when He had done
speaking to them He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep, and let
down your nets for a draught of fishes." Simon, answering Him, said,
"Master, we have toiled all through the night and have taken nothing,
but as you wish it I will let down the net again." And they let down the
net into the sea, but it enclosed so great a multitude of fishes that they
could not draw them up; and the net brake. Then Simon beckoned to
his partners, James and John, who were in the other boat, that they
should come and help them. And they came and filled both boats with
the fishes, so that they began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw it he fell down before Jesus, saying, "Depart
from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." For he and all that were with
him were astonished at the marvellous draught of fishes which they had
taken. And Jesus said unto Simon, "Fear not, Simon Peter; from
henceforth thou shalt be a fisher of men." Meaning that he was to go
about winning souls for God, instead of being a fisherman.
And when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all they
had and followed Christ.
[Illustration: THE WONDERFUL DRAUGHT OF FISHES.]

THE HOUSE BUILT UPON THE SAND.
What a foolish man the builder of the house shown in our picture must
have been! Of course, when the wind blew and the waves dashed
against his house, it would fall. Look how the sea has washed the
foundation away, and how the roof is falling in! And the people; see

how they are fleeing to save their lives! And all this calamity because
he built his house upon the sand. But the other house, shown in the
distance: how firmly that stands! What a bold front it offers to the
waves, and how safely it resists the fury of the storm. Its foundations
are sure, because they rest upon the solid rock.
Jesus had been teaching the people. He had taught them many
wonderful truths, which you will find written in the fifth, sixth, and
seventh chapters of Matthew; and in closing He said, "Whosoever
heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a
wise man who built his house upon a rock. And the rain descended, and
the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it
fell not, for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth
these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a
foolish man which built his house upon the sand. And the rain
descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that
house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it." The lesson Jesus sought
to impress upon the people by this parable was, that it is not enough
simply to hear what He says. Many will do that; but it is only those
who remember Christ's commandments and keep them, whose work
will stand when the time of trial comes.
[Illustration: THE HOUSE BUILT UPON THE SAND.]

HEALING THE CENTURION'S SERVANT.
Jesus entered into Capernaum, a city by the Sea of Galilee, and while
He was there a certain Centurion, or captain in the Roman army, had a
favourite servant who was sick of the palsy and in great pain. When
this Roman heard of Jesus, he sought the Jewish elders and implored
them to go to Christ and beseech Him to cure the sick servant. And the
elders came to Jesus and besought Him urgently to do this miracle,
saying, "He is a worthy man, this Roman captain, for he loveth the
Jews and hath built us a synagogue."
So Jesus went with them, and when He had come near the house, the

Centurion himself came to meet Him, saying, "Lord, trouble not
Thyself, for I am not worthy that Thou shouldest enter my house.
Speak the word only, and this sickness shall depart and my servant be
made whole. For I am a man under authority of the Emperor, having
many soldiers under me,