A life of St. John for the young

Prefatory Note

The recorded incidents of the Life of St. John are few. Almost all those of which we certainly know are related in the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, The Epistles of St. John, and The Revelation. Some of the traditions concerning him are in such harmony with what we do know that we are almost ready to accept them as historic.

The known events though few, are very distinct. They are the beautiful fragments of a great picture. The plan of this volume does not include those which pertain to him in common with the twelve disciples. Such a record would practically involve the story of the life of our Lord. This is limited to those events in which his name is mentioned, or his person otherwise indicated; to those in which he was a certain or implied actor; to those in which we may suppose from his character and relations he had a special interest; to those narratives whose fulness of detail makes the impression that they are given by an eyewitness; to those in which a deeper impression was made on him than on his fellow-disciples, or where he showed a deeper insight than they into the teachings

4 Prefatory Note

of the Lord, and is a clearer interpreter; to those records which add to, or throw light upon, those of the other three Evangelists; and especially to those things which reveal his peculiar relation to Jesus Christ.

Another limitation of this volume is its adaptation, in language, selection of subjects and general treatment, to young people, for whom it is believed no life of John, at any rate of recent date, has been prepared. It is designed especially for those between the ages of ten and twenty, though the facts recorded may be of value to all.

The attempt is made to trace the way by which John was led to, and then by, Christ. We first see him as a boy with Jewish surroundings, taught to expect the Messiah, then watching for His coming, then rejoicing in finding Him, then faithful and loving in serving Him; becoming the most loved of His chosen ones. We see the Christ through John's eyes, and listen to the Great Teacher with his ears. Christ and John are the central figures in the scenes here recorded.

The full table of contents suggests the variety and scope of the topics presented.

In the mind of the writer the interest of many of the scenes described has been greatly deepened by memories of the paths in which he has followed in the footsteps of the Master and His disciple.

Prefatory Note 5

The many quotations of words, phrases and texts — which are from the Revised Version — are designed to direct the young to Scripture forms with which they should become familiar; and sometimes to emphasize a fact or truth, or to recall a former incident.

Grateful acknowledgment is made especially to the works of Farrar, Edersheim and Stalker, for facts, and germs of thought which have been simplified in form and language for the interest and instruction of the young, in the hope that they may thereby be led into deeper study of one of the noblest of human lives.

G. L. W.

Philadelphia, July, igoo.

PAGE

Chapter I

A HOME IN THE BLESSED LAND, BY THE SACRED SEA A Fitting Study for the Young— The Glory of all Lands— Divisions of Palestine— Galilee — People of Galilee— Gennesaret and its Surroundings — Comparisons — Jewish Sayings — McCheyne — Towns, Villages and Palaces — Fisheries — Bethsaida 19

Chapter II

FIVE BOYS OF BETHSAIDA — RAMBLES ABOUT HOME Five Apostles of Jesus — Two Pair of Brothers — Salome — Brothers Indeed — Views from a Hilltop — View of the Lake — Poetic Description — Rambles North of the Lake — On the West — Keble's Poem — Answer to the Poet's Question — The Sower — Object Lessons of the Great Teacher — Mount of Beatitudes — Nature's Influence on John — Philip 24

Chapter III

JOHN'S ROYAL KINDRED Salome and Mary Sisters — John and Jesus Cousins — Visit to Bethsaida — Visit to Nazareth — A Picture of the Boy Jesus — The Picture a Help — A Phrase to Remember — A Kinsman of John and Jesus — Education — The Messiah 31

Chapter IV

THE GREAT EXPECTATION IN JOHN'S DAY Prophecy Concerning the Messiah — Jewish Mistakes — Roman Conquest — Judas of Galilee — The Five Bethsaidan Boys —

John and Peter 35

PAGE

Chapter V

EARLY INFLUENCES ON CHARACTER Special Influences on the Five — Scripture Students— Rabbi Like Simeon, or a Teacher — Prophetess Like Anna — Home Teaching — From the Five to Two — Salome and Her Sons — Review— Boyhood Traits— Imperfections— Perfection ... 39

Chapter VI

FIRST VISIT IN JERUSALEM Jewish Boy at Twelve— Interest in the First Pilgrimage— John's Journey— The Jordan Ford— City, Temple and Altar— John and Saul— Silent Years— Parental Thoughts Concerning John 44

Chapter VII

JOHN S VIEW OF THE COMING MESSIAH John's Old Testament Studies — First Gospel Promise — Promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob — Promise to David — Mary and Immanuel — Names and Titles of the Messiah — John's Misreading of the Old Testament — Christ's Sufferings 48

Chapter VIII

JESUS THE HIDDEN MESSIAH The Infancy of Jesus Forgotten — Our Ignorance of Christ's Childhood— The Boy in the Temple— The Carpenter's Silent Years 53

Chapter IX "the Prophet Of The Most High"

Elizabeth and Her John — A Father's Prophecy — The Prophet in the Wilderness — Young Men of Galilee — The Hermit — His Galilean Disciples — His Public Ministry — His Hearers — His Preaching — St. John the Baptist — St. John of Galilee ... 57

PAGE

Chapter X

THE MESSIAH FOUND "Jesus from Galilee to Jordan" — Baptism of Jesus — Temptation — " Behold the Lamb of God " — Andrew and John with the Baptist — Our First Knowledge of John of Galilee — Parting of the Baptist and Jesus — The Two St. Johns and Jesus — Following Jesus in the Way — Blessed Invitation Accepted — Precious Memories — Change of Discipleship — Silence of John — Disciples at Emmaus — Brothers Brought to Jesus — Memorials of Andrew — John's Memories of His First Day with Jesus — Philip — Nathanael — Jesus' First Disciples — John the Nearest to Him 63

Chapter XI

JOHN A WEDDING GUEST Invited Guests to a Marriage Feast — Words of Mary and Jesus Concerning Wine — Three Commands of Jesus — First Miracle — Belshazzar's Feast — Believing Disciples — Believing Samaritans — What John Might Have Written — First Miracle, for Innocent Joy — John and Mary at the Feast — Mary's Thoughts of John and Her Sons — Her Thoughts of Jesus . . 72

Chapter XII

JOHN AND NICODEMUS Reasons for a Night Visit to Jesus — John's Possible Abode in Jerusalem — Nicodemus Goes Thither — His Conversation With Jesus— Seven Great Truths— Golden Text of the Bible — Golden Truth of John — Tradition of Nicodemus 79

Chapter XIII

ST. JOHN AND THE SAMARITANESS John's Record — With the Master — Valley and Well — A Personal Privilege — John With Jesus at the Well — Memories of the Region — Abraham — Thoughts of the Future — A Samaritaness — Strange Request — Living Water — Greater than Jacob — lO

PAGE

Difference in Waters — Woman's Request — Jesus a Prophet — Place and Spirit of True Worship—" Messiah Cometh " — John an Earnest Listener — Jesus' Revelation of Himself— Changed Name for the Well — Wonder of the Disciples — The Samaritaness a Gospel Messenger — Unknown Meat — John's Watchful Eye— His Story of the Well— A Memorable Hour for Him 84

Chapter XIV

THE CHOSEN ONE CF THE CHOSEN THREE OF THE CHOSEN TWELVE Two Pair of Brothers Mending Nets — Call of Four Disciples — Fishers of Men — A Partner in Fishing — Followers of Him — True Brothers — Family Ties — The Twelve Chosen — First Disciples, First Apostles — The Inner Circles — Peter and John — John — Aaron's Breastplate — Apostolic Stones .... 92

Chapter XV

JOHN IN THE HOME OF JAIRUS A Father's Cry — Reason for Hope — Sad Message — Strength of Faith — " Fear Not " — Curious Crowd — The Twelve and the Three — Jealousy — Ambition — A Coming Change — John One of Three — " Talitha Cumi " — A Lesson for John — A Future Scene — Influence of a Secret 97

Chapter XVI

JOHN A BEHOLDER OF CHRIST'S GLORY Family Prayer — Sayings of Men Concerning Jesus — Saying of Peter — A Great Meed — Christ's Prophecy of His Death — Apart by Themselves — Not Tabor, but Hermon — Thoughts of the Xine and of the Three — Heavy with Sleep — Answers to Two Prayers of Jesus — Transfigured — Moses and Elijah — Moses' Shining Face — The Lord's Shining Figure — The Shechinah — A Strange Proposal — Voice from the Clouds — Touch and Word of Jesus — Descent from Hermon — A Great

Secret — Peter's Memory of the Transfiguration — John's F.e::rd — daar. ~: a :he Earns: :r M:ses — M:ses and the Shechinah — Un granted Request, but Answered Prayer — Hermon, a Mount of Prayer ici

Chapter XVII

ST. JOHNS IMPERFECTIONS Four Reasons for Recording Failings — Jealousy and Pride — Intolerant Spirit — Two Questions, What ? and Who ? — First and Las: — An = Less:a — Tae Chili-Sriri: — Startled Disciples — John's Confess: :n — Lessen X:t Learned — Hcsjitality — Samaritan Ha:: ed — Elospi ta L : y Refused — Indignant Brothers — A Story of Elijah — Fiery Spirit of James and John — Rebuked by Jesus — Ambitious Brothers — Mother's Request — Sons' Request — Son swing Lord s Reply and Thoughts — Two Thrones — Though I mperf e : : . i jrand d fa nactex . .ill

Chapter XVIII

JOHN AND THE FAMILY OF BETHANY John's View of a Family Group — His Relation to It — A Sad Message and the Reply — The Lord's Delay and Concealed Purpose — A Possible Though: :f Iran's — John and Thomas — u Our Friend ' ' — • ' Sleepeth ' ' — J : hn an Eye- w i I n e ss — Mary and Jesus — "Jesus Wept" — Mourning Disciple — Glorified Father and Son — Jesus with Martha at the Tomb — Repeated Command, " Arise " — The Release from the Tomb — John a Companion in Joy — John's Memory of Mary — Lazarus' Tomb and Jesus' d::ss — A Tradition of Lazarus. . 120

Chapter XIX

JOHN'S MEMORIAL OF MARY A Scene in Bethany — An V n E n i s e 1 Picture — Jc fa n ■ ith Manuscripts of Matthew and Mark — A Great Event not L'nder- 5:00c — A J:;.-:*-! Mee:;ng — A Suyyer in H:r.:r — A F::::ug

PAGE

Place — Omitted Names — An Unnamed Woman Named- Mary's Cruse — Interested Witnesses — An Unusual Anointing — An Unwoven Towel — Odor of the Ointment — Judas the Grumbler — Jesus' Defence of Mary — A Prophecy — John the Preserver of Mary's Name — Prophecy Fulfilled — Judas and Mary — Judas and the Chief Priests — A Group of Three — A Sublime Action — A Group of Four 128

Chapter XX John A Herald Of The King

The Messiah-King — The Prophetic Colt — The Lord's Need — The Lord's Heralds — Hosannas — Disciples' Thoughts — Changed Earthly Scenes — Lamb on Earth and in Heaven — A Prophecy Recalled — Twice a Herald 138

Chapter XXI With The Master On Olivet

The Lord in His Temple — His Farewell to It — Admiring Disciples — Sad Prophecy — The Two Pair of Brothers on Olivet — A Sacred Memory — The Poet Milman's View from Olivet — Unanswered Question — The Coming Fall of Jerusalem — The Poet Heber's Lament Over Jerusalem 142

Chapter XXII John A Provider Of The Passover

The Betrayer — A Lamb and a Place — Not Judas, but Peter and John — A Secret Sign — The Goodman of the House — A New Friendship — Upper Room — " Furnished " — " Prepared " — Paschal Lamb — Child Memories — John and the Baptist — Temple Worship — Obeying Silver Trumpets — Slaying of the Lamb — Chant and Response — Lamb and Lamps — Alone with Jesus — Jerusalem Chamber — John and the Upper Room . 148 i

CHAPTER XXIII pag

JOHN S MEMORIES OF THE UPPER ROOM The Open Door of the Upper Room — Door Ajar — Revelation by- John — Two Statements by Luke — Cause of Contention — John's Relation to the Quarrel — Sittings at the Table — John and Judas Beside Jesus — Two Things About Jesus — Grieved Spirit — Bethany Recalled — A Great Contrast — Love and Reproof — Lesson Ended — A Sacred Relic — A Guest an Enemy — Troubled Spirit — 44 Verily, Verily " — Looking and Doubting — John's Gaze — " Is It I ? " — Peter and the Great Secret — Jesus' Hint of the Great Secret — Meaning of the Sop — Judas and Satan — Departure of Judas — " It Was Night n — A New Name — A New Command — Farewell Words and Prayer and Song — Closed Door to be Opened Again 15

Chapter XXIV

ST. JOHN WITH JESUS IN GETHSEMANE

An Eye-witness — Departure from the Upper Room — Kidron — Gethsemane — Olive Trees — John's Memories — Garden Owner — Charge to the Nine — Mt Moriah — Final Charge — A Prophecy — Companions in Glory and Sorrow — A Sad Change — John Beside Jesus — Sorrowful Soul — Charge to the Three — Jesus Alone — Jesus Seen and Heard — Garden Angel — Agonizing Prayer — Sleeping Disciples — Midnight Scene — Sleeping for Sorrow — Awakening Call — Flesh and Spirit — Repeated Prayer — Victory — " Arise " — Path of Prayer — Gathered Band — Lighted Way — Empty Upper Room — John's Contrasted Memories — Betrayal Sign — Warning Cry — L'nshrinking Purpose — The Meeting — Traitor's Kiss — Marred Visage — Repeated Question and Answer — Two Bands — One Request — Peter's Sword — Changed Voice — A Captive and Legions of Angels — The Fleeing Disciples , . .163

Chapter XXV

JOHN IN THE HIGH PRIEST'S PALACE Flight of the Nine— Captive Lord — Peter and John Following — The Palace — Disciple Within and Disciple Without — Peter Brought In— The First Denial — John's W T atch of Peter- Peter's Tears — His Restlessness — -His Sin and John's Silence — Three Turning and Looking — John's Pity for Peter — John and Pilate— Christ a King—" What is Truth?"— The Mocked King — " Behold the Man " — " Behold your King " — John the Faithful Watcher and Comforter

Chapter XXVI

Following the Cross — Jesus Bearing the Cross — Wearing the Thorny Crown— Great Multitude Following — " Daughters of Jerusalem " — Calvary — John's Memories — Group of Four Enemies — Seamless Coat — Casting Lots — Jesus and the Gamblers — Three Marys and Salome — John their Companion — A Contrast — Other Apostles — John and Salome — A Mother's Love — Mary's Thoughts — Sword of Anguish — Comfort in Sorrow — Lonely Future — Loyal Son — New Relation — Mary's Return from the Cross — Why John Her Guardian — A Poet's W T ords to John — In the New Home

Chapter XXVII John The Lone Disciple At The Cross — Continued

" I Thirst It Is Finished "—The Bowed Head— The Women and John — His Anxious Thoughts Relieved — Pierced Side — Two Prophecies — Prayer in Song — Joseph of Arimathsea — Nicodemus — Two Secret Friends of Jesus — Two Gardens — The Stone Closing the Tomb — Two Mourners at the Tomb — John's Thoughts on Leaving the Tomb

CHAPTER XXVIII page

JOHN AT THE TOMB John and Mary Magdalene — Mary's Mistaken Inference — Her Report to Peter and John — Their Hastening Toward the Tomb — John Alone at the Tomb — Silent Witnesses — Peter's Entry and Discovery — John Within the Tomb —The Rolled Napkin — Seeing and Believing — Lingering in the Tomb — The Return from the Tomb — Weeping Mary — Silence of Angels— Mary and the Angels — Jesus Unknown to Mary — " Mary " and " Rabboni " — John's Two Records of Mary — Day of Days — Evening Benedictions — Pierced Side — Close of John's Gospel 204

Chapter XXIX "whan Shall This Man Do?"

An Added Chapter — Old Scenes Revived — Following Peter — Stranger on the Shore — John and Peter — John's Remembrance of the Miracle — " Fire of Coals " — Reverent Guests — " Lovest Thou Me?" — " Feed My Lambs and Sheep" — An Interested Listener — A Prophecy— John Following Peter — Question and Answer — Mistake Corrected by John — Partial Answer to Peter's Questions — A Former Hour Recalled . . 212

Chapter XXX

ST. JOHN A PILLAR-APOSTLE IN THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH

On a Mount in Galilee — The Great Commission — Waiting for the Promised Comforter — Words of the Baptist Recalled — A Revived Hope and a Question — Jesus' Reply — The Ascension — Angels' Question — " The Upper Chamber "—Luke's Lists of the Apostles — The Lord's Mother, Brethren and Sisters — The Day of Pentecost — A Great Miracle — Pentecostal Gifts to John — Evening Prayer — Beautiful Gate — Lame man — A Gift Better than Alms — John Twice a Prisoner

PAGE

— Prison Angel — Preaching of Philip — John Sent to Samaria — John and the Samaritaness — His Changed Spirit — Death of James— The Pillar Apostles 219

Chapter XXXI

Last Record — Meeting of Paul and John— Years of Silence — Leaving Jerusalem — New Home in Ephesus — City and Temple — Paul and John — Churches of Asia Minor — John in Latinos — Solitude — The Lord's Day — Aid to Meditation — Calm and Turmoil — A Voice and a Command — A Contrast — M As One Dead " — The Eagle — John's Three Kinds of Writings — The Revelation — John's Gospel — His First Epistle — The Apostle of Love — His Second Epistle — The Apostle of Childhood — " Little Children, Love one Another " — John's Death 231

Chapter XXXII

A RETROSPECT Boyhood — The Disciple — What John Saw — What He Heard — What He Made Known — John a Reflector of Christ — Alone in History — Our Glimpses of Him — In Everlasting Remembrance on Earth — With His Lord in Heaven 241

Chapter XXXIII

LEGENDS AND TRADITIONS OF ST. JOHN St. John and the Robber-Chief — St. John and the Partridge — " Little Children, Love One Another " — Miraculous Preservation from Death — The Empty Grave — The Heaving Grave . . .251

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

St. John

Domenich'no .

Frontispiece \ Facing page

Map of the Land Where St. John Lived

. 19

Sea of Galilee ....

. 20

Site of Bethsaida

. 22

Calm on Galilee

Fro?n Photograph

. 26

Virgin, Infant Jesus and St. John (Madonna 1 p , , dellaSedia) ^Kapnaei v^nrisi aiiQ oi. juini . .

• 35

C i rY\ a onn A rt no in f hp 1 p T"t") nip

r^j.iTicon diiu. i\nnd. in Liic l ciiipic

• 39

The Boy John ....

. 41

Tprn Ipiti

1^1 U juIC ill • . . . .

• 43

Joshua's Host Crossing the Jordan

• 45

The Prophet Isaiah

Sargent

. 55

The Boy Jesus in the Temple

H. Hofmann

. • 58

A Street Scene in Nazareth

Visit of Mary to Elisabeth .

. 62

The Wilderness of Judea

. . 64

Traditional Place of Christ's Baptism

. . 67

The Baptism of Jesus

. 68

The First Disciples

Ittenbach

• • 83

The Marriage at Cana

. • 85

Belshazzar's Feast

. . 87

The Hill of Samaria

. 9^

Jacob's Well ....

. 92

The Miraculous Draught of Fishes

. 94

Raising the Daughter of Jairus

H. Hofmann

. 99

The Transfiguration

Moses on Mt. Pisgah

Artist Unknown

. 109

Bethany

. 120

IT

1 8 List of Illustrations

• I2D in urn final "Fnfrv into Tprnscjlpm

SjrtloLUrUC J-S U r €

• *33

Clirist and. St. John . . ,

. Ary Schtjffcr

. . 140

The Last Supper .

Benja?)ii?i West

. 156

In Gethsemane ....

Lriistave Dore

. 163

The Valley of Jehoshaphat

T A -

Christ Before Caiaphas

Christ Before Pilate (Ecce Honio)

E, Hof?nann

V ill i o I J-J ^ d i 1 1 i iilj I KJ j o . .

H. Hof?nann

The Virgin and St. John at the Cross

. 192

The Descent from the Cross

Rubens

In the Sepulchre ....

H. Hofmann

. 199

Jesus Appearing to Mary Magdalene

J- E. Plockhorst

. 202

(Easter Morning)

The Descent of the Spirit

. 206

St. Peter and St. John at the Beautiful Gate ....

. 211

Ephesus ..... From Photograph

. 227

The Isle of Patmos

Smyrna .....

• 234

Pergamos and the Ruins of the j Church of St. John . . f

. 242

Ruins of Laodicea

Old Engraving .

. 246

Map of the Land Where St. John Lived

CHAPTER I A Home in the Blest Land, by the Sacred Sea

" Blest land of Judaea ! Thrice hallowed in song, Where the holiest of memories pilgrim-like throng, In the shade of thy palms, by the shores of thy sea, On the hills of the beauty, my heart is with thee."

— Whittier.

A Galilean boy, a fisherman, a follower of Jesus, one of the twelve Apostles, one of the favored three, the beloved one, the Apostle of love, the Apostle of childhood, the one of all men who gave to mankind the clearest view of Jesus Christ — such was St. John.

For young people he is a fitting study. To aid such is the purpose of this volume.

Let us first glance at the land where he lived, surrounded by influences that directed his life, and moulded his character.

Palestine was called by God Himself " The Glory of All Lands." He made it the home of His people the Jews, who long waited for the promised time when it should have greater glory by becoming the home of the Messiah, the Son of God. Before He was born the Jews were conquered by the Romans, and governed by them instead of the Jewish judges and kings. The country was divided into three parts. The southern was called Judaea; the middle, Samaria; and the northern, Galilee, which was the most beautiful part. It contained the hills of Galilee, and the plain and sea of Gennesaret, hallowed by the presence of Jesus, and what He there did.

At the time of which we write, two thousand years ago, Galilee was not inhabited wholly or chiefly by jews. Other peoples, called Gentiles, were mixed with the Jewish race which continued to cultivate the land, and to tend the vineyards and olive-yards, and to dwell in the fisherman's huts and moor their boats on the sandy beech. Some Jews were artisans, working at their trades in the smaller towns. But there were vast crowds of foreigners whose life was a great contrast to that of the Jews. Their customs were those of the nations to which they belonged. They spoke their own languages. They worshiped their own false gods. Their amusements were such as they were accustomed to in their distant homes. This was especially true of the Romans who had theatres, chariot races, and gladiatorial combats, by the peaceful waters of Galilee.

A Home in the Blest Land 21

There were also Greeks who had sought new homes far from their native land. Many Arabians came from the deserts on swift horses, in roving bands in search of plunder. They wore brightly-colored dresses, and flashing swords and lances, carrying terror wherever they went. Egyptian travelers came with camels loaded with spices and balm. The bazaars were crowded with merchandise from India, Persia and Arabia. Long caravans from Damascus passed through Galilee, with goods for the markets of Tiberius on Lake Gennesaret, and the more distant cities of Jerusalem, Caesarea and Alexandria.

The gem of Galilee and of Palestine itself, is the Lake of Gennesaret, or the Sea of Tiberius. Its length is twelve and three-fourths miles: its greatest width, seven and one-fourth ; its greatest depth, one hundred and sixty feet. On the west is the beautiful Plain of Galilee. On the east are rounded hills; and rugged mountains which rise nine hundred feet above the waters, with grassy slopes, and rocky cliffs barren and desolate. Bowers of olive and oleander deck the base of the hills whose sides yield abundant harvest. Around the lake is a level white beach of smooth sand. Gennesaret has been fittingly compared to a sapphire set in diamonds; and to a mirror set in a frame of richness and beauty.

" He hath made everything beautiful," says Solomon concerning God. It is a well-known saying of Jewish writers, "Of all the seven seas God created, He made choice of none but the Lake of Gennesaret." It was called the "beloved of God above all the waters of Canaan."

The writer of this volume gratefully recalls blessed memories of Gennesaret, wishing his young friends could view with their ov/n eyes those scenes which he asks them to behold through his own. Then could they join him in singing with the saintly McCheyne,

" How pleasant to me thy deep blue wave, O Sea of Galilee !

For the glorious One who came to save, Hath often stood by thee.

" O Saviour, gone to God's right hand, Yet the same Saviour still, Graved on Thy heart is this lovely strand, And every fragrant hill."

At the period of which we speak the region was full of people. Nine large towns, each containing fifteen thousand inhabitants, bordered on the lake. Numerous populous villages lined the shores, or nestled in the neighboring valleys, or were perched on the hilltops. Fishermen's huts — which were mere stone sheds — fringed the lake. They stood in every rift of rock, and on every knoll, with their little cornfields and vine ledges extending to the sandy beach.

A Home in the Blest Land 23

On the seashore, among the chief buildings, were palaces for Roman princes, and quarters for Roman soldiers. The waters were covered with boats for pleasure, merchandise and fishing. Four thousand floated at one time on the narrow lake. Vast quantities of fish were caught in the waters, supplying not only the people of Galilee, but the populous city of Jerusalem, especially when crowded with pilgrims; and were even sent to distant ports of the Mediterranean. We shall see John's interest in such labors.

On the north-western shore of Gennesaret is a beautiful bay sheltered by hills and projecting cliffs. The sight is such as would be a fisherman's delight— a little haven from storm, with a broad beach of sand on which to moor his boats. There is no place like it in the region of Galilee. Close to the water's edge, it is supposed, was the town of Bethsaida, probably meaning House of Fish.

CHAPTER II Five Boys of Bethsaida — Rambles About Home

"Walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother." — Matt. iv. 18.

" And going on from thence, He saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother." — v. 21.

" Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter." — John i. 44.

Bethsaida was honored as being the home of five of

the Apostles of Jesus. We know nothing definitely

concerning them until their manhood. We wish we

knew of their childhood. It is only because of their

relation to Jesus that they have been remembered.

Had it not been for this they would, like many other

boys of Galilee, have lived on the shores of Gennes-

aret, fished in its waters, died, and been forgotten.

These five Bethsaidan boys were two pairs of brothers

and a friend. The names of one pair were Andrew

and Peter. They were the sons of Jonas, a fisherman.

As they grew up they were engaged with him in

casting the net and gathering fish, by day or by night,

and thus securing a livelihood without thought of 24

Boys of Bethsatda 25

change of occupation. It was a Jewish custom for boys to learn a trade or business, which was generally that of their fathers.

The names of the other pair of brothers were James and John. Their father was named Zebedee. He also was a fisherman having so much prosperity in his business that he employed servants to help him; Judging by what we know of the family they must have been highly respected by the people among whom they lived.

We do not know the exact date of John's birth. He was probably younger than James, and several years younger than Peter.

The mother of James and John was named Salome. We know more of her than of her husband. She was a warm friend of Jesus, ministering to Him when He was living, and was one of the few who cared for His dead body. Her sons seemed to be greatly attached to her. All were of kindred spirit, having like thoughts,, feelings and plans.

James and John were brothers indeed, companions until the death of James separated them. The feelings of boyhood must have been greatly strengthened in later scenes, and by influences which we shall have occasion to notice. As we know of them as daily companions in manhood, we think of the intimacy and affection of boyhood. It will help us to gain an idea of their companionship, and the influences of their surroundings, if we notice some things with which they were familiar in the region of their home.