I. PETER'S DISCIPLESHIP;
OR,
PETER THE LEARNER AND FOLLOWER.
After his first interview with Christ, Peter seems to have returned
to his usual business, toiling for his support, without any
idea whatever of the manner in which his destiny was connected
with the wonderful being to whom he had been thus introduced.
We may justly suppose, indeed, that being convinced by the testimony
of John, his first religious teacher and baptizer, and by
personal conversation with Jesus, of his being the Messiah, that
he afterwards often came to him, (as his home was near the Savior's,)
and heard him, and saw some of the miracles done by
him. "We may take it for granted," as Lardner does, "that
they were present at the miracle at Cana of Galilee, it being expressly
said that Jesus and his disciples were invited to the marriage
solemnity in that place, as described in the second chapter
of John's gospel. It is also said in the same chapter, 'this beginning
of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested
forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him;' that is, were
confirmed in the persuasion that he was the Messiah." And
among the number of the disciples of Jesus, Simon and his
brother were evidently numbered, from the time when they received
their first introduction to him, and were admitted to the
honors of an intimate acquaintance. The formal manner in
which Jesus saluted Simon, seems to imply his adoption, or
nomination at least, as a disciple, by referring to the remarkable
coincidence of meaning between his name and the character of
a hopeful learner in the school of divine knowledge. Still the
two brothers had plainly received no appointment which produced
any essential change in their general habits and plans of life,
for they still followed their previous calling, quietly and unpretendingly,
without seeming to suppose, that the new honors attained
by them had in any way exempted them from the necessity
of earning their daily bread by the sweat of their brow.
To this they devoted themselves, laboring along the same sea of
Galilee, whose waters and shores were the witnesses of so many
remarkable scenes of the life of Christ. Yet their business was
not of such a character as to prevent their enjoying occasional in-
