Jonathan Goforth-Chang-san Refused

By Mary Vee
Year: October 1894

Jonathan Goforth-45 years old

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

My name is Jonathan Goforth. My wife, Rosalind, and I are missionaries in China and we are having an exciting time telling the people here about a living God who loves them. 

Last time I mention a young man named Chang-san. He came to one our meetings in Changte. He didn't live in the city, but in a near by village. One day he heard the music from our church service and came to see what was going on. 

Chang-san is not a farmer. He is a student at a university in Changte. His father expected great things from him and has told all his children that they were not to get involved with foreigners in any way. Because of his father's anger, one the entire town knew raged at times, Chang-san had no intentions of disobeying this order.

But when he spoke with me after the church service he struggled. In his heart he wanted to believe in Jesus. In his head his father had a strong hold of his mind. I said, "Let God take care of your father." Chang-san decided to follow his heart and put his faith in the God who truly loved him.

Chang-san came back each night while he stayed in the city. He asked me questions, excited to learn more about God. The last night he stayed in town I said, "You need to tell your family about your faith in God. This is not a secret we keep."

He lowered his head. "I understand. You came to China to tell my people about the true God instead of staying at your home. I am grateful." But sadness weighed on his face. "I will tell them even though I am afraid what he will do."

Like every morning, I woke early and prayed for Chang-san, asking God to protect this young man. I longed for him to come back and say that telling his parents turned out all right even if they disagreed.

One night, I stayed late cleaning the room where he had meetings. The sun had gone down and the work nearly done. It had been eleven days since I'd seen Chang-san. I walked outside and saw a man wobble into the compound. I ran to him. His clothes hung like rags and he was bleeding. "Come. Sit over here. Can I get a doctor for you?"

The man raised his head and looked at me. "It's me."

I recognized his voice. "Chang-san?" He had been beaten so badly I couldn't recognize him. "Come into my home." I put his one arm over my shoulders and helped him walk. He didn't have the strength to talk while hobbling to my door.

While he sat in our kitchen, I got a bowl of warm water and a clean towel to wash his wounds. "What happened?"

"I did as you said. As I walked home to my village I practiced what I'd say to my father about believing in Christ. I was afraid to tell him. Very afraid. I didn't tell anyone right away. Each time I saw my father I knew he would beat me if he knew the truth."

He pressed his hand to his heart. "In here, I also struggled. I knew I needed to tell Father. Not for my sake but for his. He should hear that there is a living God who loves him. I couldn't hold this inside any longer. I went to my father and fell at his feet. I banged my head against the floor knowing how upset he would be once hearing what I had done. I wept as I had never done before. Sobbing kept me from saying a word."

"He shouted at me. 'What have you done? Have you gambled away the family money while at university? I know you have done something terrible. Tell me at once. I demand it.'

"'All right, Father,' I said to him. 'I have done nothing that I regret.' It took minutes to find the courage for the next words. "I heard some music and walked closer to where it came from. A man spoke when the music ended. He told the most remarkable story about a God who loves us. Who loves every man and woman.

"Before I could say another word he grabbed me by the neck and threw me against the floor. He kicked and hit me then ordered me to stand. When I did he shoved me toward the door and beat me until I fell into the street. Neighbors crowded by and watched him beat me. He said, 'The foreigners have him under a spell.'"

Chang-san had suffered terribly. I kept washing his wounds and listened. "What did you do?"

He swallowed. "I tried to protect my head but gave my father honor by not fighting back. He is an old man. Anyway, he grew physically tired and stepped back while heaving in his breaths. He walked to me and kicked once more shouting, 'Give up this ridiculous teaching. Curse the foreigners at once.'

 "I can't.' I said, 'I have made up my mind. I will follow the ways of the living God.' His face turned the darkest shade of red with anger. He shouted, 'Get me a hatchet. My son has dishonored me. For this, he must die.' Surprisingly, no one in the crowd left to get the hatchet. This only made him angrier. He stomped into our house to get one."

I set the bowl down. "What did you do?"

"It wasn't I did. There are no other Christians in my village. This I know. Yet some of the older men helped me stand and took me to a neighbor's house. They told me to hide under the straw. That night one of them came to I hid and said Father had not calmed at all. If I wanted to live, I needed to leave. I climbed over the wall and came here to ask you what the living God would want me to do next."

I had no idea. This would take prayer. "Sleep here tonight." That was all I could think of for the time.


But this is not the end of his story. Life was not easy for the Chinese who believed in God. There is more to Chang-san's story.




Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.



Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.

.

Let Jonathan hear from you!

Leave a comment below.

Matthew-He Never Asked Them to Leave

By Mary Vee
Matthew 4; Mark 1; Luke 4

From Matthew's Journal 

Photo by Mary Vee
Remains of the synagogue in Capernaum
The area has several rooms and is quite large.

My name is Matthew. I am a disciple of Jesus.  I am here with other disciples, so they may add something today. 

We followed Jesus throughout Galilee, which is in the northeastern region of Israel. 

We stopped in many cities and villages watching Him teach in the local synagogue, preach the good news of the kingdom, and heal every disease and sickness the local people had. 

Not long after we visited the second city, the number of people traveling long distances to see Jesus grew a lot. I heard several say they'd walked days with their loved one who needed Jesus to heal them. The news had spread all over Syria. Jesus healed the ill, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those with seizures, and the paralyzed. He healed all of them. It was during this time that I began to understand what Jesus could do. 

Large crowds from Galilee, the group of ten cities called Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the area across the Jordan followed Jesus, longing to hear Him teach and see Him do miracles.

One day a man with leprosy came to Jesus. The crowd stepped back from him. No one wanted to be near a person with leprosy, the disease was highly contagious. 

The man fell to his knees and begged Jesus, "Please. If you are willing, you can take away my leprosy." 

Jesus eyes softened with compassion. He reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing." His voice was soft and spiced with something that was much more than hope. It was...truth. 

Then Jesus said, "Be clean!" Immediately. I really mean it. That very second the leprosy left the man. His skin was smooth. There was no sign of the disease on him at all. 

The man's eyes widened. He turned his hands over and back. He looked up at Jesus with his mouth open but no words spoken.

Jesus told him to go. "Don't speak to anyone. You must first go to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for a disease that is no longer in your body. This will be your proof to them that you are healed."

The man walked away as Jesus said, but he didn't go straight to the priests. He shared his excitement with everyone he saw, spreading the news of what happened to him. 

This brought so many people to each new town that Jesus wanted to visit, He couldn't enter any openly. The only places he could walk was in secluded places. 

Even still, the people found him and came by large numbers begging to see Him.

He barely had time to sleep a few hours.

He didn't have time to eat much.

But He never asked them to leave.

Never.

Instead He showed His compassion to everyone.

Come back to read the next story.

*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.

Peter-Sometimes We Need To Be Alone

By Mary Vee
Mark 1

From Peter's Journal 

Photo by Mary Vee
Remains of the synagogue in Capernaum
The area has several rooms and is quite large.

My name is Peter. I am a disciple of Jesus.  I am here in Capernaum with several disciples. You may know some, they are James and John the sons of Zebedee, Matthew, Mark, Luke and others.

Last time I wrote, Jesus wanted to go to my house. I was very thankful because while he was there he healed my mother-in-law. 

In my time, whole families lived under the same roof. They had different sections of the large home, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, but everyone lived in the same place. When someone married, a new wall with rooms were built on to the end. Not only is Israel a small country, but our way of life has taught us to keep families together, especially while we are ruled by other empires.

My mother-in-law was deathly ill when Jesus arrived. I didn't know she was sick, it was a fever that came on suddenly. Jesus went to her room and healed her. Right away, without needing time to rest, she got up from her sick bed and made food for us! 

We had a good time listening to Jesus talk at my home the rest of the day. When the evening came, it was after the sunset, the word had spread what Jesus had done for my mother-in-law and the man at the synagogue.

People came to our door. They brought their sick and demon-possessed family and friends. The crowd became so great, surely the entire town had gathered outside our door wanting Jesus to heal their loved one. 

And he did. He was so kind to them. Never getting angry at the huge number of people that seemed to keep coming then leave once their loved one was healed. 

Earlier that day, in the synagogue, there was a man whom a demon had possessed. The demon spoke to Jesus, actually he shouted a few words. Jesus told it to leave. This evening, no demon was allowed to speak a single word, because they knew who he was. 

The demons knew he was the Son of God yet they did not believe or have faith in Him. At that time, I didn't fully understand who Jesus was. I knew he was special. That I wanted to hear more of what he said. But in truth, I did not fully understand at that time that Jesus was and is God, the only one who could save me from eternal death.

Early the next morning, before the sun had risen I got up and noticed Jesus was not there. I walked through the city looking for him and found him by himself. He'd found a place to be alone to pray. To have time alone with His Father in Heaven.

Photo by Mary Vee
The remains of one home in Capernaum possibly Peter's
Many branches of a family shared one big dwelling.
Rooms were walled off with their own exterior entrance.

"Jesus," I said, "Everyone is looking for you."

He knew why. And if he'd come back to my home he'd be there for years, healing every person who travelled miles to see him.

"Let's go somewhere else," Jesus said. "To a nearby village, so I can preach there also." 

I began to see that his healing people was very important, but he also needed to take time to pray and teach. Like I said, the more I am with Jesus, the more I learn.

Come back to read the next story.

*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.

Jonathan Goforth-Chang-san Walked to the Next Village Because of the Music

By Mary Vee
Year: October 194

Jonathan Goforth-45 years old

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

My name is Jonathan Goforth. My wife, Rosalind, and I are missionaries in China and we are having an exciting time going from village to village spending one month in each, telling the people about the living God who loves them. We formed churches in each village and placed Chinese leaders in charge. The people are very interested in learning about the God who loves them.

Every so often we came back to our base city, Changte to see how they were doing, if they needed help, or had questions. My family and the other missionaries stayed in Changte for about a month before visiting the other ten villages again.

The Apostle Paul did his work for Christ the same way. He went from one place to another telling everyone who would listen about the living God who loved them. He also made it a priority to revisit those new churches, to write them when he was away, and to help them in anyway they needed.

I set up a meeting to preach to anyone interested in Changte. A huge crowd came filling the seats, but one man caught my attention. He was young, about twenty or so. He appeared a well dressed, educated man. At the end of the service I asked if anyone had questions about believing in God, they could go to a side room that we had set up earlier.

Among the people who went was this young man. I squeezed through the crowd to get into the room to speak with him. I saw him sitting in a corner and joined him. "My name is Jonathan Goforth."

He bowed. "My name is Chang-san."

"You look like an educated young man," I said. "What drew you to this meeting."

Chang-san smiled just a little. "The music. I heard the music and wanted to see what was going on."

"That is wonderful. So, would you like me to tell you more about the living God?"

"Yes, please."

He sat there and listened to me talk about Jesus, God's Son who left heaven to live here with us for a time. He taught us what God expects while He was here. When He finished His work, Jesus paid the price for all our sins by giving up his life in a terrible death on a cross. As the only perfect one who has never sinned, Jesus was the only one who could take our punishment. I answered all his question and waited for him to ask more. When he didn't have any more questions, I asked if he wanted to place his faith in Jesus, the son of God, the One who loved every person so much that He gave his life to pay for our sins then rose from death and went to heaven. All of this was done so that we could live forever in heaven.

Chang-san said yes then asked me to help him pray. 

I did.

And he asked Jesus to be his Savior.

But this is not the end of his story. Life was not easy for the Chinese who believed in God. There is more to Chang-san's story.





Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.



Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.

.

Let Jonathan hear from you!

Leave a comment below.

Peter-Fever Kept Her Down, But Jesus Help Her Up

By Mary Vee
Mark 1

From Peter's Journal 

Photo by Mary Vee
Remains of the synagogue in Capernaum
The area has several rooms and is quite large.

My name is Peter. I am a disciple of Jesus.  I am here in Capernaum with several disciples. You may know some, they are James and John the sons of Zebedee, Matthew, Mark, Luke and others.

We went with Jesus to the synagogue. I told the story last time but here is a reminder, What a time! He spoke from the sacred Scriptures then forced a demon to leave a man. The whole thing caused quite a stir. As we left the synagogue, men who heard and saw Jesus that morning talked about what had happened as they walked away.  

I hadn't expected to see such a thing myself. I tell you, every minute I am with Jesus, I want to be with Him more. 

In my time, many men have risen to importance and have had a following. They inspire those who follow them to unite against the Romans to preserve our way of culture and way of life. But Jesus. He's different. What He says. What He does. His words and actions aren't about fighting the Romans. His message is more about us changing. I'm not really sure how to explain it yet. 

Photo by Mary Vee
The remains of one home in Capernaum possibly Peter's
Many branches of a family shared one big dwelling.
Rooms were walled off with their own exterior entrance.

Since my house was close by, we went there to get something to eat. 

When we arrived I saw my mother-in-law was in bed. She had a high fever and looked really ill. Her face was red from the burning heat. Her lips dry. She couldn't keep her eyes open and didn't speak. 

I gathered the disciples and Jesus away from her room and told them the news. "My mother-in-law is very ill. She has a terrible fever. I'm concerned she many not live."

"May I see her?"Jesus asked.

"Yes. Of course." I expected He would try to speak to her then console me. When someone older was this ill, there wasn't much that could be done. I showed him the way to her room. 

He walked into the room and said her name. I was surprised because I didn't remember telling Him her name. He walked to her bed and without saying a word gently reached for her hand. 

He spoke with such compassion. "Are you ready to get up?"

She smiled at him. Did you hear that? She could smile!

Happiness replaced the sickness in her eyes. She looked at him and said with a strength I didn't expect. "Yes."

Jesus helped her to sit. 

She didn't act sick any more. The red in her face had left. Her strength restored, and she could stand. She walked as though she had no illness. She looked into the front room and saw the others. "You must be hungry. I'll fix you something to eat."

Without a thought, a stumble, or a waver of her legs, she set to making a meal for all of us! 

Before she went to the food storage, she said to me, "Peter, you have been searching for the man who will save us for some time now. This man, Jesus, is the one you should listen to and follow."

Even though I was there, I'm not exactly sure what was communicated between them. But this I know, my mother-in-law was near death with fever and now she is well because of Jesus.

Come back to read the next story.

*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.

Mark-The Demon in the Synagogue

By Mary Vee
Mark 1

From Mark's Journal 

Photo by Mary Vee
Remains of the synagogue in Capernaum
The area has several rooms and is quite large.

My name is Mark. I am a disciple of Jesus.  I am here in Capernaum with Peter, James and John the sons of Zebedee, and other disciples who travel with Jesus where ever He goes, listen to him speak to crowds, and stay with Him afterwards. 

Capernaum is on the northern side of the Sea of Galilee. This is the town where Peter lives. Today is the Sabbath. Jesus woke early and wanted to go to the synagogue, as is the custom on the Sabbath.  We went with him.

Once the people gathered at the synagogue, Jesus began to teach. The service is not like what many of you have today where usually one person stands before the people and teaches. In our time, if a man had something to teach, he taught. On this day, Jesus was the first to speak. 

He talked for a time, and as he did, the men whispered to each other. This was not considered rude. Discussions and learning happened when these questions grew louder than a whisper. This time, their whispers came with surprise in their voice. The men felt, and I had to agree, that Jesus spoke as a person of authority. As though the words He said were His, not simply teachings from the scroll. 

They seemed confused whether they should respect His authority or not. 

From the back of the room, one man stood and shouted at Jesus. He said, "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?" The voice coming from the man was deep and raspy. By the fierce look on his face and the sound of his voice, we knew a demon had taken over him. It then said, "Have you come to destroy us?"

Those sitting near the man scooted away. No one wanted to be near demons.

It shouted louder, "I know who you are. You are the Holy One of God!"

The men looked at each other and whispered words I couldn't hear. The other disciples and I watched Jesus unsure what would happen next. 

Jesus sternly looked at the man and shouted, "Be quiet! Come out of him!"

That very instant the evil spirit shook the man violently and left him with a terrible shriek. The man collapsed down to his seat and had a calm but tired look on his face.

The men in the room were so shocked. Their voices rose saying, "What is happening? Is this a new teaching? He spoke with such authority!" They looked at Jesus then at one another. "Jesus even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him."

The men left the synagogue that day and went about telling everyone what they had seen and heard. "Jesus spoke with authority. It was nothing like the rabbis we've heard spouting the teachings they'd been taught. Then he made that demon leave that man, right in front of us."

Neighbors told friends who told family and their neighbors throughout all of Galilee what Jesus had done. 

Come back to read the next story.

*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.

Jonathan Goforth-Power to Stop Sleep

By Mary Vee
Year: October 1902

Jonathan Goforth-43 years old

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

My name is Jonathan Goforth. My wife, Rosalind, and I are missionaries in China.

This is month number two that my family has been back in China with me. God gave me the idea of what He wanted us to do during this time in China. 

Every month we would travel with the other missionaries to a new village and live in the new village for a month. WE would teach and share the Good News about the living God who loved them then move on to a new village. We would continue for ten months. At the end of the time we would spend the last two months of the year revisiting the ten villages to see if they needed help.

Last time I told you about our first day in Wuan. Our second day we set up a building that was given to us to use. The big room would be our church. The small room in the back would be my family's home. Rosalind spent the day setting up our home while the other missionaries and I set up the big room with the portable organ, a lectern, chairs for the people, and a big sign with words for the songs.

Many villagers came the next day for our first service. I knew they mostly came because they were curious why foreigners came back after so many had been killed in the Boxer Rebellion. I used that question as a chance to tell them about the God who loved them. They wanted to know more so they came back to the church service.

One day, Mr. Yen came to my office. He held the Bible I gave him in his hand. "I don't understand."

"What is the question?" I asked.

"Ever since I started reading this book you gave me, I have problems sleeping. But this only happens on days when I make a judgement against a person that I know is a wrong decision. Sometime I am paid to convict an innocent person. Sometimes I order the person to pay more than they have too. 

"Since I have started reading this book, I cannot sleep the nights I make a wrong judgement. I don't understand why that is. Sleep never was a problem for me before."

I invited Mr. Yen to tea. We sat on the floor together. For the rest of the afternoon I shared with him about the God who loves him. The God who expects us to be honest and keep His law. 

He had many questions.

I showed him the answers in the Bible he brought with him.

When the month ended in Wuan, twenty people had believed in the God who loves them and his Son, Jesus Christ. There were also many other people who were very interested in hearing more about God.

Over the next several years, we went to villages in the North Honan region of China telling the Chinese people about the living God, not one made of stone or wood. In every place we were welcomed, and many people listened and asked questions.



Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.



Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.

.

Let Jonathan hear from you!

Leave a comment below.

Peter-The Catch that Threw Me Overboard

By Mary Vee
Luke 5

From Peter's Journal 

Photo by Mary Vee
Sea of Galilee-Where Peter lived and fished

My name is Peter, I am a disciple of Jesus and a fisherman. I had gone out fishing all night with my friends. We didn't catch a thing. That happens sometimes. It's annoying, but it happens.

My fishing partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee and I docked out boats alongside other fishermen's boats. The location was like a marketplace on the north side of the Sea of Galilee. People came first thing in the morning to buy fresh fish as it came in off the boats. It was pretty crowded.

I notice Jesus on the rocky shore. Apparently, the people who came to buy fish noticed him, too. They gathered around him as he began to speak. 

The more he spoke the more people gathered around him. 

There were two boats close together, one was mine. Jesus, seeing my boat was empty, climbed into it. He asked me to push off a little ways from shore. The crowds moved into the space where Jesus had been standing. From the boat, Jesus continued to talk to those on the shore. His voice carried really well over the water to them. 

The other men who fished with me helped steady the boat and keep it in place. Jesus sat down and continued talking to the crowd.

When He finished his talk, He turned to me and said, "Put out to the deep."

I thought, now? We'd just come in from fishing.

He said, "Put your nets down, out in the deep."

I shrugged. I said, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. The fish just aren't biting. But, because you say so,I will let down the nets."

Seriously, I didn't know what to expect. Theoretically, there shouldn't be any fish coming into the nets. Then again, Jesus was in the boat and He is the one who said to put the nets down. I'm intrigued to see what will happen.

So, I did. 

Before the nets had been in the water a minute, the nets pulled down. That only happened when fish swam into them. I was amazed. My fishing partners were amazed as well. We grabbed hard on the line, pulling up as fast as we could, barely heaving the tremendous weight into the boat at all. The netting stretched and broke in places. This was going to be a huge catch. The biggest one I've ever seen!

Just that fast.

We couldn't keep up with the weight of the fish. I was concerned too many of the lines would be broken and we'd lose the catch. Other fishermen were near by. We called to them to come help. They rowed their boats close to ours and grabbed hold of the lines, tugging with all their strength. There was so much fish we filled both of the boats. 

The weight of the fish pushed the boats lower in the water. I thought we might sink. 

Everything happened so fast. I had never seen so many fish in the boats. This was the greatest catch I had every seen. I dropped everything and went to Jesus. I fell to my knees, so overwhelmed all I could do was say, "Go away from me Lord." Ever moment I was near this man I saw he was much more than just a man. So much more. He was and is the Savior. The Christ. God's Son. "I am a sinful man!"

Oh, if only you could have seen all that fish, you'd understand how overwhelmed we were. 

Jesus said to me, "Don't be afraid. From now on you will catch men. Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men." 

It didn't take me even a second to leave everything behind, our fishing boats, our fishing business, our families and followed Jesus as our full time work. I had so much to learn. And I wanted to learn everything I could from Him.

Come back to read the next story.

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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.