Fishers Of Men (1941)

[music] Why Anna to the well so early in the morning? Yes, mother. I did not go last night. It is not like you Anna to leave drawing water to the morning when there's a meal. prepare. >> Simon can wait for his meal. >> I see you quarreled again last night. >> His temper is unbearable. >> Simon always was quick-tempered, Anna. But he has a warm heart. >> Not so warm as his tongue. But you are his mother. You can only see his good points. >> Maybe, Anna. Mothers are like that. I know Simon is big and blundering, but I do know that his heart is the biggest thing about him. yet not big enough to curb his temper or small member like his tongue. >> My daughter, every man has his faults, and I will admit Simon is no saint. >> I should like to see anyone trying to make a saint out of Simon. >> Yet he is still the same Simon that Anna loved so dearly. And I think Anna loves him still. >> Of course I do. It's only his temper that upsets me, sir. >> Simon's temper may be changeable, but his heart is constant. I am sure he loves you truly. >> If I go now, I may have time to make his meal before he comes from the boat. >> Perhaps I was quick-tempered, too. >> Why don't you look where you're going, Simon Baron? >> What do you mean by spreading your nets all over the road? >> Where is the man then? >> Some people think you're always falling over things and leaving things about. >> Anybody would think the whole lakeside belong to you. >> Don't up like that. My son with an accident. >> Please come home now, son. tired, children. >> I am a heavy knight of two men shorter than mates. >> Two men short? What do you mean? Where is Andrew? >> Not the sign of him all night. Simon and I had to manage as best we could. >> But wherever can they be? That's what I'd like to know. And John was missing from his boat. The debut had to marry the same as we did. >> Then I expect they are together somewhere. I should not wonder if they were with John the Baptist. They have been talking very much about John baptizing someone from Nazareth. >> H I heard that story. The Baptist's own cousin to Jesus of Nazareth, a carpenter. I believe >> that is the name. Andrew may have gone to hear more about him. >> Hardly likely to miss a nice fishing for that. >> I wonder. I have not seen him since yesterday morning. I hope no harm has come to him. >> I could have understood if it had been Simon. >> Andrew, my son, >> where have you been? >> With John the Baptist. I'm sorry about the boat's father, but the most amazing thing has happened. >> What is it, Andrew? >> We have found the Messiah. >> The Messiah? >> Take care what you're saying, Andrew. >> I understand, father, but John the Baptist is a prophet, and he declares this Jesus to be the son of God who is to come. >> Son of God. I have seen him and talked with him. >> You have seen Jesus? >> Yesterday I went with John, our partner, to see John the Baptist. And while we were talking, Jesus of Nazareth came by. We did not know him, but John pointed him out and said, "Behold the lamb of God." We went after him to see where he was lodging. He turned and saw us and asked us what we wanted. >> You spoke with him. >> We asked him where he was staying, and he invited us to come and see. We went with him and stayed talking the rest of the day. We were so amazed at the way he spoke, we could not leave him. We're quite sure we have found the Messiah. >> Well, my son, I trust you may be right. >> Why should it not be right? The Messiah must come someday. Why not now? >> That's what I think. Mother, >> you must be hungry. Andrew, I will prepare food. >> No, mother. I'm not hungry. I must find Simon and tell him about the Messiah. Is he home? >> He's just gone with Anna. >> Before I do anything else, I must take Simon to Jesus. >> Will this mean being away all night again? >> No, father. I promise to be with the boats tonight. Why are you so angry, son? You haven't spoken a word since we came in. >> What should I say? You don't suppose I like being dragged home by a woman? >> I was afraid you would come to blows. >> Serve him right if we had. He's a pestilent fellow, always leaving his tackle lying about. >> You're tired, Simon. >> I am tired doing two men's work all night. >> How is that? >> Andrew did not come. Neither did John for that matter. >> Never mind. Here is your meal. >> And not a minute too soon. >> I'm sorry, Simon. I was just coming back to prepare it. >> Why were you at mother's house so early? >> I was unhappy about last night. The way we quarreled. You left me without a word. Anything might have happened to you. >> Simon, where have you been? >> We have found the Messiah. >> You have found the Messiah? John the Baptist pointed him out to us yesterday. We went with him and talked with him all day. >> Who was he? >> Jesus of Nazareth. John said he was the lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. >> Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah. >> I feel sure, Simon. So will you when you have heard him. I've come to fetch you. Will you come with me? >> Lead the way, Andrew. Has Andrew returned? >> No, I came to see if Simon were home. >> I have not seen him since he went with Andrew this morning. >> You are anxious, Anna? >> Yes, because of our quarrel last night. I wanted to make it right with Simon today, but Andrew snatched him away before I could say a word. >> Poor Emma. Do you think they will go straight to the boats? Perhaps Simon is still angry with me. >> Here they come. God be praised. >> Andrew, your father is waiting for you. >> I'm coming now, mother. Why, Emma? What is the matter? >> You were so long away. I was afraid you were still angry with me. >> Angry? Why should I be? >> You were very angry last night, son. >> Oh, last night. Yes, I was angry then. And so were you. I'd forgotten all that. >> Did you see Jesus of Nazareth? >> Yes, and talked with him. We asked him all manner of questions. Did he answer them? >> Everyone, I never heard a man speak as he speaks. I'm sure he must be the son of God. >> He has made a great impression on you, Simon. >> Anna, it was the look he gave me directly. Andrew took me to him. Such a look. It seemed to go right through me. Then he said, "You are Simon, the son of Jonah. You shall be called Peter." Peter. >> Yes, Peter. Man of rock. What a surname for your impulsive Simon. >> I wonder what Jesus could have meant by that. You do seem different, Simon. You're not irritable or impatient or in a temper. >> You know how blundering I am, how changeable, thinking one thing one day and something else the next. >> Yes, sir. It seems as though there is something new inside me. Something I can't explain. >> Perhaps it is the beginning of Peter, the man of rock. >> You think it could be, Anna. How pleased he would be. And I would like to please him. Just think of it. Simon Peter, firm as a rock, constant and loving like him. You know what I mean when you see him, Anna? If only it could be, if I could be so changed. No more fits of temper, no more quarrels, no more moods, and Anna would have a good husband at last. [music] What is happening Jonah? I do not know >> by Simon Andrew. They caught so many fish they had to get James and John to help them. >> What? This morning? But we worked all night and caught nothing. >> I know, father, but the master has come. >> You mean Jesus of Nazareth? >> Yes, he was teaching the people on the shore. They were pressing so hard that he stepped into our boat and asked me to push out a little from the land. Andrew and I left washing our nets and got into the boat with him. When he finished speaking, instead of asking us to bring the boat in, he told us to launch out to deep water and lower the nets for a take. I was surprised and told him we'd worked all night and caught nothing. But I lowered the nets. And when we came to draw them in, there was such a sh of fish that the nets began to break. We made signals to James and John in the next boat to come and help us. I thought they'd never reach us. When they came up, the four of us worked desperately till we fill both boats so full of fish they began to sink. When we saw the size of the catch, we were amazed because we all realized that this was something beyond the power of man. >> I fell down at his knees and cried, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." But Jesus said, "Have no fear. From now on, you shall catch men." When we had brought the boats to land, he asked us to follow him and be his disciples. We're going with him to gather all people into the kingdom like fish into a net. It will be wonderful. I'm sure it will be Simon. >> I must go and tell Anna. >> What does Simon mean about going with Jesus? >> The four of us are going with him. Father, >> going with him, but where? >> Wherever he goes. But you don't mean to be with him all the time. >> That is our purpose. To be his disciples. But what about me in the fishing, Andrew? You will have the hired men. >> But surely you realize that hired men can never take the place of sons. >> I know, father. We would not leave you except for him. If you had seen his look when he told us to follow him, you would know that we could not refuse. >> I can't think what has come over you and Simon. Now that John the Baptist is in prison, you must go and follow this Jesus. >> We have promised. Don't be too hard on them, Jonah. Who knows? This may be their call to a great destiny. >> Great destiny indeed. Two Galilean fishermen. You women are always full of strange notions. Let's hope they'll forget it in a few days. People are gathering again this morning. Every sick person in Galilee must be at Simon's door. >> They must have heard how Jesus healed so many last night. >> Another week begun. Still no sign of Simon and Andrew returning to the boats. >> Jesus has called them to something better. Jonah, >> I cannot understand his influence with two sensible men like Simon and Andrew, leaving everything to go wandering around the countryside with him. >> I think I know the secret of his power over them. >> What do you mean? He loves and believes in them. I have watched how he speaks and acts and handles them. They love him, too. There is no more compelling power in the world than love. >> They evidently think more of him than of their parents. We hardly set eyes on them these last few days. I thought they would have forgotten it all by now. >> I did not think so, Jonah. When Jesus invited them to be his disciples, I knew it would be impossible to hold them. >> But how shall we manage the boats? >> There are hired men enough to catch all the fish we shall need, my husband, and we may yet live to be proud of our sons. >> I prayed maybe soon. >> It's good that I still have you, Judith. I must get down to the boots. There's much to be done now that Simon and Andrew are gone. There are crowds at your door again, Anna. Yes, but we cannot find Jesus. He was in the house last night, but by daybreak he was gone. Simon has taken a party to look for him. Pray God they may find him. People are asking where he is. They have brought many sick and they are all waiting for him to heal them. Andrew told me the good news about your mother. >> Yes. After synagogue yesterday, when Jesus came to the house, Simon told him she was in bed with a fever. He took her hand and raised her to her feet, and the fever vanished immediately. She was able to wait on us as she always does. It was a day we shall never forget. We must be the one of whom the prophet spoke. And there was that poor man in the synagogue. The man with the evil spirit that everyone is talking about. That is the man. He was crying out in the synagogue while Jesus was teaching. Simon says the spirit knew Jesus. Because the man was crying out, "At thou come to destroy us, Jesus of Nazareth? We know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked the spirit and it came out of a man with a great cry after throwing him into a convulsion. Everyone was amazed at Jesus. He speaks with such authority. Even the spirits are obeying him. And now he has gone. Simon will find him if anyone can. >> Oh, I pray he will. Simon has been so different since he met Jesus. My daughter, I have seen it. and watch Simon curving his quick temper, fighting back the hasty words. He has never forgotten how Jesus called him Peter, man of rock, and he's been trying to live up to it ever since. He does not always succeed. But when he does, I call him Peter, and it pleases him. I will not mind him going anywhere with Jesus. Bravely spoken, daughter. But wherever they go, they will often return to Capernium. And Simon's house shall always be a home for them to rest in. How much they will have to tell us when they come here. Those will indeed be great days for us both. >> And >> yes, son, have you found Jesus? >> He is in the house. >> And I will go. >> We searched everywhere, and when we found him, he was by himself in a lonely place. When we told him that everyone was looking for him, he suggested that we should go and preach to them in their own towns. >> Does that mean you will be going away? >> Oh, to the neighboring town's mother. We must go with him. We're his disciples now. Anna understands. >> And so do I, Simon Peter. Jesus has called you to be Peter. He is changing my big blundering Simon into a man of rock. >> Do you think so, mother? Being with Jesus has made you both better men. There is a new joy and eagerness in you, Andrew. And there is certainly a new firmness and constancy about Simon. My sons, I know this is a call you must obey. And if Jesus is the son of God, it can only lead you in a new and glorious way. Follow Jesus and my blessing go with you. >> These are good words, mother. I will remember them. I must go now. I have an errand for the master. >> Has father taken it very much to heart. Father, >> I am afraid he has. But do not let that trouble you, Simon. I will do my best to make him understand. >> Tell him we're still good fishermen. >> You remember what the master said? Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.