The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-11-13
INTERNATIONAL LESSONS.
LesSon7 Norember I4i

LeSSon7, Norember I4th
PETER RESTORED.
John 81, 4-19. Golden Text, join q, +,
Is. Time, shortly after the last lesson.
Place, the northern shore of the sea Of
Galilcc.
With this lesson we conclude the
Gospel of John, and its closing scene is
one of the most beautiful and impressive
1t is on the shore of Galilee, near the
homes Of some of the disciples Peter,
in his old, impetuous way says, 81 go a
fishing" And Immediately the Others
declare their intention fgoing with him
lie leads them. All night long they toll
but catch nothing. Just as day duwns Il
stranger, apparently, stands upon the
shore, and tells them to cast their net
upon the right side of the ship, and they
will be successful Thinking that He
had better chance of seeing a shoal
than they ha d, they follow His directions
and almost at once their net is filled
with fishes. The net was so heavy that
they could not lift it into the boat, ana
had to draw it to land. John recognizes
in the person on the shore his Lord and
Master,and said to Peter,"It is the Lord"
Peter, in his impetuous zeal, girded his
coat about him and jumped into the sea
to swim ashore and greet his Master.
The characteristics of the men are strik-
ingly brought out in this scene. When
the boat reached the shore they counted
and found that they had caught l53
large fishes, a miraculous draught.
A fire Is kindled and some fish placed
thereon, and breakfast prepared. "Come
and dine" said Christ, and He gave them
bread and fish to eat. When the meal
was over, He turned to Peter and asked
him, "Simon, son of Jonas, lowest thou
me more than theseP Peter answered
Him, "Yoa, Lord; thou khowest that |
love Thee" The question and answer,
in similar terms, WIS repeated twice, the
last time Peter answering, Lord, thou
knowest all things; thou knowest that
love thee" Three times IN the high
priests hall Peter had denied his Master;
three times on the shores of Galilee he
confessed the Christ. In the impassioned
excitemant of the honr Peter had often
forgotten that Christ was divine, and he
had relied on human agencies, as when
ne cut off the ear of the high priests
servant; but now, in the humility of his
restoration, he confesses Jesus theson OF
the everything God.
Then Christ tells him what death he
should die; the death by crucifxion. The
years swept out into the voiceless obli-
won Of the past, and Peter was in the
city of Rome. Those years had been
eventful ones to him, years of work and
toll and suffering for the cause of Christ.
Under the cruel persecution of Nero the
Christians had suffered much. Paul, the
apostle, had been taken out to the Ostian
road and his life sacrificed for the faith.
The remorseless fury ofthe king reached
Peter, the brave and consistent follower
of the Lord Jesus Christ. The words of
the Lord in this lesson were fulfilled;
another girded him and carried him out
to the Ostan road, and there hestretched
forth his hands on the cross and rendered
up his soul to God. 1t is said that he
was crucifed head downwards, as he was
unwilling to suffer the same death as
his Lord not counting himself worthy.
LESSON THOUGHTS.
!. Christ restores the erring to His
love and favor.
2. We may be fishers of men.
3. Jesus takes care of those who work
for Him.
4. Christ says to you, "Lovest thou
me?"