The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-11-13
PETER RESTORED.
Or. JOHN HALLS NOTES ON THE
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON,
Lesson VII Of the international Series
for Sunday, Nov. 14-Goldcn Text, "He
Saith Unto Him, Feed NV Lambs"
John XXI. 15-Lesson Text, John xxi, i-lO

| Christ's resurrection and appearance twice {,
the whole company of the disciples Is. xiv
It may be said How did they fail to recos
nizs him ut oncef The answer is twoiold. II
the resurrection awe shall be changed,
though the same individuals, Jesus was Tn,
type OF our resurrection. And secondly
Jesus was able to make himself known or u
remain unknown, as to the disciples on the
way To Emmaus, as he pleased. For his owl
reasons no sometimes left them to find hin
| out by what he said and did. In sense il Is
30 still with disciples. Jesus is providing for
or teaching, or even Christening them, and
| they do not at first recognize him.
C9 The previous career and character OF
Peter need to be recalled. Probably the
oldest OF the little company, he was the most
prompt and forward. He was notably man
Of impulses, not waiting to raise and settle
questions of principle, but acting on the
spur Of the moment This led him. ~ it
will lead any one, into mistakes. He had
professed undying attachment TO Christ
Matt XVI, 35), and then denied him thrice.
That very morning he was as truly pendent
as he had been meXcuSably selfcontIcnt,
and no doubt he had many time recalled
his sin and shame, and desired an opportunity
to confess to Christ and get hi, forgiveness.
But he was not alone with him How tho
message, "tcll my disciples aal Potter must
have melted his heart These facts we must
remember if We would secure connected
view of the truth set out in our present
lesson A group of disciples had been fishing
all night on the lake in vain Doubtful of
what was TO come and needing TO secure
bread, Peter had gone back to his calling.
Y. 4. Morning came; they were nearing
the shore. A man stood there, but the dis
ciples did not recognize him This was doubt
less part of his plan. (See Luke xiv, 49,
Yet his language must have reused their
attention Us he says, "Children,' etc. Are
there any Christians hard pressed for means
to liyel How many do suffer thus Jesus is
not unmindful of them Many would make
better way if they listened for his voice and
cast the net at his bidding. NO they have
caught nothing.
V6 1t is said that fish can be seen in
numbers in the lake at times. His words
then, "Cast the net" etc, would not seem so
strange to them. They did so, and their net
was 50 filled with FISH as to make it too
heavy to be lifted into the boat: it was drawn
ashore w. H.
Specially devoted to Jesus and quick with
the instinct of affection, John ", . whispers
70 Peter-One can fancy with mingled awe
and joy-"It is the Lord All here is an
opportunity to show that he is no longer
recreant, that the Lord is dear to him beyond
expression When he hears this he snatches
his fishers coat (he was probably in partial
clothing, as men prepared for such work.,
and filings himself into the water. 1t was an
impulse again, but on the good sidcfar bet
ter than the blow with the sword at the mans
ear John xviii 10. He meant to welcome
Jesus, to show his joy and love.
V. 8. Meantime their little boat--thc one
they were all in, being only about 100
yards from land IA cubit is roughly about
eighteen inches, so that the voice and direc-
lions from the shore could be well heard
had neared the land GA little ship is mis-
leading, it is "he little ship They who
were in the boat, failing to get the net on
deck, dragged it to land. Again the care of
Jesus miraculous, acknowledgements
for them.
W.. There is fire Of Goals and "fish on
it" being prepared for eating, and bread. He
who fed the 5000 is the same in power and
resources for the little company.
v TO- The Master tells them TO bring of
the fish which they had caught. He ard
they are to rejoice together through all their
future over the souls gathered into the gtB-
pel net, some of them directly by him. sore
through their agency under his direction.
" II. Simon Peter on the land already
obeys, went up and drew the net to land
The contents are described, and it is note
,:.l bn la, Of, lo,
strain and was not broken. The number is
mentioned probably to explain the wonder
of the net not breaking.
V. L. The sympathy Of Jesus with the dis
ciples and his treatment of them rs brethren
are now seen He saws, Come and break
your fast" REV ision). They all had the firm
conviction that it was their Master. H
spake with authority, mingled no doubt with
gentlenesS. yet none had courage TO call for
"a direct avowol Then he
(V. Is comes and gives them-helps them
to-brcad- they had none OF this--and ti>b
likewise. OF his identity they had no doubt.
This Is. the evangelist says
". IA, the thrd time thet Jesus showed
himself to h> disciples. appearances TO
individuals ara omitted in the COUNT See
The other two rAscs-one where 1homay was
absent. tue other eight days after, when l."
was preseu, Va,t lesson. Up till now Jesus
has treated them all alike in the interview
Now he deals with Peter just aS We saw Inn
deal with Thomas. He forscts nothing that
il to be remembered FOR his peoples good.
Ha perfectly adaptS the lessons to the nature
of the lcu,nc,' 80 after they had broken
their fast, Jesus
a. Il, puts question to Peter winch
must have brought up many a sad thought.
But II is often for our good to have our past
errors aud sins recalled. "Simon, son OF
Jonas. loves, thou me more than these" lie
had conveyed rs much as this when he said,
Though all men foleake thee, yet VIII not
l." Then nc was selfcontident, impulNiN
and self-consrious Now he is not so. lie Is
peuitent. He remembers his folly and does
not repeat il. He can truly say that lac does
love his Master, but he makes no comparison
between himself and them. Thou kno"est
that love thee" Then the Master gives the
command. Feed my lambs. Thou didst
wander from the fold thou hast been brought
back Remember the lesson aud labor Tor
the strsye. and wandering Read his epis-
ties and Won viii see that he did not forget
this direction.