Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-11-11
PETER RESTORED.
DR.. JOHN HALLS NOTES ON THE
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.

Lesson VII Of the International serie,
for Sunday, Nov. I4-Golden Text, ''HS
Saith Unto Him, Feed My Lambs
John xxi. I0-Lesson Text, John xxi, A-I 6
The pupils are TO be reminded Of the fact.
going before this lesson on two lines: Ql
Christ's resurrection and appearance twice tc
the whole company Of the disciples ". XIV.
II may be said: How did they fail to recog.
nize him at oncei The answer is twofold In
the resurrection i've shall be changed, y
though the same individuals Jesus was the
type of our resurrection. And secondly,
Jesus was able to make Emself known or to
remain unknown, as to the disciples on the
way to Emmaps, as he pleased For his own
reasons he sometimes left them to find him
out by what he said and did. In a sense it is
SO still with disciples. Jesus is providing for,
or teaching, or even Christening them, and
they do not at first recognize him.
q 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 notablyA man
of impulses, not waiting to raise and settle
questions OF principle, but acting on the
spur of the moment" This led him, as it
will lead any one, into mistakes. He had
professed undying attachment to Christ
Matt XVI, S5, and then denied him thrice.
That very morning he was as truly penitent
as he had been inexcusably self-confdent,
and no doubt he had many time recalled
his sin and shame, and desired an opportunity
to confess to Christ and get his forgiveness.
But he was not alone with him. How the
message, "ten my disciples and Peter" must
have melted his heart! These facts we must
remember if we would secure a 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.
V. 4. Morning came; they were nearing
the shore. A man stood there, but the dis
ciples did not recognize him. This was doubt
less partof his plan. (See Luke xiv, 16)
Yet his language must have reused their
attention as he says, Children" etc. Are
there any Christians hard pressed for means
to live? 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.
Y. 6. 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 SO filled with fish as to make it too
heavy to be lifted into the boat: it was drawn
| ashore ". 11.)
Specially devoted to Jesus and quick with
the instinct of affection, John ". 2 whispers
to Peter-one can fancy with mingled awe
and iov-"It is the Lord" All! here is an
opportunityto 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 side-far bet
ter than the blow with the sword at tho mans
ear John xviii, 10). He meant to welcome
Jesus, to show his joy and love-
VS. Meantime their little boat-thc one
they were oil in, being only about 100
yards from land "a cubit is roughly about
eighteen inches, so that the voice and direc-
tions from the shore could be well heard
had neared the land. GA little ship is mis-
leading; it is "the little ship.'J 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.
V. 0. There is fire Of Goals and "fsh ON
it" being prepared for eating, and bread. He
who fed the 5000 is the same in power and
resources for the little company.
IN Tl,o NToeto,, +oiI- +lo,,,
the fish which they had caught. He and
they are to rejoice together through all their
future over the souls gathered into the Cos
pei net, some of them directly by him, some
through their agency under his direction.
v II. Simon Peter on the land already
obeys, went up and drew the net to land
The contents are described, and it is noted
that rich as was the "take," the net bore the
strain and was not broken. The number is
mentioned, probably to explain the wonder
of the net not breaking.
V. IL. The sympathy of Jesus with the dis
ciples and his treatment Of them as brethren
are now seen. He says, "Come and break
your fast" Revision). They all had the firm
conviction that it was their Master. He
spakc with authority, mingled no doubt with
gentleness; yet none had courage, to call for
a direct avowal. Then he
": Is, comes and gives them-helps them
to-bread-they had none of this-and fish
likewise. Of his identity they had no doubt.
This is. the evangelist says
". 14, "the third time that Jesus showed
himself to his disciples" appearances to
individuals are omitted in the count.) See
the other two cases-one where Thomas was
absent, the other eight days after, when he
was present CAST lesson. Up till now Jesus
has treated them all alike in the interview.
Now he deals with Peter just as we saw him
deal with Thomas. He forgets nothing that
is to be remembered for his peoples good.
He perfectly adapts the lessons to the nature
of tho learner. So after they had broken
their fast, Jesus
V. 15 puts a question to Peter which
must have brought up many sad thought.
But it is often for our good to have our past
errors and sins recalled. "Simon, son of
Jonas, lowest thou me more than theSeW He
had conveyed as much as this when he said,
Though all men forsake thee, yet will not
l." Then he was self-confdent, impulsiv,
and self-conscious Now he is not so. He is
penitent He remembers his folly and does.
not repeat it. He can truly say that he does
love his Master, but he makes no comparison
between himself and them. "Thou knowest
that love thee" Then the Master gives the
"Feed my lambs" "Thou didst
wander from the fold; thou hast been brought
back. Remember the lesson and labor for
The strayed and wandering" Read his epis-
les and you will see that he did not forget
his direction.
V. 16. Again the Master puts the question,
out dropping any reference to the objection