Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-11-12
PETER RESTORED.
DR.. JOHN HALLS NOTES ON THE
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.

f
John xxi, I5-Lesson Text. John xxi, 4-I9
The pupils are to he reminded of the facts
going before this lesson on two lines: N
Christ's resurrection and appearance twice TO
the whole company of the disciples u. xiv.
1t may he said: How did they fail to recor-
nize him at oucei The answer is twolold. In
the resurrection I'VE shall be changed"
though the same individuals. Jesus was the
type of our resurrection. And secondly.
Jesus was able to make himself known or to
remain unknown. as to the disciples on the
way To Emmaus, as he pleased. For his own
reasons he sometimes lett them to find him
out 10y 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.
t3 The previous career and character of
Peter need to Ice recalled. Probably the
oldest Of the little company, he was the most
prompt and forward. He was notably a 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. lie had
profc,Scd undNing attachment to Christ
CMatt. NNvi, 30, and then denied him thrice.
That very morning he was as truly penitcnt
as lie had been incXcuSahlv self confident,
and no doubt he had many a time recalled
his sin ana shame. and desired an opportunity
to confess to Christ and get bis forgiveness.
But he was not alone with him.. How the
message, tell 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 10 come and needing to secure
bread. Peter had gone back to his calling.
v. 4. Morning came; they were nearing
the shore. a man Stoo1 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 as he says. "Children." etc. Are
there any Christians hard pressed for means
to livef How many do suffer thus. Jesus is
not unmiudful of them. Many would make
better way if they listened for his voice and
cast the net at his bidding. Mo- they have
caught nothing.
V. q. 1t is said that fish can he 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 filed with fish as to make it too
heavy TO be lifted into the boat: it was drawn
ashore ". l1)
Specially devoted to Jesus and quick with
thu instinct OF affection. John Y. . whispers
to Peter-one can fancy with mingled awe
and iov-"lt is the Lord. All here j, an
opportunity to show that he is no longer
recreant. that the Lord is dear to him beyond
expression. When he hears tins he snatchcs
his fishers coat de was probably in partial
clothing, as men prepared for such work.,
and hinLS himself into the water. 1t was an
impulse agnin. but on the good sidc-far bet
ter than the blow with the sword at the mans
ear OJonn xviii. To-. lie meant to welcome
Jesus, 10 SHOW his joy and love.
VS. Meantime their little boat-thc one
they were ali in. being only about 100
yards from land "A Cuhit is roughly about
eighteen inches, 50 that The voice and direc-
lion, FROM the shore could be well heard
had ncarcl the land. GA little ship" is mis-
leading, it is "fhc 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.
V. . There is a fire of Goals and fish ON
it" being prepared for eating. and bread. He
who fed the 1000 is the same in power and
resources for the little company.
V. 10. The Master tells them to bring of
the fish which they had caught. He and
they are to rejoice together through all their
future over the souls gathered into the gos-
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.n
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 il
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 us brethren
are now seen. He SAYS, Come and break
your fast Reyision). They all had the firm
conviction that it was their Master. He
spake with authority, mingled no doubt with
gentleness; yet none had courage 10 call for
a direct avowal. Then he
". l3 comes and gives them-helrS them
to-bread-they had none of this-and fish
Likewise. OF his identity they had no doubt
This Is, the evangelist says
". IN, the third time that Jesus showed
himself TO lis disciples" Appearances to
individuals are omi;t-i in the cunt See
the other two caseS-One where Thomas WAS
absent, the other eight days after, when he
was present QaSt 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
l. 10 be remembered for his peoples good
lie perfectly adaptS the lessons to the nature
of the learner. so after they had broken
their fast, Jesus
". In puts a question to Peter, which
must have brought up many a sui thought.
But 1t is often for our good 10 have our past
errors and sins recalled. "Simon. son of
Jonas, lowest thou me more than these He
had conveyed as much as this when he said,
Though all men forSake thee, yet will not
l' Then he was self-confilent, impulsiv
and selt-conscious. Now he is not so. He is
%penltent. 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-
ties and you will see that he did not forget
this direction.
V. Ii. Again the Master puts the question,