The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-15
SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK
ELUCIDATION AND REVIEW OF IN
TERNATIONAL LESSON, JUNE Is.
John xxi, 4-17-The SAVERS Plan
and the Apostles Place in II.

BY REV. JAMES E. GILBERT. d. D..
Secretary of the American Society OF Re-
ligious Education.
iThese lessons constitute the Sunday
school extension department of the above
named society. All who study them
requested to send their names, postoffice
address and denomination. mentioning
thus paper. TO the author at Washington,
ID. C., for enrollment)
INTRODUCTION.-Aft the interview at
Emmaus, Cleopas and his companions
FASTENED to the apostles in Jerusalem. Jesus
soon followed, and in the presence of all
showed His hands and feet TO prove His
identity. The consequent excitement having
subsided, He quoted many prophecies TO
show that His crucifxion and resurrection
ought to have been expected. luke xiv,
33-4s) Thomas absent at the time,
learning what had transpired, declared that
he would not believe unless he could put his
fingers into the prints of the nails On the
following Sunday, showing that the first
day began to displace the seventh for re-
ligious worship, the whole company of the
apostles Thomas included was assembled
in the same place. and Jesus came and gave
the doubter the evidence he desired. John
Xxx, 2-29) Thus the apostles accepted the
resurrection as a fact. and they departed
into Galilee. as Jesus had directed. Mark
Xvi, ID Our present lesson covers one Incl
dent after their arrival, how long after is
not known.
The training of the apostles was a long
and difficult task. They were slow 10 APP
prehend Jesus in His true character, and
office and mission. We have seen how tena-
ciously they chung 10 the national view or
Messiahs kingdom, and how reluctant they
were to believe His resurrection. Six APP
pearances in the space OF week convinced
10 al fhQf
thought they had gone home. But they did
not yet know what the risen Lord intended
to do Perhaps they expected further physi-
cal manifestations at intervals. and the fond
idea OF His temporal reign and their con-
nection with 1T may have fingered in their
minds. Under such circumstances there was
nothing for them to do but TO wait for in
structions. They naturally returned to their
old employment. The lesson before US
shows how Jesus, on a former occasion
duke V, LID recalled them TO His service.
Our comments will be under two great
''The New Calling verses 15-i7 From
fishing 10 preachng-the Masters first COM
mand must be obeyed and His promise full
THE OLD PURsuIT.-six of the apostles
John xxi, 2, - accede 10 Peters suggestion
and go fishing. Where were the other four?
This return to boats and nets. after an alb
sence OF two years, was highly significant.
AS with many now, the apostles were secu-
larized. That is inevitable when the way Is
dark and the Lords will Is not plain. They
pushed out their boat on the sea of Gallee
as In other days, before Jesus found them.
Matt. ~. 49, Leaving in the evening they
toiled through the night. The morning
came and on the shore in the distance they
saw man whom they DID not recognize.
1t was such a greeting as any fisherman
might give another, a kindly inquiry con-
Back over the water was returned mono
syllable telling of their failure and need.
They had gained what most men gain when
they neglect duty and get out OF their prop
er place (Acts TX, 81, namely, the experience
of disappointment. minister of Christ
panions of the Lord, Witnesses OF His sor-
row, His shame and His glory turned again
to the beggarly elements Gal ". 81 -,
right side of the ship said the stranger
on the shore. Did He see a school Of fish!
matters? The apostles obeyed and the re-
suit was great multitude Of fishes. 50
many that they could not be drawn %,nsd into
effort had accomplished more than all the
nights toll The heavy hearts were f is
this stranger appeared. How kind In Him
to make inquiry How benevolent to give
advice! How wise in them TO heed. Some
business forces. The fisherman's art has
been seized and guided to produce results
impossible to the fishermen alone just the
results desired. Qsa. xl. 2s) Something
concerted failure into success. What was IL
Whence came il? Let the philosophers
speculate. The TACT is all that Is now de-
one in that boat had a clearer vision
than the others. John, who had proved
love (John xiii. 23 discerned the form on
the shore and his heart followed his eyes.
ut is the Lord" he declared to his older
and impetuous companions. That was the
logic of affection. the tracing or phenon-
enon TO adequate cause. On hearing
into the water and swan ashore, leaving
the other apostles to pull the boat and drag
their newly gotten spoil. The man who
81 . he, ian hn HpS%
to abandon 1t. Gohn xxi, 81 He seemed
to be mastered by every new impulse. Once
left others to meet the Lord. Matt. xiv.
29) Having been all his life in close touch
with nature he yielded quickly 10 the out
ward and visible, 10 the sensuous and ma
terial. He has much to learn before ne
walk by faith and not by sight: John
Xxx, 80 1t is possible, indeed. that he
spiritual things were discerned without the
aid Of physical drapery. acts <. s-ls)
Jesus on the shore. each recognizing Him.
This was His third (verse 1D appearance
to them. but the seventh time He had been
seen since leaving the sepulchre. The apos-
ties, hungry and weary. must be fed. A
fire blilded. partnership meal was
prepared. the bread furnished by Jesus,
the fish by the apostles Jesus became host.
''Come and dine was His cheerful invita-
ton to the seven. .tPsalm xiii, 81 And
Lord is alive. They see Him. hear Him, feel
the glow of His spirit, witness the evidence
Of His power. He has entered into their old
voca ton, revealed Himself the plane of
their ordinary thought and activity. They
had learned again how beneficent He was,
how deep His interest in them, how prompt
and generous His care for them, What
strange thoughts passed through their minds
during that dinner. How they must have
questioning! How eager must they have
been 10 learn His purpose and plan!
THE NEW CAI.LING.-The foregoing
was only the introduction. Jesus did not
come to the lake simply TO feed seven
hungry men. although that would have been
highly proper. He desired to re-enlist the
apostles. This was not far from the place
where they were first called. Mark iii,
IA He intends TO take them shortly 10
that same mountain Matt. xviii, 16). where
He delivered the immortal sermon at their
installation, and give them further instruc-
ton. One great service He proposes TO
enjoin upon these men. Feed my lambs
Feed my sheep" He says. The original
herd them. In this He employs the beau
ministry (John X. 1-1s), comparing His peo-
pie TO a flock composed of young and old.
The command was addressed TO Peter only
Why? Was IL because he had led out that
fishing party and was responsible for di-
erosion? Was il because he was oldest
and therefore regarded first by his
sociates? Did he possess those qualities
that made him a natural leader? Did
Jesus appoint him primate? Let the read
err judge. Two things are certain-if he
was first he not thereby master of the
others Matt xiii. 10. H. and what was
said 10 him said to all. (Mark xvi.