The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-06-19
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSUN FOR
JUNE 16.
Lesson Text: "Peter and the Risen
Lord" John XXI. 4l7-Golden
Text: John xxi, IL
Commentary.

4. Seven Of the disciples had, under the
leadership Of Peter, gone fishing. But al
though they toiled all night they took moth
ing. Perhaps Peter thought of another night
when they had labored in vain, but in the
morning the Master filed two boats He was
now no longer with them, and perhaps it was
His absence and their need that led them at
this time toturn to the old occupation.
5. In the morning one stood on the shore
whom they knew not and asked them ii they
had any meat. They were compelled to con-
fess their emptiness and helplessness as they
answered no. They should have trusted
Him unseen as when He was visibly with
them. But they were like ourselves, very
slow to learn and full Of doubts and fears
and unbelief.
6. At His word they cast the net once more,
and as on former occasion when He called
them to forsake all they catch multitupe OF
fishes. He changes not. His power is ever
the same. If we would only trust Him, we
might always be filled with Joy and peace
(Rom. xv.. 13) and know somewhat OF ''sat-
is1ed with the favor and full with the bless
ing of the Lord" (Deut. xxxiii., 29).
7. John, whom Jesus loved, was the first
to recognize the Lord. There must have
been some unbelief about the fishing busi-
ness. else he might have known Him sooner.
1t was unbeiief on the part Of Mary that
caused her not to know Him (chapter xX..
14). for had she believed His words she
would never have looked for the body OF q
dead Christ. The two who walked with Him
to Emmaus and knew Him not were also full
of unbelief duke xiv. 25). And 80 always
unbelief blinds the eyes (Heb. ill.,, l9).
8. AS soon as Peter heard John say, 1T is
the Lord" he at once cast himself into the
sea to get to Jesus, while the other disciples
came dragging the net with fishes. AS
Peter had lead all in this going fishing, per-
haps he wanted word with the Lord alone.
that he might take the blame upon himself
and clear the others. As he had led out. he
would be the first to lead back, a thing not
so easily lone. as Is seen in the case OF Ma
nasseh (II Chron. xxXiii., l6, I'D.
g. Without any efforts of theirs, and with
out any of the fish they had caught, their
breakfast was ready for them. They might
as we'll have trusted the Lord to care for
them. for they had testified that when He
sent them without purse or script or shoes
they had lacked nothing (Luke xxi, 35). He
will surely provide for all who truly serve
and follow Him, according to Phil. iv.. 10.
We wonder if the fire of Goals made Peter
think Of another fire of Goals when he got
into trouble (cbapter xviii, 18).
10. "Jesus saith unto them, Bring OF the
fish which you have now caught" AS II
they had done it. He wrought through them
and then gave them the credit OF doing It.
That is the way He does still. He works In
US, when we are willing both to will and to
do OF His GOOD pleasure (Phil. H., 13). and
then promises to reward US for the works
which we allowed Him to do through US
(Rev. xxit., 12). Is not His name truly
'Wonderful?"
IL. On the former occasion the net broke
Guke ". g.. but not 80 now, although it con-
tained 153 great fishes. In II Chron. H., II,
we read that there were 153, 900 strangers In
the land in the days Of Solomon. whom he
employed to get materials for the temple.
Weknow that the sea represents peoples and
Nations (Rev. xvii, 15), and that from the
Nations the Lord is gathering out people
fol. His name, to form great spiritual tenn
pie as dwelling place for God (Eph. H., 2l,
22), and that Peter was the first to open the
door to the Nations (Acts xv., 14).
~. Jesus saith unto them, Come and
break your fast (R. W. See now why they
had gone fishing. They were evidently hun
CRY, had been fasting for some time, and no
one seemed to care. So it looked rs II they
must do something, but their somewhat was
all in vain till He commanded. Without
Him all our efforts will amount to nothing
John xv., 81. He was visibly before them
now, and they saw His provision for their
need Their lack of confidence in Him when
invisible kept them from saying much.
13. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread,
and giveth them, and fish likewise" He is
always serving and supplying and caring for
His people The Son Of Man. who came not
to be ministered unto, but to minister (Math.
xx., 2S), is still our High Priest with girded
breast (Rev. l., 13), whose love and power
combine for the best interests OF all who are
po< NH
delivered Him up for US all, how shall He
not with Him also freely give us all things?
(Rom. viii, 32.)
IA. This is the third appearance to the
disciples recorded by John; see chapter Xxx,
19, 26. While it is probably the seventh ap-
pearance since the resurrection, it Is the
third to any number of the disciples, the
other four being to Mary, who first saw Him;
then to the other women. and afterward to
Peter, then to the two who walked to
Emmaus, or possibly to the two before de
appeared to Peter.
is. Lowest thou Me more than these3'
Did He ask Peter whether he loved Him
more than the other disciples loved Him, be-
cause Pete. had made the strongest pro-
fessions of love before the crucilxion (Math.
xvi. 33, 35: John xiii, 81, or did He ask
Peter whether he loved the service OF Christ,
even though it should involve some hunger
and fasting. more than food for the BODY
such as had now been provided? We all
need to remember that man doth not live by
bread alone. but by every word OF God
(Math. iv., 4. and that it is possible to
esteem the words Of Hismouth more than our
necessary food Dob kill, 12).
16. Lowest thou Me?" The second time
the question comes, but He does not add
more than these" We sometimes hearpeo-
pie testify in public as to how much they
love the Lord confess it always makes
me feel that they would do better to testify
to the great love of God to them, for our
love to Him is, fear, scarcely thing to be
talked of in public. Let us manifest our love
by caringfor His sheep and lambs; by doingto
others as He would do we're He here; by act
ing on Johns adnonition, Let us not love
in word neither in tongue: but In deed and
in truth" q John ILL.,, 18).
II. Lowest thou Me?'' The third time the
question comes. for it is heart searching
one. Would Peter think of his three.fold
denial? Why was he grieved2 How little we
think of how we grieve the Lord! Let us
pray Ps. cxxxix.. 23, "a, margin. Peter had
offered to die for Christ. Jesus now tells him
that he shall have that privilege (verses ls,
49,; has he love enough for that? Have you?
Lesson Helper.