The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-04
THE sUNDAY-sCHOOL LESSON.
May 3, 1901: Jesus and Pe~ter-John
xxi. 1922.

xxi, 1872.
Physically, GaliIee is a comparatively insig-
nihcant. little pear-shaped lake. Historically it
is the most important sheet Of water on the
globe. 1t is the scene of almost all the public
life of Jesus-His miracles. His sermons This
saves it from oblivion, and turns uncountec pill
grims TO its shores.
Clear silver water in a cup of gold,
1t shines-His lake-the Sea of Chinnereth-
The waves He loved. the waves that kissed His
feet
So many blessed days o happy waves!
o little, silver, happy seal
Gaiilee is now the scene of the last OF our
Lords parable miracles. the account OF which is
described as a nice and delicately fbered piece
of literature. 1t sparkles like a gem in its
own peculiar setting" . The persons are
seven disciples, whom Ruskin. in his epigram-
matte way, calls the Denier. the Slowest Be-
lever. the Quickest Believer, the Two Throne
Seekers and two more. Their old habits had
come back to them with old associations" and
so they had gone ~a-hshing. II has been sug-
gested that il may not have been SO much a
matter Of inclination as necessity, il being the
only obvious way of obtaining an honest main
tenance. At all events il was much more whole
some to be occupied than to be idle in those
hours of waiting. . . " There is something pa
thetic in this night of hard but fruitless toll.
where blossomed the lovely stars. the forget
me-nots of the angels" once before. on this
very lake. Jesus had seen His disciples 'toiling
in rowing in the storm. and came to their re-
lief. Again He stands upon the shore. but far
from being an idle spectator. He asks them
how they fare. He pities them i'm their lack Of
success. He guides them to better fortune.
. . . The human considerateness of Jesus is
further evidenced by the preparation He hao
made TO warm and feed the chilled and hungry
fishermen. 1t is not necessary TO affirm He
uorked a miracle To aCcOmnlish this EVprvfD-nr
may have been ready to His hand. > . :
Johns earliest recognition and his affirmation in
reverent phrase; Peters Impotence at the tardy
motion of the boat. his impetuosity in swim
ming TO the shore, his instant manly helpfulness
in pulling in the net and counting the fish: Jesus
command to Peter to follow Him $50 that there
might be a striking object lesson; Peters over
mastering curiosity as TO the fate Of John;
Jesus purposely and ingeniousIy indefinite an
swer-all are spirited and interesting details.
but they are details-accidents incidents mere
ly. The center Of this picture. the object Of this
meeting. is the rehabilitation Of Peter-his res
toration to the apostolic Office after his shameful
lapse. 1t is at this point that the delicate
FIBER TO use Philip Schaff's phrase. is espe-
ciaily evident. " " . After all the table talk
was over AID the time of Jesus departure was
evidently at hand He turned and addressed
Peter. 1t may or may not be significant that
He addressed him by the name he wore before
he became a disciple, and not by that honorable
name Jesus conferred upon him when lie voiced
the first creed of Christendom. 1t is significant
that He spoke to them in such a way as TO
single him out from the rest and make il evil
dent that the purpose OF this theOphany was TO
restore an erring but penitent disciple. " " .
The change Of terms apparent only in the
Greek, and very difficult to initiate In English)
could not have been a mere caprice. Jesus
would surely weigh His words on such an occa-
sion. as a Judge does when he charges a Jury.
Thus Jesus said, Lowest thou Me more than
these" The word IL almost equivalent to our
''prize"-prizest thou Me? Peter. in mis- answer.
purposely ignores the comparison. He viii never
be guilty Of that again. Though all men
should forsake Thee. yet will not L." lie ap-
peals to Jesus own knowledge. Thou know
est" His word for love Is different than that
of Jesus. II is not the highly moral and intel
lectual-it is the warm, afectional-and he uses
no other word for love in the entire interview.
Jesus says. Feed my lambs" Peters FIRST de-
NAL is erased. The deed Is done. He is re-
stored. What follows is merely tory.
Jesus challenges again I'm the same tone. Peter
gives the same password. And Jesus saws.
Shepherd My sheep" The second denial is
erased. Now Jesus. with a touch OF tenderness.
drops to Peters word. and the challenge is on
the plane of the heart. Peters grief Is natural.
The triple challenge reminds him Of a triple
denial. But now Jesus gives him the pastoral
Office in its most sacred phase. the care OF the
little sheep" and the third denial is erased.
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
How is II that working PEOPLE should ever
fall out with Jesus? He belongs 10 their set.
He Is one Of the ''tin-bucket brigade He was
the son Of a carpenter. Probability is strong He
stood to the bench. Father Taylor. the sea
M..f. r~aa,h., Ia etrop. iferr-. -.
idea. once exclaimed: My Savior never made
a shaving" But Charles Wesley wrote the
hymn:
"son Of the carpenter. receive
This humble work Of mine:
Worth 20 my meanest labor give.
By joining ~ 10 Thine.
Servant. at once. and Lord Of all.
While dwelling here below.
Thou didst not scorn our earthly toll
And weariness 10 know"
II would be more to Jesus honor 10 believe
that. belonging. as He did. to a poor family.
He contributed 10 the support than that He
spent Hts time In idle contemplation. .
In word and deed Jesus honored these fishermen
In their lowly toll, and through them lie puts
himself in touch with all toilers everywhere and
always. . The church has failed 20 inter
pref Jesus rightly TO the workingman n Il has
not shown him the sympathetic and helpful
comrade Ia toll. . . . That was a wholesome
meal Jesus prepared for his disciples. Brolled
Ash and bread may not have been all OF the
menu. but Il was good. There is more total