The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-06-13
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: IN THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. =
: (By w. P. Chambers.) =

fourth gospel seems to be sort of cpl
logue or postscript. 1t gives in detail
the incidents of the third meeting of
Jesus with his apostles after his res
direction. eve studied the first and
second, last Sunday.) This was the
seventh appearance mentioned, and
the first in Galilee.
There had been time and place APP
pointed for that meeting. Seven of
the eleven seemed to have gone be-
fore him into Galilee." We do not
know the names of all these men, but
we observe that Thomas has gone up
toward the head of the list. His place
is eighth in two lists, seventh in one,
and sixth in one. but he is second
here. He was growing.
There is no reason for believing that
ony of them were contemplating an
abandonment of the ministry. They
were simply ahead of the appointed
time. They had some leisure hours,
hours, they were in the midst of Ia
miliar scenes and occupations, and the
old zest of the angler was aroused
within them. We can fancy Peter say
ing, Il think will go fishing tonight
on the morrow we are to see nim."
The others quickly consulted one an
other and said. ''We will all CO." And
so they went out and let down the net
and drew it in empty. And thus they
did through all the night.
AS the skyline above the Gergasene
bills grew brighter with the coming
day, voice called froM The shore,
asking them If they had caught any
fish, go was the reply. They were
then directed where to cast the net
and they made an extraordinary catch.
John was the first to suspect it was
their Lord who stood on the beach in
the early twilight. At the mention
of the name, the impetuous Peter
jumped into the water and swan
ashore, leaving the others to bring in
the boat. They saw a fire with fish
and bread thereon cooking for the
morning meal After securing the FISH
they had caught they were asked to
eat of the food prepared, none of chem
daring to ask who it was serving the
meal, knowing it was the Lord"
The heart of the story is the inter-
view with Peter, which followed i'm
mediately after breakfast. 1t is well
to note just here that it is hardly fair
to regard Peter as the only offender
in boasting of his stedfastness in 10y
atty to the Master. After he had said,
Even If l must die with thee, yet
will not forsake thee" Matthew,
who was there. added, Likewise also
said all the apostles" Mark makes
the same statement. The difference
between forsaking and denying is less
than some people seem to suppose.
1t does not seem probable, as some
teach, that up to this time, Peter had
been under the impression that his
denial of his leader was unpardoned-
perhaps objectionable. The very first
message of the risen Lord. go tell
my disciples and Peter" was of itself
an assurance that he was forgiven
And then there was that appearance
to Peter on the first day. We don't
know what TRANSFERRED then, neither do
we know what passed between Peter
and his Lord that very morning before
the boat was brought in. Certainly,
there is no warrant for the opinion
that Jesus had become doubtful of Pc
ter's fitness for the work he had de-
signed him for, and desired to test
him further. He who made man knew
what was in man.
1t may be, however, that this inter-
view was intended to publicly re-
store Peter to his old place as a lead-
err among the apostles. 1t is more
likely, however, that the questions
propounded to Peter were. intended
for every one of them and that they
so understood it. BY that means he
would teach them that the first and
greatest equipment for their life work
was an over-powering love for him. 1t
is to be noted, that while our Lord be-
slowed the name of "Peter" on his
first-called disciple, he addressed him
as Simon" every time except once.
More than these" may refer to ma
terial things, such as the ships, the
fishing nets, the old occupation, ETC.,
or, if the question is intended for
Peter alone, it may mean do you love
me more than these other disciples
do - fOr that hoI hAox, Dotnrsc boat