Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-06-11
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR JUNE ii.

Subject: The Risen Christ by the Sea
of Galilee, John 21:1-25-Gold.
en- Text, Matt. 2S:2O-Commit
Verse 15-Commentary.
TINIE.-May, A. D. 80. PLACE.
The shores of Galilee.
EXPOSITION. II. Lowest thou
Me? 1917. The twenty-first chapter
of John is an appendix to the gospel,
The gospel naturally ends at 20:31,
This appendix is evidently also by
John, with the possible exception OF
verses "a and 25. The disciples had
gone into Galilee because Jesus had
hidden them 60 there Matt. 26:32;
28:7; Nix. 16:7-1O. There were
seven of the apostolic company pres.
ent at this appearance Of Christ ",
q. Thomas was one of the number,
Peter was the leader. Peter sug.
gested that they go a fishing
Some have thought that this was
a temporary desertion of his call
on Peters part. This is pure fancy.
Secular occupations are not inconsist.
ent with true devotion TO the work
of prophet, apostle or minister G. X.
GILT; Acts 1873: 20:34. 1t is we'll
to be honestly busy while awaiting
great events. God often grants His
special revelations to those who are
at the post of secular duty Huke
2:S; Matt. 4:18-20, 2D. Jesus
seemingly approved of this fishing ex-
cursion, at all events He took hand
in it ". g. Jesus disclosed Himself
to the disciples as at their first call
of four of them by miraculous draft
of fishes (Luke 5:5-1D. Jesus did
not come to their help until they had
come to end of themselves and their
own resources, having toiled long and
YEARLY and fruitleSsly. AS day broke
they saw Jesus standing on the beach.
In Jesus standing on the beach wait.
ing for His weary disciples out on the
sea to bring their fish ashore we may
see a picture of Jesus standing on the
beach beyond the sea of life waiting
for us to bring ashore the fish We
have caught. Alas! that so few OF
us are heavily freighted as were these
disciples. Before Jesus came to the
help of His disciples He drew out OF
them confession of their own utter
failure Tvs. 3, A.. Everything about
the story bears the marks of it's genu
anu u utu, hC utllouo aotl ~
ed TO Peter and John are exceedingly
natural and highly characteristic. The
story il fictitious would never have
mentioned that the disciples for some
time were not clear that it was Jesus
When breakfast is over Jesus espe,
cially addresses Himself to Peter. He
was the one who especially needed
first to be searched and then encour
aged and commissioned. He calls
Peter by his weak natural name 81
mon: for He is about to recall his
failure, in which he had not appeared
at all as Peter MAN of Rock). The
first question brings up Peters self
confident boasting and sad fall, Low
est thou Me more than these?" Pc.
ter had boasted that though all the
rest were offended he would not be,
that he would stand by his Lord even
unto death Matt 26:3335). Peter
had thought that his love overtopped
that of all the rest of the disciples.
Jesus asks him if he still thinks after
his sad denial that he loves more
than these" Peter did not say he
loved Jesus more than the others
did; he had learned humility. But of
his love he has no doubt and Is will
ing to appeal to Jesus own knowl
edge of him, Thou knowest that
love Thee" Are we so confident of
our love to Jesus? Can we say tC
Jesus, Thou knowest that l love
Thee?" True love to Christ is shown
by obedience (Jno. 14:15-21, 22).
Jesus accepted Peters profession of
his love and on its basis commits
stoned him, feed My lambs" Jesus
will set only the one who loves Him
to feeding the lambs, and the way to
show that we really do love Him is
by feeding His lambs. The lambs are
the young of the flock A minister's
first duty and Christians first duty
is to feed them. The word of God is
the food to give them. What wondrous
forgiveness and compassion on Jesus
part to set faithless Peter at this glo.
rious work. He asks the same ques.
tion a second time, leaving out the
more than these" and gets the same
reply. He gives another commits
sion, Tend My sheep" Love to Him
is the condition of tending His sheep.
TO tend" is more than feed, it is all
the work of shepherding Now Jesus
alters His question and uses the same
WOlu loI loNC thuI CtSl hdu uocu,
Simon, son of John, do you have af-
fection for Me?' The thrice asked
question is such a manifest though
gentle reference to the threefold de-
NAL that Peter is grieved at the sug-
/, gestion of doubt by the Saviour of
his love, and he bursts out with all
his soul, Lord, Thou knowest all
things. Thou knowest that l love
Thee" Jesus is satisfied, feed My
sheep"
III. Follow Me, 1922. A prophecy
! of Peters crucifixion follows. Peter
will have again the opportunity of
proving that he is ready to die for
Christ, and this time he will not fail
This might seem like painful infor.
nation to Peter, but under the cir.
cumstances it must have been highly
gratifying. His death should "glo.
rify God" Then comes the final and
best commission of all, follow Me-"
The following was to be very literal,
right to the cross (cf. Matt. 1924; 2
I'll. 3:12). Peter never forgot this
conversation Il Pet. 5:2-4; Pet.
1:14).