The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-06-11
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR JUNE "a.
Subject: The Risen Christ by the Sea
of Galilee, John 21.f-25---Gold.
en- Text, Matt. 2S:2O--Commit


of Galilee, John 2f:t-25---Gold.
en- Text, Matt. 2S:2O--Commit
Verse t5-Commcntary.
TIME.--May. A. D. 30 PLACE.
The shores of Galilee.
EXPOSITION. II. Lowest thou
Me? 1917. The twenty-frst 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 go there Matt 26:32;
2S:7; Nix. 16:7-1O) There were
seven of the apostolic company pres.
ent at this appearance OF Christ "
p. 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 ineonslst-
ent with a true devotion to the work
Of prophet, apostle or minister g X.
6:1-7; Acts 1873; 20:3D. 1t is well
to be honestly busy while awaiting
great events. God often grants His
special revelations to those who are
at the post of secular duty (Luke
2:S; Matt 4:1S-20, 21). Jesus
seemingly approved of this fishing ex-
cursion. at all events He took a hand
in II ". 81. Jesus disclosed Himself
to the disciples as at their first call
of four of them by miraculous draft
of fishes (Luke 5:5-11) Jesus did
not come to their help until they had
come to end of themselves and their
own resources, having toiled long and
wearily 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 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 a confession of their own utter
failure Tvs. 3, a.. Everything about
the story bears the marks of its genu.
ineness and truth. The actions ascrib
ed to Peter and John are exceedingly
natural and highly characteristic. The
=
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 ST.
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.
I 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. 26:33-35). Peter
had thought that his love oyertopped
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 I
love Thee" Are we so confident Of
| our love TO Jesus? Can we say to
Jesus. Thou knowest that l love
| Thee?" True love to Christ is shown
by obedience tJno. 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. 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 1.-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
word for love that Peter had used
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.
nial that Peter is grieved at the sug.
gestion Of a doubt by the Saviour OF
his love, and he bursts out with all
his soul, Lord, Thou knowest all
things, Thou knowest that / love
Thee" Jesus is satisfied, feed Ny
sheep"
ii. Follow Me, 1922. A prophecy
Of Peters crucihxion follows. Peter
will have again the opportunity OF
/ proving that he is ready to die foi
Christ, and this time he will not fail
This might seem like painful infor
nation to Peter, but under .he cir
cumstanees 1t must have beel highly
gratifying. His death should "glo
rify God" Then comes the final anC
best commission of all, follow Me
The following was to be very literal
right to the cross (cf. Matt. 1924; {
TT, 3;12), Peter never forgot thii
conversation Il Pet. 5:2-4; Pet
| l:14.
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