The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1912-06-14

ulSclpleS a1ter his
resurrection. This was presumably
three or four weeks after the Masters
resurrection from the dead.
During all those thirty days the men.
tai attitude Of all the Apostles and the
other disciples can be better imagined
than described. They were perplexed;
they had had evidences Of the Masters
resurrection; they had had the Scrip
lures called to their attention which
proved that this was necessary and
that God had previously so arranged.
They had hoped for further confer.
ences with Jesus and that He would
tell them definitely what to do.
Instead. left to themselves, they were
thoroughly disheartened. They had left
all to follow Him, to tell the people
that He was the long promised Mes
siah, and that He would soon set up
His Kingdom, which would bring bless.
ings to Israel. and through Israel, to
all the families of the earth. in harmo.
nv with the Abrahamic Covenant. Now
apparently all these hopes were dashed.
They Toiled All Night.
Their first night was discouraging
one-they caught nothing. In the
morning they beheld q stranger on the
shore The stranger suggested cast,
ing the net on the other side of the
boat. And although the suggestion
seemed foolish, having been so unsuc-
cessful yet they did so. and immedi-
ately the net was filed with fishes.
1t did NOT require long for them to
learn the lesson. They knew instinc-
lively that the unknown stranger was
their Master.
All interest had just centered in the
fishing business, but now boats. fish
and nets all lost their value in the esti-
nation of these fishermen. Here was
their risen Lord, for whose third ap-
pearance they had been waiting now
nearly three weeks! Fearing that the
Master would disappear before he
could get to Him. st. Peter plunged
into the sea and swan ashore. To his
surprise the stranger already had fish.
and had them cooked, and all were in
vited to Join In the breakfast on the
shore Of Galilee.
The stranger had not the clothing by
which they had known their Lord, nei-
Their did He have the marks Of the
nails in His hands and feet, that they
might thus identify Him. This was
a different manifestation. They knew
Him as did those with whom He walk
ed to Emmaus who recognized Him
in the blessing Of the bread. and not
by His features or clothing or wounds.
They recognized that none other than
He could perform such miracle.
Lowest Thou Me More7"
The stranger addressed st. Peter par
ticularly, saying, Lowest thou Me
more than these"-these boats and
nets? st. Peter answered, Lord.
Thou knowest that I affectionately
love Thee" He used a word express
ing fondness of love. Jesus replied.
"Feed my lambs"
Then came the question a second
time, "Simon, son of Jonas. lowest thou
Me7" A great pressure was felt by
st. Peter. Why did the Master so par
ticularly question his lover st. Peter
answered, Lord. Thou knowest that ]
affectionately love Thee" Jesus this
time replied. TEND My sheep" For
the third time Jesus said to Peter, Isl
mon, son of Jonas, dosf thou affection
ately love Me?" Here Jesus used the
same word that st. Peter had used.
as though He questioned the affection
and depth of st. Peters love. All! the
third time must have sent the memory
Of Peter back to the scene In Pilates
Judgment Hall, when he denied his
Master the third time. And now Jesus
for the third time had asked him re.
speeding his love. and. whether II was
really a love OF affection! St Peters
choking reply was. Lord. Thou know.
est all things! Thou kn0wcst that l
affectionately love Thee" The Lords
reply was. Feed My sheep"
Our Mistaken Methods.
Have not Christians in general over
looked this important lesson. namely.
that the chief work of the ministers
and under-shepherds Of the Lords
flock during this Age Is to "feed the
fiock?' Is 1t not true that compara-
lively liHle feeding is being done? On
the contrary. the thought usually re-
ceived by new converts Is, Now you
are saved. go. evangelize. and bring
others to Christ-especially bring
money. for with plenty of 1t we can
convert the world.
The advice to St Peter should be
needed. The lambs" should be fed
until they become sheep" The sheep
should be tended. cared for, guided, In
structed: and the sheep should also be
fed with the stronger meat" than that
~ht>h Aha lonoho cossld opr ropriofo