The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-05-13

~ ~ disciples after His
resurrection. 3This was presumably
thfee 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 BE 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
inss to Israel, and. through lsrnel, &c
all the families of the earth. In harmo
ny.with the;AbfehamIc Covenant. Nov
apparHaa Isll..t5b ese hop3 sf dashed
sThsy .Toilsd All Niebt.
Their Htst night was h 'discouraging
one-they caught nothing In the
morning they beheld 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. aud immedl.
ately the net was filed with fishes.
1t did not require long for them to
learn the lesson. They knew instine.
lively that the unknown stranger was
their Master.
All Interest had just centered in the
fishing business. but now boats. fish
md nets all lost their value IN the esti
nation Of these fishermen. Here WIS
their risen Lord, for whose third AZ.
pearance they had been waiting now
nearly three weeksl Fearing thalatlle
Mister would disappear before hr
could get to Him. st. Peter plungel
into the sea and swan ashore. TO hL'
surprise the stranger already had ISL.
and had them cooked. and all were III.
ylted to Join In the breakfast on the
shore of GalIlee.
The stranger had not the clothing ly
which they had known their Lord. nel.
Their did He have the marks OF the
nails in His hands and feet, that they
might thus identify Him. This was
different manifestation. They knew
Him us did those with whom He walk.
ed'sto Emmaus who recognized Him
in:jhe blessing Of the bread. and not
'bytH features or clothing or wOaTIs:
TBey recognized that none other thin
Helcould perform such n miraeIs
"Lovest Thou Me More7n
The stranger addressed st. Peter par!
tIcularly. saying. Lowest thou Me
more than these"-these boats md
nets? St. Peter answered, Lord.
Thou knowest that affectionately
love Thee" He used word express.
ing fondness Of love. Jesus replied.
Feed my lambs"
Then came the question n second
time, "SImon. sou Of Jonas. lowest thou
Me| A great pressure was felt by
st. Peter. Why di'l the Master so par
tlcularly question his love: st. Peter
answered. Lord. Thou knowest that T!
aflectIonately love Thee" Jesus this
time replied. TEND My sheep" For
tile third time Jesus said to Peter. Isl,
mqn. son OF Jonas, d6Si thtoai Affection
ately love, Me?" Here .Icsus used the
sdme word that st. Peter mud usel.
aslthough He questioned the affection
and depth of st. Peters love. All: the
third time must hnve. sent the memory
OF Peter back to the scene In Pilates
Judgment Hall, when lie denied his
Master the third tire. And now Jesus
for the third time had asked him re
,pectIng his love. and whether L was
really love OF affection, st Peters
choking reply was. Lord. Thou know,
est all things! Thou knorcst 'that !
afrectionately 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