Evening journal., 1918-03-29
IOp.c "..,,cn Dy Miss X +. Strickland
LESSONS FROM THE RISEN CHRiST'S
EOQTV NAYS
FORTY DAYS
John 2f:i0-l7.

A4EScDNS fIOM lie hlSfAN tnhhoA
FORTY DAYS
John 2f:fO-l7.
The incident before us Is one OF the
most interesting In our Lords post
resurrection appearances, for here we
have the final step In Peters restOra-
tlon 10 fellowship. Peters fall begsna
some days before with boastfulness.
He had virtually professed to love the
Lord more than any OF the other dis
ciples loved Him (Mt. &c .33). The child
Of God may indeed make his boast In
the Lord" and think and speak much
OF Gods love for him; but he Is on dan
gerous ground when he makes much OF
his love for God. Instead OF singing,
"Oh how love Jesusw let him rather
sing. 20 love that wilt not let me go
We next ind Peter, and on the same
night OF his boast, faillng to watch
and pray lMt 26 40 a. 49, OF course,
What need was there for watchfulness
and prayer on the part OF Him who
loved his Lord so much? An, the back
sliding process Is we'll under way now,
and he that "thnketh he standeth"
must needs have a tumble before he
take heed least he fall"
Peter himself seems very soon 10
realize that something Is wrong, but in
stead Of taking the one way back 10 fell
lOwship for q SHINING saint. which Is
confession a Jno :9), he. as many
another child OF God thinks he must
do something. lie has been caught
mapping, and he proceeds forthwith,
by Increased neshls activity. to show
his zeal fO- his Lord lJno. IS i0) When
we work in this spirit we hinder rather
than help. Peters conduct brought
forth only a rcbuke from Jesus, and
all the procedures OF that dread nlsht
were halted while he undld what Peter
had done ,Lk. % 81
Peter now follows the Lord indeed,
but 10 ls "a;ar or 'Lk. 22-5il Dis
tance from him spells danger. The
child Of God is exhorted TO draw
nirh." and there Is safety only as we
follow him closely
Peter goes to the bottom In the three
fold open denial Of his Lord that quick
ly follows. Instead OF at his Lords
side. we end him In company with
his Lords enemies, flrst, standing
among them (Jno IS .iS), and then sit
ting In their midst lLk. p So. DO
you think he successfully warmed him
self at the fire that night2 No. poor
peterl He was cold, so cold. inside and
ont, and the rest was easy-he thrice
denied that he even knew the Man.
And the Lord turned. and looked upon
Peter" q. the pity. the yearnlng, the
infinite love. in that look What won
der that orr hackslidden disciple went
out and wept biitcrlyw tLk % 81. 62)
And what must have been the agony OF
the days that followed The next morn
Ing he saw his beloved Lord, the sin
less sin-bearer. nailed 10 the cross.
~ go 30 Hint O. to pour out his heart
in cOntrltlon before Him. But. no this
was temporarily denied him, and three
ar0nizng davs followed. while Jesu:
lay In the slumbers OF death 10 Is moi
surprising that, on the resurrection
morning, when the wonderful news wai
brought by Mary 30 Peter and John
and they iran both together" 10 thu
sepulchre. "the other disciple did out
run Peter ,Jno. 2O2-D Even Peter
physical strength was gone in thosl
DAYS OF bitter, fearful grief.
But Jesus had risen No wonder tha
Peter. writing later Of this great event
says that God the Father "begat al
again unto living hope by the resur
rection Of Jesus Christ from the dead
8 Pet :3). on that resurrection day
Jesus had a personal, private interview
with Peter (Lk. 2i 81; 1 Cor IS 81
and let us tread softly here. and shu
the door Where is the child Of Goo