The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1922-06-28

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~ MWk had filled her
n0 ~ s@ place in the o
vent through the years, and now that
she had come back 1t was awaiting
her. She slipped back into her old
position and few knew she had ever
gone away.
The late DIR. ]. Wilbur Chapman
used to tell this story to illustrate
Gods gracious way Of restoring his
erring saints. In our text we have
one of the great scrlptural examples
of such gracious restoration, from
which all may take comfort.
Christ inquiries of Peter, "Simon.
son of Jonas, lowest thou me more
than these?' Peter had protested that
though all others might forsake
Christ, he would never leave Him.
But he had shown. too sadly. that he
did not love his Master more than
these" How Christ's ques ion must
have rebuked him. And in his reply
it is to be noted that all the old spirit
Of Boosting is gone and there is no
claim to love Christ more than others
love Him.
Some Searching Questions.
Peters humility Is shown in another
way. In Christ's question, the word
used for love. In the original. indi-
Gates an unseltish love which expects
no return-the love of friendship.
When Peter replies, he uses a lower
word for love. indicating a personal.
clinging affection which seeks return.
In other words, he has ceased to
boast of his love. not only as to guam
tity, but also as to quality. He only
dares to assert he is fond of Jesus.
guired as to Simon's love, lie used
the same word. In the original, which
Peter had been using, as If to say:
Are you sure you have even this
lower kind of love, that you are even
fond of meT" No wonder Peter vas
grieved when Christ said unto him
The third time, Lowest thou me?" He
can only reply: Lord, thou know
est all things: thou knowest that I
love thee" Peter feels he has SD
failed in showing his love that only
his Lord, who knows all things, can
see it
But let us not lose sight of the
grace underlying the searching ques-
tons of Christ. Thrice had Peter de-
MED Him in public, and he is here
given the privilege of thrice publicly
confesslng Him.
But u text deals not only With
Peters confession, but also with his
commission, Feed my lambs" Indeed,
after both the second and third con-
LESSONS, Christ says: Feed (R. v.
tend) my sheep" These are the lambs
and sheep for whom the Great Shep-
herd died. What a great evidence of
His love for Peter. and of the conf
denee He reposes In the once erring
disciple, that lie will commit TO his
care those who are so precious to
Him! Christ had said to Peter be-
fore his fall: "When thou art con.
verted, strengthen thy brethren" Now
that Peter has been converted, or
turned, and knows his own weakness,
he Is preparing to help others. 1t
has been beautifully said: when
brought to nothing, He can use us
in our ~nothingness, and when He can
use us, He WILL"
The Privilege of Martyrdom.
There is still another way in which
Chrlst's grace was manifested toward
Simon on the occasion we are consld-
ering, although it is sometimes moi
appreciated. After the third confess
sion. Jesus said: "When thou vast
young thou girdedst myself, and walk
edst whittier thou wouldest but when
thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch
forth thy hands. and another shall
grid thee, and carry thee whittier
thou wouldest not" John explains /:
"rhis spoke he, signifying by what
death he should glorifys God" Tradi-
ton tells us that Peter was crucifed
head downward, since he did not feel
worthy to be upright on his cross as
was his Lord. Not all would covet
such a death, but it is to be recalled
hat Peter had boosted of his willing
ness to die for Christ and then had
miserably failed. How he must have
appreciated the opportunity of making
good even at this point
The nun in the story only got back
her position, but Peter was advanced
from being n fisher of men" 10 be-
ing a shepherd of the flock of God.
who shall receive the Grown of
glory" and a martyr, who shall re-
ceiye the Grown of life" With what
new meaning may we sing: lie re-
storeth my SOUL"