The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-02-02

SUNDAY OCHOOl LeSooH
ruary 8, 1935-John 81: 1l-l9.
Golden Text-Lord, thou know,
est all things; thou knowest that
| love thee John 21:1O.
Buried on Friday afternoon IN
!, the new tomb of Joseph and
} guarded there by detachment OF
Roman soldiers, Jesus rose from
the dead very early Sunday morn
ing.
The lesson of faith in the res
direction was taught first by the
empty sepulcher. On Sunday
morning as the dawn-streaks il
.umined the horizon, Mary Mag
dalene was mortified to find the
sepulcher of Jesus empty. She
suspected grave-robbery and so
reported to the apostles at once:
The other women also reported
the angels word that Jesus had
risen from the dead. Peter and
John, perhaps as a committee OF
investigation from the disciples,
ran out of the city to the sepul-
cher. The younger and swifter,
John arrived first at the tomb and
stood without; but when Peter
came I'D, he rushed within the
vault for a closer and conclusive
search. The story of the women
was clearly verified; the body of
Jesus was not in the tomb where
loving hands had laid it, and the
grave-clothes were arranged as no
grave-robber would leave them.
There was ground for the report
of the Resurrection. With John
| it became a matter of faith at
once, but with Peter there was
the hesitation of doubt and of
paralyzing wonder as they return
ed to the city. Later every trace
of doubt was displaced by abso-
lutte certainty.
The lesson of love to the risen
Lord was taught two or three
weeks later on the western shore
of the Sea of Galilee during his
third appearance to the disciples
as body. Seven of the apostles
were together, Peter, Thomas, Ma
thanael, James, John, and two
others not named. As a means of
support or for mere. diversion Pc
ter suggested a few hours return
to their former occupation as
fishermen. So the seven immedi-
ately entered a boat and went to
work. But during the whole night
they were singularly unsuccessful:
"They caught nothing" Early
next morning Jesus, standing I'M
recognized on the shore, inquired
of their success and then babe
them cast their net on the right
side of the ship. They obeyed and
found themselves unable to, draw
the net with its multitude of fish
es. At once, John, with his usual
spiritual perceptiveness, declared,
1T is the Lord" And Peter, with
his well-k wn impetuosity,
sprang into the sea and approach
ed the Master.
/. THE FEAST OF
FELLOWSHIP
(John FL: 1l-14)
Peter was Restored to Fellow
ship. When the other six disciples
came dragging the net ashore they
found a fire of Goals and on it
fish and bread. With Peters help
they "drew the net to land full of
great fishes, an hundred and fifty
and three" Then, at the word of
Jesus, and in response to their
own feelings, they breakfasted,
their hearts full of awe as they
received from the hands of the
Lord this early morning meal.
1--WE note that one of the five
appearances on resurrection day
was to Peter alone and another
was to ten disciples including Pc
ter. The same apostle was present
the next Sunday evening when
Jesus appeared to eleven apostles
including Thomas. He was present
at the third appearance to the
apostles as recorded in our lesson.
! He was present on the Galilean
mountain when Jesus gave the
| Great Commission and finally in
| Jerusalem and on the Mount of
Olives whenAJesus ascended.)
2. THE LESSON OF LOVE
(John FL: l5-1O
Peter was Restored to Duty.
When the seven had thus broken
their fast over night Jesus taught
them the lesson of love. His re-
marks were addressed to Peter,
but the truth conveyed was for
all. Slower than John to recognize
the Lord, Peter was yet foremost
of all the disciples in expressing
his appreciation of the Lords
presence. Was he really more de-
voted than the others, and could
he ever afterwards have cause to
boast of his forwardness? To ST.
mon the man rather than to Peter
the apostle, Jesus addressed the
question: "Simon, son of Jonas,
lowest thou me more than these 2"
Was. his affection more a matter
of high moral choice than Of nat
ural personal esteem, and in this
did he surpass his fellows? In an
swer, Peter dared not speak OF
himself comparatively as he had
so presumptuously done before
his denials; he could merely assert
the sermon subject in the even
ing worship will be "The Broken
COvpDaOt -