The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-01-31
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
PETERS RESTORATION
By HIGHT c. MOORE

= presence. w dS he ISdlly uiOlS Wv
voted than the others, and coul
: he ever afterwards have cause t
boast of his forwardness? To S
mon the man rather than to Pete
the apostle, Jesus addressed tn
question: "Simon, son of iona:
lowest thou ME more than these :?
Was his affection more a matte
of high moral choice than of nat
ural personal esteem. and in thi
! did he surpass his fellows? In an
swer, Peter dared not speak o
| himself comparatively as he ha,
!. so presump.uously done befor
his dcni9!c. he could merely asser
his love. yet in a word which dit
not reach so high as that used b.
his Master. Yea, Lord; thol
knowest that l love thee" On tn,
/ basis of this love the Lord coult
I provide for the sustenance of hi
flock, especially of those young il
natural or in spiritual life. There
fore. the command, Feed m!
lambs"
! If love be sincere, it will not BIZ
ashamed of frequent expression
And the more often it is repeat
ed, the stronger the ties that bind
( The centrality of love in religion
entities it to the greatest possible
emphasis. So a second time, anC
now not comparing him with the
/ others, but bringing out the SUI,
preme relation to himself, Jesus
said. Simon, son of Jonas, lowest
thou me?" And in this second in
J uuiry he used the same word for
/ love he had used before-express-
ing a regard unclogged with earth
" elements. pure and spiritual.
| But again, unable to use that
word or unwilling to expose him.
self to presumption, Peter reiter-
ated the natural love he felt:
''Yea, Lord; thou knowest that
/ love thee" The sincerity of his
| soul was manifest, and ne could
/ be entrusted with the watchcare
of the flock of Christ. Hence now
the command, Feed Tor tend)
my sheep"
But shall there be set limit
to love? Will a single expression
of the lips be sufficient where a
whole life of devotion is demand
ed? More for Simon's sake than
his own, and strikingly suggestive
of those three fearful denials, a
third time Jesus said, Simon,
son of Jonas, lowest thou me?'
This time he uses the word for
love which Peter had twice used;
that love shall be explored to its
depths. its genuineness discover,
ed, and its needless externals
brushed away. 1t seems little won,
der that Peter felt somewhat
keenly the persistent probe into
his very heart. In a tone of in,
tenser earnestness he now replied
Lord, thou knowest all things
thou knowest that l love thee" In
his inmost being he loved his Mas,
ter with an earnest. faithful love
And with this threefold declara,
ton of love, rising each time in
intensity, Peter is assigned the
important duty of not only feed
ing the lambs and tending the
sheep, but also now of feeding the
sheep. So love is the highest quail
ification for effective Christian
work, as it is the chief link bind
ing US to God.
3. THE CROSS BEFORE
THE CROWN
(John Fl: 1919
Peter was Restored for Service.
Looking into the future Jesus
foresaw and foretold the lifelong
loyalty of Peter to Christ and his
cause. In vivid phrase he declared
that the apostle like his Lord
should know the pain and glory
of the cross. Let him not shrink
at the prospect of martyrdom but
lift his eyes to the higher goa
and keep in his heart the Masters
word: Follow me-"
TRUST AND LOVE
THE RISEN LORD
ID Remember the Lords Res,
direction. Jesus rose from the
dead. No other fact has been bet.
ter proved. He lives today. ccept
him; obey him; glorify him!
t2) Remember the Lords Love
The disciples must not hold in
awe and at a distance their risen
Lord, but Irvine around him anew
the tendrills of their love. Love
is the mightiest motive-power in
the world. -.-
(3) Remember the Lord:
knowledge. Thou knowest," was
Peters refuge under the search,
ing inquiry of the Lord. Does he
not know US all altogether?
(4) Remember the Lord,
Flock. He loves them all anC
yearns for their love. And hi
wishes to entrust them to none
but shepherds of love who viii
feed and lead them in love.
(5) Remember the Lords Com
mand. Follow me-" said Jesus tx
Peter. And the apostle obeyed il
/ life and death. The same wore
comes to us. Shall We be faithful