The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1943-04-29
Sunday School
Lesson In Brief
BY REV. b. A. MEEKS

Subject: "Christ's Charge to
Peter"
Lesson Passage: John 21:15-24.
Golden Text: Greater love
hath no man than this, that a
man lay down his life for his
friends" John 1918.
Peter is here faced with the
most searching inquiry of his life.
It was more heart-rending than
that experience at the last Supper
when Jesus told them that one of
them sitting at the table with Him
would betray Him into the hands
of sinful men. Each one, even
Judas, said, Lord, is it II" Each
time Christ said, Simon, son of
Jonas, lowest thou me?" He cut
deeper and deeper into the heart
of Peter. When Christ said unto
him the third time, Simon, son
of Jonas, lowest thou me?" Peter
was so moved and grieved that
he could do no more than appeal
to the omniscience of Christ, say
ing, Lord, thou knowest all
things, thou knowest that I love
thee" You will notice that Peter
never did say that he loved Christ
more than did the other disciples.
He had been humbled and grieved
more than once because of his
boastful confidence and profess
sion of loyalty.
By what reasons could Christ
expect Peter to love Him? (O
First of all Christ had highly hon.
ored him when he called him
from his lowly place among the
fisher fold to be a disciple and
apostle and given him a place as
one of His closest bosom friends.
(2) Christ had revealed unto him
the only wise God our Saviour
in all His glorious holiness and
majesty, in His multiplied mer-
cies and loving kindness from
whose heart flows a never ending
stream of boundless love for lost
and ruined humanity. (3) Christ
lifted Peter from among the I'M
godly and made him to sit in the
heavenly places. az Christ had
redeemed him with His own prec-
ious blood. (5) Christ had deliver
ed him out of the bondage of sin
and brought him into the glorious
freedom of the Son of God. (6)
Christ could say unto Peter hav-
ing loved thee, I will love thee
unto the end, for mine is an un-
changing love, higher than the
heights above, deeper than the
depths beneath, free and faithful,
strong as death. CD Christ had
restored him to full fellowship
and to his honored place of bosom
friend after his shameful and
cowardly denial. (8) Christ had
poured out His very soul for him,
even unto the death of the cross.
AS we realize the supreme
greatness Of love and what con-
trolling force it is in our lives
we understand why Christ placed
such emphasis upon it in His
questioning Of Peter. Love is par
excellence because God is love.
Every motive, every thought,
every word, every deed of our
God are not only conceived in
love, but are guided to their fl
nal destiny His infinite love.
Love is not pleasure, it is not
a mere selfish enjoyment, it is
not the illusion of a coarse pas
sion. He who loves gives him
self above all; in its final express
sion love is sacrifice. Therefore
he alone is the true lover who
sacrifices his rest his joys, his
fortune and if need be, life it.
self, for the being whom he ought
to love on earth or in heaven"
(Henry Perreyve).
Love to Christ is expressed by
sincere desire and earnest ef-
fort to promote the cause of
Christ and the glory of God
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