Publication date
7/1/12
Volume
33
Number
13
The WatchTower
1912--General Conventions--1912
/../literature/watchtower/1912/13/1912-13-1.html
 
 
VOL. 
XXXIII 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
JULY 
1, 
1912 
No. 
13 
HOW 
ST. 
PETER 
WAS 
PUNISHED 
FOR 
DENYING 
HIS 
LORD 
'\";imon, 
son 
of 
Jonas, 
lovest 
thou 
me 
more 
than 
thesei'''-John 
21:15-17. 
The 
context 
shows 
that 
these 
words 
were 
addressed 
by 
the 
Redeemer 
to 
St. 
Peter 
on 
the 
occasion 
of 
his 
third 
manifesta­ 
tion 
to 
his 
disciples 
after 
his 
resurrection. 
This 
was 
presum­ 
Ii 
bly 
three 
or 
four 
weeks 
after 
the 
Master's 
resurrection 
from 
the 
dead. 
His 
manifestations 
to 
the 
women 
on 
the 
morning 
of 
his 
resurrection 
and 
his 
later 
manifestations 
to 
the 
two 
as 
they 
went 
to 
Emmaus 
are 
evidently 
not 
counted, 
but 
the 
manifestation 
the 
same 
evening 
in 
the 
upper 
room, 
when 
all 
the 
disciples 
except 
Thomas 
and 
Judas 
were 
present, 
is 
counted 
the 
first. 
And 
the 
manifestations 
week 
later, 
Thomas 
being 
present, 
is 
counted 
the 
second. 
The 
delay 
in 
giving 
this 
third 
manifestation 
was 
evi­ 
dently 
for 
the 
purpose 
of 
testing 
the 
faith 
of 
the 
Apostles 
and 
of 
leading 
them 
to 
reach 
conclusion 
respecting 
their 
future 
--course, 
which 
Jesus 
wished 
to 
correct. 
So 
far 
as 
we 
can 
understand 
the 
record 
at 
least 
two 
8undays 
passed 
without 
any 
further 
manifestation 
of 
Jesus 
to 
his 
disciples, 
and 
then, 
giving 
up 
hope, 
they 
decided 
to 
return 
to 
the 
fishing 
business 
and 
did 
so. 
The 
journey 
to 
Galilee 
and 
the 
resumption 
of 
,business 
presumably 
took 
another 
week. 
During 
all 
those 
thirty 
days 
the 
mental 
attitude 
of 
all 
the 
apostles 
and 
the 
other 
disdples 
can 
be 
better 
imagined 
than 
described. 
They 
were 
perplexed, 
they 
had 
indeed 
had 
evidences 
of 
the 
Master's 
resurrection; 
they 
had 
had 
the 
8criptures 
called 
to 
their 
attention 
which 
proved 
that 
this 
was 
necessary, 
and 
that 
God 
had 
previously 
so 
arranged. 
They 
had 
hoped 
for 
further 
conferences 
with 
Jesus 
and 
that 
he 
would 
have 
told 
them 
definitely 
what 
to 
do. 
Instead, 
left 
to 
themselves, 
the 
disciples 
were 
thoroughly 
disheartened. 
They 
had 
left 
all 
to 
follow 
him, 
to 
tell 
the 
peo­ 
pI€' 
that 
he 
was 
the 
Son 
of 
God, 
the 
long-promised 
Messiah, 
and 
that 
he 
would 
soon 
set 
up 
his 
kingdom, 
which 
would 
bring 
blessings, 
primarily 
to 
Israel 
and, 
secondary, 
through 
Israel, 
to 
all 
the 
families 
of 
the 
earth 
in 
harmony 
with 
the 
Abrahamic 
Covenant. 
Now 
apparently 
all 
of 
these 
hopes 
were 
dashed, 
frustrated. 
How 
foolish 
they 
thought 
it 
would 
seem 
for 
them 
to 
try 
to 
convince 
the 
people 
that 
man, 
crucified 
as 
malefactor, 
as 
blasphemer, 
was 
indeed 
the 
Messiah! 
Row 
foolish 
it 
would 
seem 
to 
tell 
of 
his 
resurrection! 
They 
felt 
that 
they 
could 
do 
nothing 
else 
than 
abandon 
the 
ministry 
as 
lost 
cause; 
and 
the 
resumption 
of 
the 
fishing 
business 
was 
the 
logical 
conclusion. 
THEY 
TOILED 
ALL 
THE 
NIGHT 
Their 
first 
night 
was 
disf'ouraging 
one--they 
caught 
nothing. 
It 
looked 
indeed 
as 
though 
God 
was 
punishing 
them 
for 
the 
course 
they 
had 
taken 
in 
becoming 
disciples 
of 
Jesus-that 
everything 
was 
going 
wrong. 
But 
not 
so; 
they 
were 
merely 
being 
taught 
needed 
lessons. 
In 
the 
morning 
they 
beheld 
stranger 
on 
the 
shore 
who 
beckoned 
and 
shouted 
to 
know 
if 
they 
had 
any 
fish 
for 
sale. 
They 
replied, 
No, 
they 
had 
made 
no 
catch. 
The 
stranger 
suggested 
casting 
the 
net 
on 
the 
other 
side 
of 
the 
boat. 
And, 
although 
the 
suggestion 
seemed 
fooli&h 
one. 
having 
been 
so 
unsuccessful. 
vet 
they 
did 
so, 
and 
immediatelv 
the 
net 
was 
filled 
with 
fish"s! 
It 
did 
not 
require 
long 
for' 
them 
to 
learn 
the 
lesson. 
They 
knew 
instinctively 
that 
the 
unknown 
stranger 
upon 
the 
shore 
was 
none 
other 
than 
their 
Master. 
They 
remembered 
very 
similar 
experience 
at 
the 
time 
they 
were 
first 
called 
to 
leave 
their 
nets 
and 
to 
become 
fishers 
of 
men. 
All 
interest 
had 
just 
centered 
in 
the 
fishing 
bmines 
s, 
but 
now 
boats 
and 
fish 
and 
nets 
all 
lost 
their 
value 
in 
the 
estimation 
of 
these 
fishermen. 
Here 
was 
their 
risen 
Lord, 
for 
whose 
third 
appearance 
they 
had 
been 
waiting 
now 
nearly 
three 
weeks. 
Fearing 
that 
the 
Master 
would 
disappear, 
even 
before 
he 
could 
get 
to 
him, 
St. 
Peter 
plunged 
into 
the 
sea 
and 
swam 
ashore. 
To 
his 
surprise 
the 
stranger 
alr€'ady 
had 
fish 
and 
had 
them 
cooked, 
and 
aU 
were 
invited 
to 
join 
in 
the 
breakfast 
on 
the 
shore 
of 
Galilee. 
The 
stranger 
had 
not 
the 
clothing 
by 
which 
they 
had 
known 
thf'ir 
Lord, 
neither 
did 
he 
have 
the 
marks 
of 
the 
nails 
in 
his 
hands 
and 
feet, 
that 
they 
might 
thus 
identify 
him. 
This 
was 
different 
manifestation. 
They 
kn€'w 
him 
as 
did 
thos€' 
with 
whom 
he 
walked 
to 
Emmaus, 
who 
recognized 
him 
in 
the 
blessing 
of 
the 
bread, 
and 
not 
by 
his 
feature'! 
or 
clothing 
or 
wounds. 
They 
recognized 
that 
none 
other 
than 
he 
could 
have 
performed 
such 
miracle. 
They 
did 
nnt 
ask 
who 
he 
was; 
they 
felt 
restraint; 
as 
we 
read, 
"None 
of 
them 
durst 
ask 
who 
he 
was," 
but 
all 
knew 
that 
he 
was 
the 
Lord. 
"LOVEST 
THOU 
ME 
MORE?" 
The 
stranger 
addressed 
St. 
Peter 
particularly, 
saying, 
"Lovest 
thou 
me 
more 
than 
these"-these 
boats 
and 
nets, 
etc., 
perta 
ining 
to 
the 
fishing 
business 
St. 
Peter 
answered, 
"Lord, 
Thou 
knowest 
that 
affectionately 
love 
thee!' 
He 
used 
word 
expressing 
fondness 
O'f 
love. 
Jesus 
replied, 
"Feed 
my 
lambs." 
Then 
came 
the 
question 
second 
time, 
"Simon, 
son 
of 
Jonas, 
lovest 
thou 
me?" 
great 
pressure 
was 
felt 
by 
St. 
Peter. 
Why 
did 
the 
Master 
so 
particularly 
question 
his 
love. 
Why 
did 
he 
put 
this 
question 
more 
to 
him 
than. 
t~ 
the 
others? 
Was 
it 
because 
he 
had 
been 
the 
first 
of 
the 
dISCIples 
to 
suggest 
the 
resumption 
of 
the 
fishing 
business? 
\Vas 
he 
to 
blame 
for 
this? 
But 
he 
answered, 
"Lord, 
thou 
knowest 
that 
affectiona,tely 
love 
thee." 
Jesus 
this 
time 
replied, 
"Tend 
my 
sheep." 
For 
the 
third 
time 
Jesus 
said 
to 
St. 
Peter, 
"8imon, 
son 
nf 
Jonas, 
dost 
thou 
affectionately 
love 
me?" 
Here 
Jesus 
used 
the 
same 
word 
that 
St. 
Peter 
had 
used, 
as 
though 
he 
questioned 
the 
affection 
and 
depth 
of 
St. 
Peter's 
love. 
Ah! 
the 
third 
time 
must 
have 
sent 
the 
memory 
of 
8t. 
Peter 
back 
to 
the 
scene 
in 
Caiaphas' 
Judgmf'nt 
Hall, 
when 
he 
denied 
his 
Master 
the 
third 
time, 
even 
with 
cursing. 
And 
now 
Jesus 
for 
the 
third 
time 
had 
asked 
him 
respecting 
his 
love 
and 
whether 
it 
was 
really 
love 
of 
affection! 
St. 
Peter's 
choking 
reply 
was, 
"Lord, 
thou 
knowest 
all 
things! 
Thou 
knowest 
that 
affectionately 
love 
thee!" 
The 
Lord's 
reply 
was, 
"Feed 
my 
sheep." 
In 
harmony 
with 
these 
words 
of 
the 
Master 
to 
8t. 
Peter 
the 
chief 
work 
of 
his 
followers 
has 
been 
to 
minister 
to 
the 
needs 
of 
the 
spirit-begotten 
sheep. 
It 
is 
in 
full 
harmony 
with 
this 
that 
St. 
Paul, 
addressing 
the 
elders 
of 
Ephesus, 
counseled 
that 
they 
"feed 
the 
flock 
of 
God, 
whioh 
he 
had 
purchased 
with 
:the 
blood 
of 
his 
own 
Son." 
Th€'re 
is 
point 
here 
that 
perhaps 
is 
too 
frequently 
overlooked. 
If 
all 
of 
the 
Lord's 
fol­ 
lowers 
could 
realize 
that 
the 
message 
to 
St. 
Peter 
is 
the 
same 
as 
comes 
to 
all 
of 
us, 
perhaps 
it 
would 
make 
change 
in 
most 
of 
our 
preaching. 
OUR 
MISTAKEN 
METHODS 
Have 
not 
Christians 
in 
general 
overlooked 
this 
important 
lesson, 
namely, 
that 
the 
chief 
work 
of 
the 
ministers 
and 
un­ 
der-shepherds 
of 
the 
Lord's 
flock 
during 
this 
age 
is 
to 
"feed 
the 
flock"? 
Is 
it 
not 
true 
that 
compara-tively 
little 
feeding 
is 
being 
done? 
On 
the 
contrary, 
the 
thought 
usually 
received 
by 
new 
converts 
is, 
Now 
you 
are 
saved; 
go, 
evangehze, 
and 
bring 
others 
to 
Christ-especially 
bring 
money, 
for 
with 
plenty 
of 
it 
we 
can 
convert 
the 
world. 
Work 
for 
Jesus 
by 
soliciting 
funds 
for 
church 
expenses, 
extension, 
etc 
.. 
etc. 
If 
the 
inquirer 
has 
thoughts 
or 
feelings 
is 
it 
not 
too 
often 
the 
case 
that 
his 
instructors 
know 
not 
ho,w 
to 
answer 
them, 
but 
merely 
say, 
"Stop 
thinking, 
and 
go 
to 
work"? 
Alas, 
that 
this 
is 
so 
true! 
The 
"lambs" 
should 
be 
fed 
until 
they 
become 
"sheep." 
The 
sheep 
should 
be 
tended, 
car~d 
for, 
guided, 
instructed, 
and 
the 
sheep 
should 
also 
be 
fed 
WIth 
the 
stroncrer 
meat 
than 
that 
whirh 
the 
lambs 
could 
appropriate. 
St. 
P~ul 
gives 
,this 
thought 
when 
on 
one 
ocrasion 
he 
urges 
his 
hearers 
to 
desire 
"the 
sincere 
milk 
of 
the 
Word 
that 
they 
may 
grow 
thereby." 
But 
few 
seem 
to 
copy 
the 
great 
St. 
Paul 
in 
respect 
to 
their 
methods. 
Few 
seem 
to 
realize 
and 
apply 
to 
them­ 
selves 
the 
Master's 
words 
to 
St. 
Peter, 
"Feed 
my 
lambs," 
and 
"my 
sheep." 
As 
consequence, 
the 
church 
of 
Christ 
is 
in 
languishing 
condition. 
Many, 
sinpere 
at 
heart. 
know 
not 
what 
they 
believe. 
Many 
would 
find 
it 
impossible 
to 
follow 
St. 
Pet€'r's 
admonition, 
"Be 
ready 
to 
give 
reason 
for 
the 
hope 
that 
is 
within 
you, 
with 
meekness 
and 
reverence."-l 
Peter 
3: 
15. 
REASONS 
FOR 
THE 
NEGLECT 
OF 
THE 
DOCTRINES 
OF 
CHRIST 
There 
are 
two 
reasons 
which 
have 
led 
up 
to 
the 
neglect 
of 
"the 
doctrines 
of 
Chri&t"-the 
teachings 
of 
the 
Bible. 
These 
two 
reasons 
fully 
explain 
why 
so 
many 
are 
telling 
new 
believers, 
Never 
mind 
the 
doctrines 
of 
Cluist, 
but 
go 
out 
and 
convert 
somebody. 
The 
first 
of 
these 
reasons 
is 
the 
erroneous 
thought 
which 
gained 
ascendency 
during 
the 
dark 
ages, 
namely, 
that 
from 
Pentecost 
until 
the 
second 
coming 
of 
Jesus 
is 
the 
time 
allotted 
by 
the 
Heavenly 
Father 
for 
the 
world's 
conversion, 
and 
that 
this 
i'l 
the 
commission 
which 
he 
gives 
to 
his 
people. 
and 
if 
the 
world 
be 
not 
converted 
the 
responsibility 
for 
their 
etenhl 
torture 
will 
fall 
upon 
his 
people. 
All 
of 
this 
is 
mistake. 
Not 
word 
of 
8cripture 
tells 
that 
the 
church 
was 
commissioned 
to 
convert 
the 
world 
be­ 
fore 
the 
second 
coming 
of 
the 
Lord. 
Quite 
to 
the 
contrary, 
the 
Scriptures 
show 
that 
at 
the 
Lord's 
second 
coming 
the 
world 
will 
be 
unconverted. 
The 
Apocalypse 
partiCUlarly 
tells 
us 
that 
when 
the 
Lord 
at 
his 
second 
CQming 
shall 
establish 
(207-208) 
[5052] 
Vou. XXXITI BROOKLYN, N. Y., JULY 1, 1912 No. 1 HOW ST. PETER WAS PUNISHED FOR DENYING HIS LORD “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?”—John 21:15-17. The context shows that these words were addressed by the Redeemer to St. Peter on the occasion of his third manifestation to his disciples after hig resurrection. This was presumably three or four weeks after the Master’s resurrection from the dead. His manifestations to the women on the morning of his resurrection and his later manifestations to the two as they went to Emmaus are evidently not counted, but the manifestation the same evening in the upper room, when all the disciples except Thomas and Judas were present, is counted the first. And the manifestations a week later, Thomas being present, is counted the second. The delay in giving this third manifestation was evidently for the purpose of testing the faith of the Apostles and of leading them to reach a conclusion respecting their future course, which Jesus wished to correct. So far as we can understand the record at least two Sundays passed without any further manifestation of Jesus to his disciples, and then, giving up hope, they decided to return to the fishing business and did so. The journey to Galilee and the resumption of business presumably took another week, During all those thirty days the mental attitude of all the apostles and the other disciples can be better imagined than described. They were perplexed, they had indeed had evidences of the Master’s resurrection; they had had the Scriptures called to their attention which proved that this was necessary, and that God had previously so arranged. They had hoped for further conferences with Jesus and that he would have told them definitely what to do. Instead, left to themselves, the disciples were thoroughly disheartened. They had left all to follow him, to tell the people that he was the Son of God, the long-promised Messtah, and that he would soon set up his kingdom, which would bring blessings, primarily to Israel and, secondary, through Israel, to all the families of the earth in harmony with the Abrahamic Covenant. Now apparently all of these hopes were dashed, frustrated. How foolish they thought it would seem for them to try to convince the people that a man, crucified as a malefactor, as a blasphemer, was indeed the Messiah! How foolish it would seem to tell of his resurrection! ‘They felt that they could do nothing else than abandon the ministry as a lost cause; and the resumption of the fishing business was the logical conclusion. THEY TOILED ALL THE NIGHT Their first night was a discouraging one—they caught nothing. It looked indeed as though God was punishing them for the course they had taken in becoming disciples of Jesus—that everything was going wrong. But not so; they were merely being taught needed lessons. In the morning they beheld a stranger on the shore who beckoned and shouted to know if they had any fish for sale. They replied, No, they had made no catch. ‘he stranger suggested casting the net on the other side of the boat, And, although the suggestion seemed a foolish one, having been so unsuccessful, vet they did so, and immediately the net was filled with fishes! It did not require long for them to learn the lesson. They knew instinctively that the unknown stranger upon the shore was none other than their Master. They remembered a very similar experience at the time they were first called to leave their nets and to become fishers of men. All interest had just centered in the fishing business, but now boats and fish and nets all lost their value in the estimation of these fishermen, Here was their risen Lord, for whose third appearance they had been waiting now nearly three weeks. Fearing that the Master would disappear, even before he could get to him, St. Peter plunged into the sea and swam ashore, To his surprise the stranger already had fish and had them cooked, and all were invited to join in the breakfast on the shore of Galilee. The stranger had not the clothing by which they had known their Lord, neither did he have the marks of the nails in his hands and feet, that they might thus identify him. ‘his was a different manifestation. They knew him as did those with whom he walked to Emmaus, who recognized him in the blessing of the bread, and not by his features or clothing or wounds. They recognized that none other than he could have performed such a miracle. They did not ask who he was; they felt a restraint; as we read, “None of them durst ask who he was,” but all knew that he was the Lord. “LOVEST THOU ME MORE?’’ The stranger addressed St. Peter particularly, saying, “Lovest thou me more than these”—these boats and nets, (207-208) etc., pertaining to the fishing business? St. Peter answered, “Lord, Thou knowest that I affectionately love thee.” He used a word expressing fondness of love. Jesus replied, “Feed my lambs.” Then came the question a second time, ‘Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?” A great pressure was felt by St. Peter. Why did the Master so particularly question his love. Why did he put this question more to him than to the others? Was it because he had heen the first of the disciples to suggest the resumption of the fishing business? Was he to blame for this? But he answered, “Lord, thou knowest that I affectionately love thee.” Jesus this time replied, “Tend my sheep.” For the third time Jesus said to St. Peter, “Simon, son of Jonas, dost thou affectionately love me?” Here Jesus used the same word that St. Peter had used, as though he questioned the affection and depth of St. Peter’s love. An! the third time must have sent the memory of St. Peter back to the scene in Caiaphas’ Judgment Hall, when he denied his Master the third time, even with cursing. And now Jesus for the third time had asked him respecting his love and whether it was really a love of affection! St. Peter’s choking reply was, “Lord, thou knowest all things! Thou knowest that I affectionately love thee!” ‘The Lord’s reply was, “Feed my sheep.” In harmony with these words of the Master to St. Peter the chief work of his followers has been to minister to the needs of the spirit-begotten sheep. It is in full harmony with this that St. Paul, addressing the elders of Ephesus, counseled that they “feed the flock of God, which he had purchased with the blood of his own Son.” There is a point here that perhaps is too frequently overlooked. If all of the Lord’s followers could realize that the message to St. Peter is the same as comes to all of us, perhaps it would make a change in most of our preaching. OUR MISTAKEN METHODS Have not Christians in general overlooked this important lesson, namely, that the chief work of the ministers and under-shepherds of the Lord’s flock during this age is to ‘feed the flock”? Is it not true that comparatively little feeding is being done? On the contrary, the thought usually received by new converts is, Now you are saved; go, evangelize, and bring others to Christ—especially bring money, for with plenty of it we can convert the world. Work for Jesus by soliciting funds for church expenses, extension, etc., ete. If the inquirer has thoughts or feelings igs it not too often the case that his instructors know not how to answer them, but merely say, “Stop thinking, and go to work’? Alas, that this is so true! The “lambs” should be fed until they become “sheep.” The sheep should be tended, cared for, guided, instructed, and the sheep should also be fed with the stronger meat than that which the lambs could appropriate. St. Paul gives this thought when on one occasion he urges his hearers to desire “the sincere milk of the Word that they may grow thereby.” But few seem to copy the great St. Paul in respect to their methods. Few seem to realize and apply to themselves the Master’s words to St. Peter, “Feed my lambs,” and “my sheep.” As a consequence, the church of Christ is in a languishing condition. Many, sincere at heart, know not what they believe. Many would find it impossible to follow St. Peter’s admonition, “Be ready to give a reason for the hope that is within you, with meekness and reverence.”—1 Peter 3:15. REASONS FOR THE NEGLECT OF THE DOCTRINES OF CHRIST There are two reasons which have led up to the neglect of “the doctrines of Christ”—the teachings of the Bible. These two reasons fully explain why so many are telling new believers, Never mind the doctrines of Christ, but go out and convert somebody. The first of these reasons is the erroneous thought which gained ascendency during the dark ages, namely, that from Pentecost until the second coming of Jesus is the time allotted by the Heavenly Father for the world’s conversion, and that this is the commission which he gives to his people, and if the world be not converted the responsibility for their eterfial torture will fall upon his people. All of this is a mistake. Not a word of Scripture tells that the church was commissioned to convert the world before the second coming of the Lord. Quite to the contrary, the Scriptures show that at the Lord’s second coming the world will be unconverted. The Apocalypse particularly tells us that when the Lord at his second coming shall establish [5052]

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