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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
a
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
a
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
a
man,
crucified
as
a
malefactor,
as
a
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
a
lost
cause;
and
the
resumption
of
the
fishing
business
was
the
logical
conclusion.
THEY
TOILED
ALL
THE
NIGHT
Their
first
night
was
a
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
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.
The
stranger
suggested
casting
the
net
on
the
other
side
of
the
boat.
And,
although
the
suggestion
seemed
a
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
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
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
a
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
a
miracle.
They
did
nnt
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,
etc.,
perta
ining
to
the
fishing
business
Y
St.
Peter
answered,
"Lord,
Thou
knowest
that
I
affectionately
love
thee!'
He
used
a
word
expressing
fondness
O'f
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.
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
I
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
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
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
a
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
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
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
a
consequence,
the
church
of
Christ
is
in
a
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
a
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
a
mistake.
Not
a
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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