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IN TERNAT IONA L LESSON Commentary Outline and Exposition Blackboard Lesson Children s Division Object Lesson Golden Text Illustration By B. B. S utcliffe By G retch en S ibley By R uth M ortensen By E lmer L. W ilder By A lan S.^P earce Points and Problems By H omer A . K ent , Professor at Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, Ind,
words, “if I will,” brush aside all con tingencies and all second causes. .It is clear that the end of the present life is not governed by accident, dis ease, or any other cause of deatn, but by the sovereign “ I w ill” of the Lord. Accidents and disease are merely in struments by which God works His sovereign will in the lives of all. The Lord’s word to all is “follow me.” To please the Lord means sim ply to “follow” Him without question ing, to obey without'Objections, and to do what He says without delaying to find out what some one else may ,be asked to do. John had a hope that he would not pass through death, although the Lord did not specifically say that he would not. But “to go without dying” is now not only a hymn but also every be liever’s ‘hope (cf. 1 Thess. 4:15, 17). While it cannot definitely be said that this year or this season the Lord w ill come for His own, it is certain that, for every believer, either death or translation w ill come at just the right moment, not an hour too soon or an hour too late; it is in the Lord’s sovereign decision. Points and Problems "So w h e n they had dined" (v. 15). These words introduce us to the most important after-dinner interview with a single soul ever recorded. No d o u b t by His threefold question, Jesus reminded Peter of his shameful, threefold denial that he knew Him. The interview also reminded Peter sadly of his boastfulness when he had said, “Though all men shall be of fended because of thee, yet will I never be offended” ( Ma t t . 26:33). But the matter of supreme importance in the interview was to sét forth the first obligation of the d i s c i p l e of Christ, namely, to love the Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing can take the place of this personal devotion to, the Son of God. The thing of supreme impor tance as Peter went forth to fu lfill his task was not education, social posi tion, or material possessions, but a deep, abiding love for Christ. The practical import of this fact cannot be stressed too much today. First there must be devotion to Christ. Service rendered apart from that will not be acceptable. "Lovest thou me?" is the question. “The love of Christ con- straineth,” said the greatest of the apostles.
MAY 2, 1943 CHR IST ’S CH ARG E TO PETER J ohn 21
John 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus salth to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Fie saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that l love thee. He saith unto him, Feed. , my sheep. 17 He saith u n t o him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 18 Verily, verity, 1 say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: out when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and parry thee whither thou wouldest not. . 19 This spake he, signifying by w h a t death he should glorify God. And when ,he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? 21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? 22 Jesus saith unto him, if 1 will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. 23 Then went this saying abroad among thè brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die: but, if I will that he tarry till I come, ■ what is that'to thee? 24 This is the disciple which testifleth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. LESSON T E X T : John '21:15-24. GOLDEN T E X T : "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" -(John 15:13). DEVOTIONAL READING: 1 John 3:13-18. Outline and Exposition I. P eter ’ s R estoration (15-17) K FTER HIS denial of his Lord, Peter met the Saviour and was ^restored privately to fellowship, to his position. At His third appear ance after His resurrection, the Lord Jesus took occasion to publicly re store Peter to his position, so that never afterward would there be any question in the minds of the disciples as to the right of Peter’s leadership. Whatever had been his earlier denial, [Lesson material is based on Outlines of International Sunday School Lessons copyrighted by the International Coun cil of Religious Education and is used by its permission. Scripture portions quoted are from the King^ James Ver sion unless otherwise stated .]
Peter knew he still loved Jesus, and he knew also that Jesus was aware of this fact. With the restoration there came to Peter the charge, or commission, to special service. He was to be a shep herd to the lambs and the sheep of his Master’s flock. He was to provide food and sustenance, to, guide and guard, to instruct and encourage the flock. Thus the Lord revealed that human failure, even such abject fa il ure as Peter’s, need not necessarily bar one permanently from service nor finally destroy fellowship between the Lord and His own; there is always a way of restoration. H. P eter ’ s I nstruction (18, 19) Our Lord’s knowledge of all the fu ture, including minute details, was clearly revealed w h e n He informed Peter of what lay ahead. Jesus knew that death would come to Peter in old age, and He knew the manner of that death. Our Lord knows the future of each of His own; He will never be surprised, and He likewise w ill never leave nor forsake those who trust Him. Jesus said: “Follow me.”- The call required that Peter should follow, not only in service, but in life, death, and resurrection as well. Each believer “follows” the Lord until at last death is swallowed up in victory. m . P eter ’ s C orrection (20-24) Our Lord seldom satisfies mere cu riosity. It is sufficient to know one’s own path and service without inquir ing curiously about another’s. Blit Peter’s ill-advised question brought a revelation of dur Lord’s sovereignty over the lives of all His disciples. His
but he needed to be publicly restored
BLACKBOARD LESSON
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