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THE KING’S BUSINESS
to the book. The book naturally ends at 20:31. This appendix, however, is evi- * dently also by John, with the possible exception o f verses 24 and 25. I am glad that the Holy Spirit led John to add this appendix, for it is full of precious truth. The disciples had gone into Galilee because Jesus had bidden them to go there (Matt. 26:32 ; 28:7; Mark 16:7-10). There were seven o f the apostolic company present at this appearance o f Christ. Thomas was one of the number. Peter was the leader. Simon Peter and Thomas are the first men tioned, perhaps because they are the two who least deserved to see the Risen One, Peter because of his thrice repeated denial o f his Lord, Thomas because o f his per sistent unbelief. This 'order magnifies the grace o f God in Christ. Nathanial here appears again. It is the first time he has been mentioned since chapter one. It does not follow from this that he was not of much account. The most important people are not always the most prominent people or the most talked about. Peter proposed a fishing excursion. Some have criticised this as a temporary going back from his Divine calling on Peter’s part. This is pure fancy; there is no warrant whatever for the criticism in the record o f the event as given in the Bible. Secular occupations are not inconsistent with the true devotion o f either a prophet, apostle or minister (2 Ki. 6:1-7; Acts 18:3; 20-34). Paul cer tainly was not going back on his Divine call when he made tent cloth. It is well to be honestly busy when awaitnig great events. Christ does not seem to have been displeased with Peter and the rest, but met them while in this honest toil and made their effort a success by Himself taking direction o f it. All through the Bible we find Christ making revelations to His' peo ple while they were pursuing their secular avocations (Ex. 3:1, 2; 1 Ki. 19:19; Matt. 4:18-20, 21). Our Lord seems to have approved o f this fishing excursion, at all events He took a hand in it .(v. 6 ). The apostolic fishermen had hard luck all that night. Perhaps it recalled to them another
did “many other ' signs” besides those that aré recorded in any o f the gospels. Each writer selected those o f the miracles that he had beheld which best fitted into the purpose o f his own gospel. John writing later than the other disciples largely recorded those that the other disciples had omitted. But John, guided by the Holy Spirit, selected his material with one defi nite purpose in view, a purpose which he himself here states^ that men, on the ground o f the evidence that he presented, “might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God ; and that believing,” they might “have life in His name.” If then any one is not yet convinced that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the best book for them to study is the gospel o f John. This is the inspired book o f evidence on this point. It was written by Divine inspira tion for this very purpose, to bring men to faith that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and no man can take the gospel o f John with á sincere desire to know, believe, receive and obey the truth, and read it very carefully, without coming to the firm con viction that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. I have often talked with men o f all classes, from the illiterate to students and prominent teachers in universities, who had not been led to see that Jesus was the Christ, the Son o f God, and have advised them to read the gospel o f John, telling them how to read it, having first sur rendered their wills to God to find and do His will, and then looking to God for light as they read, and every one o f them, of every class, that has done this has become convinced that Jesus is the Christ, the Son o f God. By believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son o f God, one obtains eternal life “in His name,” i. e., on the grounds of what He is and what He has done. The only way that life can be obtained is through believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son o f God. The one who does not believe this has not life. Saturday,, September 16 . John 21 : 1 - 3 . The 21st chapter o f John is an appendix
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