232
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
April 1927
hour, so will His saints (Rev. 22:16; cf. Mai. 4:2). The Saviour’s first resurrection words were to a weeping woman (v. 11). In Eden—a garden, a woman, death. On the resurrection morn—a garden, a woman, life and immortality brought to light Fear not the grave. Christ has lain in one and left it empty. Creed is what we believe. What we love reveals unerringly what we are. The presence or absence of love to Christ is the index of one’s spiritual state and a prophecy of what he will accomp lish of an enduring nature. That which impelled the apostles to live great and energetic lives was—“The love of Christ constraineth us.” S uggestive Q uestions From the resurrection forward, what day was kept by the early Christians ? (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2). What did Paul say about the old Sab bath? (Col. 2:14-17). Who did Mary think might have re moved the body of Jesus? (Jn. 20:15). What is indicated in Peter’s being with John near the tomb of Jesus? (Luke 22: 31, 32). Was there any excuse for the disciples’ failure to understand that Jesus would rise from the dead? (Mt. 16:21). To what did Jesus have reference in the words “more than these” (Jn. 20:15) used in His question to Peter? (Mt. 26• 33-35). J What does it mean to “feed the lambs” ? (Psa. 78:70-72; Acts 20:28). Note that “lambs” means “lambkins” (young be lievers). Peterls first Epistle is designed for these (1 Pet. 2:2). Who are the “sheep” ? Peter’s sec ond epistle is directed to mature Chris tians (1 Pet. 5:1-3). “Peter was grieved” (v. 17). How had he felt after his third denial? (Mt. 26: 75). —o— G olden T ext I llustration Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively ( living) hope by the resur rection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Pet. 1:3). A Hindu fakir, with matted hair and ash-besmeared body, found the leaves of a torn book which some one had tossed away. It was part of the New Testa ment. He smoothed out the crumpled pages and read the words which brought strange thoughts. Then he set out to find some one who obeyed the book. He found an Englishman who confessed that he obeyed it. The fakir noticed that the Englishman wore a black band on his arm, and concluded that this was the distinctive sign of a Christian, so he put a black band on his own arm. When peo ple asked who he was, he pointed to the band and told them. Later the fakir wandered for the first time into a church, and listened to a Christian preacher. At the close he announced that he, too, was a follower of this way, and pointed to a band as a proof. They explained that it was an English sign of the death of some loved one. The fakir thought for a mo ment ; then he answered: “But I read in
the Book that my Loved One has died, so I shall wear it in memory of Him.” Before long, however, he grasped the Gospel of resurrection, and then he real ized that his Loved One was alive for evermore, and he would at Christ’s com ing receive a glorified body. This is our living hope begotten by Christ’s resur rection. m m Selected from Dr. R. A. Torrey in King’s Business, Sept. 1916. (John 21:15-17). \ \ T HEN breakfast is over, Jesus espe cially addresses Himself ,to Peter. He was the one who especially needed first to be searched, and then encouraged
sion of his love, and on this basis com missioned him, “Feed my lambs.” Jesus will set only the one who loves Him to feeding the lambs, and the way to show that we really do love Him is by feeding His lambs. The lambs are the young of the flock, and a minister’s first duty and a Christian’s first duty is to feed them. The Word of God is the food to give them. What wondrous forgiveness and compassion on Jesus’ part to set Peter at this glorious work! But while Jesus accepted Peter’s pro fession of love, he asks the same question a second time, but leaving out the “more than these,” and gets the same reply. Now he gives another commission, “Shepherd my sheep.” (The word which the Au thorized Version translates “‘feed,’’ in y. 16 is not the same word so translated in v. 15. It means more than “feed” and it also means more than “tend” as it is’ translated in the Revised Version. It means to “shepherd.”) Love to the Lord Jesus is the condition of shepherding His sheep. And now Jesus asks the question the third time, “Simon, son of John, lovest thou me?” This time in asking the ques tion, Jesus alters the word for love and uses the same word for love that Peter has used for love both times in answering His question, the weaker but more tender word. The thrice asked question is such a manifest,though gentle reference to the threefold denial of Peter that Peter is grieved at the suggestion of a doubt by the Saviour of that love, and he bursts out with all his soul, “Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.” Jesus is satisfied and says to Him, “Feed my sheep.” The word for feed used in this verse is the same as used in verse 15 where he was commissioned to feed the lambs, not the same as trans lated “feed” in verse 16 of the Authorized Version, but really meaning “shepherd.” John’s report of the conversation is very accurate, being careful to note the changes of words used by our Lord and Peter for love” and for “feed.” No one making up a story of a conversation that never occur red would for a moment dream of in troducing these shades of meaning. The story bears the marks of its exact truth fulness in every line and in every word. How marvelous was the condescension of our Lord on this occasion, that gave the one who denied Him thrice a three-fold opportunity for reaffirmation of his love! ITow like our Lord it was! Who would ever have dreamed of making it up if it had not actually occurred? In Peter’s answer there' is another ascription of Deity to Jesus—“T h o u knowest all things.” He does indeed.
and commissioned. He calls Peter by his w e a k natural name Simon; for He is about to re call his failure in which he had not appeared at all as P e t e r (Rock-man, or Man of rock). The first question
that our Lord puts to Peter brings up his former self-confident boasting and his sad fall. “Lovest thou me more than these?” , our Lord asks. Peter had boasted that though all the rest were caused to stumble he would not be; that he would stand by his Lord even: unto death (Matt. 26:33, 35). Peter had fancied that his love over topped that of all' the rest of the dis ciples, so Jesus asks him if he still thinks, after his sad denial, that he loves “more than these." There may be also in the “these” a reference to the instruments of his old business to which Peter had been so devoted, and Jesus would know whether Peter was ready to put Him be fore these. Our Lord demands the supreme affec tion of His disciples ; every one and every thing must be put after Him (Matt. 10:37). In making such a demand Jesus clearly claims to be divine ; for only God has a right to demand supreme affection. With all the memory of his fall before him, Peter did not hesitate to reaffirm his love, but in doing it he does not usé as strong a word for love as Jesus did in asking the question. The word that Peter used, though not so strong a word in set ting forth so high a form of love, is a more tender word (see margin R. V.). It is difficult to translate the difference between the two words used, the one used by our Lord in asking the question and the one used by Peter in replying. As near as we can come to it is by .putting it. this way, that Jesus asked Peter, “Lovest thou me?” (that is, in a sense a high, pure, spiritual love), and Peter re plied by saying, “Yes, Lord; thou know- est that I have a tender affection for Thee.” But while Peter stoutly affirmed his love for the Lord, he did not say that he loved Jesus more than others did. His sad experience had taught him humility, but of his love he has no doubt, and is willing to appeal to Jesus’ own knowledge of it, “Thou knowest that I love thee.” Are we so confident of our love to Jesus? Can we say to Jesus, “Thou knowest that I love thee” ? True love to Jesus Christ is shown by obedience (John 14:15, 21, 22), and Jesus accepted Peter’s profes
I f you appreciate, the lesson helps in The King’s Business, wouldn’t it be fine to put sample copies in the hands o f teachers in your S u n d a y School! Let us hear from you about it. We’ll do our part.
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker