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85 - The Desire of Ages - Ellen Gould · Philosophy and Faith

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  By the sea once more. Jesus had appointed to meet his disciples in Galilee,
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  and soon after the Passover week was ended, they bent their steps thither.
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  Their absence from Jerusalem during the feast would have been interpreted as disaffection and
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  heresy. Therefore they remained till its close. But this over they gladly turned
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  homeward to meet the saviors he had directed. Seven of the disciples were in
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  company. They were clad in the humble garb of fishermen. They were poor
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  in worldly goods, but rich in the knowledge and practiced the truth, which
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  in the sight of Heaven gave them the highest rank as teachers. They had
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  not been students in the schools of the prophets, but for three years they
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  had been taught by the greatest educator the world has ever known. Under his
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  instruction, they had become elevated, intelligent and refined agents to whom men might
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  be led to a knowledge of the truth. Much of the time of Christ's
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  ministry had been passed near the Sea of Galley. As the disciples gathered in
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  place where they were not likely to be disturbed, they found themselves surrounded by
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  reminders of Jesus and his mighty works on this sea. When their hearts were
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  filled with terror and the fierce storm was hurrying them to destruction, Jesus had
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  walked upon the billows to their rescue. Here the tempest had been hushed by
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  his word. Within sight was the beach where above ten thousand persons had been
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  fed from a few small loaves and fishes. Not far distant was Capernaum,
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  the scene of so many miracles. As the disciples looked upon the scene,
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  their minds were full of the words and deeds of their savior. The evening
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  was pleasant, and Peter, who still had much of his old love for
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  boats and fishing, proposed that they should go out upon the sea and cast
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  their nets. In this plan all were ready to join. They were in
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  need of food and clothing, which the proceeds of a successful night's fishing would
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  supply, so they went out in their boat, but they caught nothing all
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  night. They toiled without success. Through the weary hours. They talked of
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  their absent Lord and recalled the wonderful events they had witnessed in his ministry.
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  Beside the sea, they questioned as to their own future, and grew sad
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  at the prospect before them. All the while, a lone watcher upon the
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  shore followed them with his eye, while he himself was unseen. At length,
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  the morning dawned, the boat was but a little way from the shore,
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  and the disciples saw a stranger standing upon the beach, who accosted them
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  with the question, children, have ye any meat? When they answered no,
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  he said unto them, cast a net on the right side of the
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  ship, and ye shall find They cast therefore, and now they were not
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  able to draw in for the multitude of fishes. John recognized the stranger and
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  exclaimed to Peter, it is the Lord. Peter was so elated and so
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  glad, that in his eagerness, he cast himself into the water, and
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  was soon standing by the side of his master. The other disciples came in
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  their boat, dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they were
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  come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid
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  thereon, and bread. They were too much amazed to question. Whence came
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  the fire and the food, Jesus saith unto them, bring of the fish
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  which you have now caught. Peter rushed for the net which he had dropped,
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  and helped his brethren drag it to the shore. After the work was
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  done and the preparation made, Jesus bade the disciples come and dine. He
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  broke the food and divided it among them, and was known and acknowledged by
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  all the seven. The miracle of feeding the five thousand on the mountain side
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  was now brought to their minds. But a mysterious awe was upon them,
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  and in silence they gazed upon the risen Savior. Vividly, they recalled the
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  scene beside the sea, where Jesus had bidden them follow him. They remembered
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  how at his command they had launched out into the deep and had let down
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  their net, and the ketch had been so abundant as to fill the net
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  even to breaking. Then Jesus had called them to leave their fishing boats and
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  had promised to make them fishers of men. It was to bring this scene
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  to their minds and to deepen its impression that he had again performed the miracle.
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  His act was a renewal of the commission to the disciples. It showed
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  them that the death of their master had not lessened their obligation to do the
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  work he had assigned them. Though they were to be deprived of his personal
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  companionship and of the means of support by their former employment, the risen Savior
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  would still have a care for them. While they were doing his work.
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  He would provide for their needs. And Jesus had a purpose in bidding them
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  cast their net on the right side of the ship. On that side he
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  stood upon the shore. That was the side of faith. If they labored
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  in connection with him, his divine power, combining with their human effort,
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  they could not fail of success. Another lesson Christ had to give relating especially
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  to Peter. Peter's denial of his Lord had been in shameful contrast to his
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  former professions of loyalty. He had dishonored Christ and had incurred the distrust of
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  his brethren. They thought he would not be allowed to take his former position
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  among them, and he himself felt that he had forfeited his trust. Before
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  being called to take up again his apostolic work, he must before them all
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  give evidence of his repentance. Without this, his sin, though repented of,
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  might have destroyed his influence as a minister of Christ. The Savior gave
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  him opportunity to regain the confidence of his brethren, and so far as possible
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  to remove the reproach he had brought upon the Gospel. Here is given a
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  lesson for all Christ's followers. The Gospel makes no compromise with evil. It
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  cannot excuse sin. Secret sins are to be confessed and secret to God.
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  But for open sin, open confession is required. The reproach of the disciple.
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  Sin is cast upon Christ. It causes Satan to triumph and wavering souls
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  to stumble. By giving proof of repentance, the Disciple, so far as
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  lies in his power, is to remove this reproach. While Christ of the
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  Disciples were eating together by the sea side, the Savior said to Peter.
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  Simon said, of joondas lovest thou me more than these, referring to his
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  brethren. Peter at once declared, though all men shall be offended because of
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  THEE, Yet will I never be offended Matthew twenty six thirty three. But
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  he now put a truer est of it upon himself. Yea Lord, he
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  said, thou knowest that I love THEE. There is no vehement assurance that
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  his love is greater than that of his brethren. He does not express his
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  own opinion of his devotion to him who can read all the motives of the
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  heart. He appeals to judge as to his sincerity, thou knowest that I
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  love THEE, and Jesus bids him feed my lambs. Again, Jesus applied
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  the test to Peter, repeating his former words. Simon said of Jonas,
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  lovest thou me. This time he did not ask Peter whether he loved him
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  better than did his brethren. The second response was like the first, free
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  from extravagant assurance. Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love THEE,
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  Jesus said to him, feed my sheep. Once more, the Savior put
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  the trying question Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me. Peter was
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  grieved. He thought that Jesus doubted his love. He knew that his lord
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  had caused to distrust him, and with an aching heart, he answered,
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  Lord, thou knowest all things. Thou knowest that I love THEE. Again,
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  Jesus said to him, feed my sheep. Three times Peter had openly
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  denied his lord, and three times Jesus drew from him the assurance of his
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  love and loyalty, pressing home that pointed question like a barbed arrow to his
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  wounded heart before the assembled disciples, Jesus revealed the depth of Peter's repentance and
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  showed how thoroughly humbled was the once boasting disciple. Peter was natural forward and
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  impulsive, and Satan had taken advantage of these characteristics to overthrow him. Just
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  before the fall of Peter, Jesus had said to him, Satan hath desired
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  to have you, that he may sit you a wheat. But I have
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  prayed for thee that thy faith fail not. And when thou art converted,
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  strengthen thy brethren looke twenty two, thirty one and thirty two, that time
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  had now come, and the transformation in Peter was evident. The close testing
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  questions of the Lord had not called out one forward, self sufficient reply,
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  And because of his humiliation and repentance, Peter was better prepared than ever before
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  to act as shepherd to the flock. The first work that Christ entrusted to
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  Peter on restoring him to the ministry was to feed the lambs. This was
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  a work in which Peter had little experience. It would require great care and
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  tenderness, much patience, and perseverance. It called him to minister to those
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  who were young in the faith, to teach the ignorance, to open the
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  scriptures to them, and to educate them for usefulness in Christ's service. Heretofore,
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  Peter had not been fitted to do this, or even to understand its
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  importance. But this was the work which Jesus now called upon him to do.
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  For this work, his own experience of suffering and repentance had prepared him.
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  Before his fall, Peter was always speaking unadvisedly from the impulse of the
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  moment. He was always ready to correct others and to express his mind before
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  he had a clear comprehension of himself or of what he had to say.
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  But the converted Peter was very different. He retained his former fervor, but
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  the grace of Christ regulated his zeal. He was no longer impetuous, self
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  confident, and self exalted, but calm, self possessed, and teachable.
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  He could then feed the lambs as well as the sheep of Christ's flock.
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  The Saviour's manner of dealing with Peter had a lesson for him and for his
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  brethren. It taught them to meet the transgressor with patience, sympathy, and
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  forgiving love. Although Peter had denied his Lord, The love which Jesus bore
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  from never faltered. Just such love should the under shepherd feel for the sheep
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  and lambs committed to his care. Remembering his own weakness and failure, Peter
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  was to deal with his flock as tenderly as Christ had debt with him.
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  The question that Christ had put to Peter was significant. He mentioned only one
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  condition of discipleship and service. Lovest thou me, he said, This is
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  the essential qualification. Though Peter might possess every other, yet without the love
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  of Christ, he could not be a faithful shepherd over the Lord's flock.
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  Knowledge, benevolence, eloquence, gratitude, and zeal are all aids in the
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  good work. But without the love of Jesus in the heart, the work
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  of the Christian minister is a failure. Jesus walked alone with Peter, for
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  there was something which he wished to communicate to him. Only before his death,
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  Jesus had said to him, whither I go? Thou canst not follow
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  me now? But thou shalt follow me Afterwards. To this Peter had replied,
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  Lord, why cannot I follow thee? Now? I will lay down
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  my life for thy sake. John thirteen thirty six thirty seven. When he
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  said this, he little do to what heights and depths. Christ's feet would
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  lead the way. Peter had failed when the tests came, But again he
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  was to have opportunity to prove his love for Christ, that he might be
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  strengthened for the final test of his faith. The Savior opened to him his
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  future. He told him that, after living a life of usefulness, when
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  age was telling upon his strength, he would indeed follow his Lord. Jesus
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  said, when thou wast young, thou girdest thyself and walkest, whether thou
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  wouldest. But when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands,
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  and another shall gird thee and carry thee, whether thou wouldst not.
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  This spake he signifying by what death he should glorify God. Jesus thus made
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  known to Peter the very manner of his death. He even foretold the stretching
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  forth of his hand the cross. Again he bade his disciple follow me.
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  Peter was not disheartened by the revelation. He felt willing to suffer any death
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  for his Lord. Heretofore, Peter had known Christ after the flesh, as
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  many know him now, but he was no more to be thus limited.
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  He knew him no more as he had known him in his association with him
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  in humanity. He had loved him as a man, as a heaven sent
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  teacher. He now loved him as God. He had been learning the lesson
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  that to him Christ was all in all. Now he was prepared to share
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  in his Lord's mission of sacrifice. When at last brought to the cross,
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  he was, at his own request crucified with his head downward. He thought
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  it too great an honor to suffer in the same way as his master did.
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  To Peter, the words follow me were full of instruction, not only
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  for his death, but for every step of his life. Was the lesson
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  given hitherto Peter had been inclined to act independently. He had tried to plan
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  for the work of God instead of waiting to follow out God's plan. But
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  he could gain nothing by rushing on before the Lord Jesus bids him follow me.
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  Do not run ahead of me. Then you will not have the hosts
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  of Satan to being alone. Let me go before you, and you will
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  not be overcome by the enemy. As Peter walked beside Jesus. He saw
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  that John was following, a desire came over him to know his future,
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  and he seth to Jesus, Lord, And what shall this man do?
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  Jesus seth unto him, if I will that he tarry till I come?
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  What is that to thee follow thou me? Peter should have considered that his
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  Lord were revealed to him all that it was best for him to know.
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  It is the duty of every one to follow Christ without undue anxiety as to
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  the work assigned to others. In saying of John, if I will that
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  he tarry till I come, Jesus gave no assurance that this disciple should live
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  until the Lord said coming. He merely asserted his own supreme power, and
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  that even if he should will this to be so, it would in no
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  way affect Peter's work. The future of both John and Peter was in the
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  hands of their Lord. Obedience in following him was the duty required of each.
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  How many to day are like Peter. They are interested in the affairs
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  of others and anxious to know their duty, while they are in danger of
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  neglecting their own. It is our work to look to Christ and follow him.
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  We shall see mistakes in the lives of others and defects in their character.
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  Humanity is encompassed with infirmity. But in Christ we shall find perfection.
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  Beholding Him, we shall become transformed. John lived to be very aged.
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  He witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem and the ruin of the stately Temple, a
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  symbol of the final ruin of the world. To his latest days, John
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  closely followed his Lord. The burden of his testimony to the churches was beloved.
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  Let us love one another. He that dwelleth In loved dwelleth in God,
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  and God in him First John four seven sixteen. Peter had been restored
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  to his apostleship, but the honor and authority he received from Christ had not
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  given him supremacy over his brethren. This Christ had made plain when in answer
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  to Peter's question, what shall this man do? He had said, what
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  is that? To thee follow thou me? Peter was not honored as the
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  head of the church. The favor which Christ had shown him in forgiving his
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  apostasy and entrusting him with the feeding of the flock, and Peter's own faithfulness
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  in following Christ won for him the confidence of his brethren. He had much
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  influence in the church, But the lesson which Christ had taught him by the
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  Sea of Galilee, Peter carried with him throughout his life. Writing by the
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  Holy Spirit to the churches, he said, the elders which are among you,
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  I exhort, who am also an elder and a witness of the sufferings
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  of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed.
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  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof,
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  not by constraint, but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a
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  ready mind. Neither is being lords over God's heritage, but being in samples
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  to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive
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  a crown of glory that fadeth not away Verse Peter five one four into Chapter
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  eighty five.