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in need of food and clothing； which the proceeds of a successful night's fishing would supply。 So they went out in their boat； but they caught nothing。 All night they toiled； without success。 Through the weary hours they talked of their absent Lord； and recalled the wonderful events they had witnessed in His ministry beside the sea。 They questioned as to their own future； and grew sad at the prospect before them。
All the while a lone watcher upon the shore followed them with His eye； while He Himself was unseen。 At length the morning dawned。 The boat was but a little way from the shore； and the disciples saw a stranger standing upon the beach； who accosted them with the question； 〃Children； have ye any meat？〃 When they answered； 〃No；〃 〃He said unto them； Cast the net on the right side of the ship； and ye shall find。 They cast therefore； and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes。〃
John recognized the stranger； and exclaimed to Peter； 〃It is the Lord。〃 Peter was so elated and so glad that in his eagerness he cast himself into the water and was soon standing by the side of his Master。 The other disciples came in their boat； dragging the net with fishes。 〃As soon then as they were come to land； they saw a fire of coals there； and fish laid thereon； and bread。〃
They were too much amazed to question whence came the fire and the food。 〃Jesus saith unto them； Bring of the fish which ye have now caught。〃 Peter rushed for the net； which he had dropped； and helped his brethren drag it to the shore。 After the work was done； and the preparation made； Jesus bade the disciples come and dine。 He broke the food； and divided it among them； and was known and acknowledged by all the seven。 The miracle of feeding the five thousand on the mountainside was now brought to their minds； but a mysterious awe was upon them； and in silence they gazed upon the risen Saviour。
Vividly they recalled the scene beside the sea when Jesus had bidden them follow Him。 They remembered how； at His command； they had launched out into the deep； and had let down their net； and the catch had been so abundant as to fill the net； even to breaking。 Then Jesus had called them to leave their fishing boats； and had promised to make them
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fishers of men。 It was to bring this scene to their minds； and to deepen its impression； that He had again performed the miracle。 His act was a renewal of the commission to the disciples。 It showed them that the death of their Master had not lessened their obligation to do the work He had assigned them。 Though they were to be deprived of His personal companionship； and of the means of support by their former employment； the risen Saviour would still have a care for them。 While they were doing His work； He would provide for their needs。 And Jesus had a purpose in bidding them cast their net on the right side of the ship。 On that side He stood upon the shore。 That was the side of faith。 If they labored in connection with Him；His divine power combining with their human effort；they could not fail of success。
Another lesson Christ had to give； relating especially to Peter。 Peter's denial of his Lord had been in shameful contrast to his former professions of loyalty。 He had dishonored Christ； and had incurred the distrust of his brethren。 They thought he would not be allowed to take his former position among them； and he himself felt that he had forfeited his trust。 Before being called to take up again his apostolic work； he must before them all give evidence of his repentance。 Without this； his sin； though repented of； might have destroyed his influence as a minister of Christ。 The Saviour gave him opportunity to regain the confidence of his brethren； and； so far as possible； to remove the reproach he had brought upon the gospel。
Here is given a lesson for all Christ's followers。 The gospel makes no compromise with evil。 It cannot excuse sin。 Secret sins are to be confessed in secret to God； but； for open sin； open confession is required。 The reproach of the disciple's sin is cast upon Christ。 It causes Satan to triumph； and wavering souls to stumble。 By giving proof of repentance； the disciple； so far as lies in his power； is to remove this reproach。
While Christ and the disciples were eating together by the seaside； the Saviour said to Peter； 〃Simon； son of Jonas； lovest thou Me more than these？〃 referring to his brethren。 Peter had once declared； 〃Though all men shall be offended because of Thee； yet will I never be offended。〃 Matt。 26：33。 But he now put a truer estimate upon himself。 〃Yea； Lord；〃 he said； 〃Thou knowest that I love Thee。〃 There is no vehement assurance that his love is greater than that of his brethren。 He does not express his own opinion of his devotion。 To Him who can read all the motives of the heart he appeals to judge as to his sincerity；〃Thou knowest that I love Thee。〃 And Jesus bids him； 〃Feed My lambs。〃
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Again Jesus applied the test to Peter； repeating His former words： 〃Simon； son of Jonas； lovest thou Me？〃 This time He did not ask Peter whether he loved Him better than did his brethren。 The second response was like the first； free from extravagant assurance： 〃Yea； Lord； Thou knowest that I love Thee。〃 Jesus said to him； 〃Feed My sheep。〃 Once more the Saviour put the trying question： 〃Simon； son of Jonas； lovest thou Me？〃 Peter was grieved； he thought that Jesus doubted his love。 He knew that his Lord had cause to distrust him； and with an aching heart he answered； 〃Lord； Thou knowest all things； Thou knowest that I love Thee。〃 Again Jesus said to him； 〃Feed My sheep。〃
Three times Peter had openly denied his Lord； and three times Jesus drew from him the assurance of his love and loyalty； pressing home that pointed question； like a barbed arrow to his wounded heart。 Before the assembled disciples Jesus revealed the depth of Peter's repentance； and showed how thoroughly humbled was the once boasting disciple。
Peter was naturally forward and impulsive； and Satan had taken advantage of these characteristics to overthrow him。 Just before the fall of Peter； Jesus had said to him； 〃Satan hath desired to have you； that he may sift you as wheat： but I have prayed for thee； that thy faith fail not： and when thou art converted； strengthen thy brethren。〃 Luke 22：31； 32。 That time had now come； and the transformation in Peter was evident。 The close； testing questions of the Lord had not called out one forward； self…sufficient reply； and because of his humiliation and repentance； Peter was better prepared than ever before to act as shepherd to the flock。
The first work that Christ entrusted to Peter on restoring him to the ministry was to feed the lambs。 This was a work in which Peter had little experience。 It would require great care and tenderness； much patience and perseverance。 It called him to minister to those who were young in the faith； to teach the ignorant； to open the Scriptures to them； and to educate them for usefulness in Christ's service。 Heretofore Peter had not been fitted to do this； or even to understand its importance。 But this was the work which Jesus now called upon him to do。 For this work his own experience of suffering and repentance had prepared him。
Before his fall； Peter was always speaking unadvisedly； from the impulse of the moment。 He was always ready to correct others； and to express his mind； before he had a clear comprehension of himself or of what he had to say。 But the converted Peter was very different。 He retained his former fervor； but the grace of Christ regulated his zeal。 He was no longer impetuous； self…confident； and self…exalted； but calm；
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self…possessed； and teachable。 He could then feed the lambs as well as the sheep of Christ's flock。
The Saviour's manner of dealing with Peter had a lesson for him and for his brethren。 It taught them to meet the transgressor with patience； sympathy； and forgiving love。 Although Peter had denied his Lord； the love which Jesus bore him never faltered。 Just such love should the undershepherd feel for the sheep and lambs committed to his care。 Remembering his own weakness and failure； Peter was to deal with his flock as tenderly as Christ had dealt with him。
The question that Christ had put to Peter was significant。 He mentioned only one condition of discipleship and service。 〃Lovest thou Me？〃 He said。 This is the essential qualification。 Though Peter might possess every other； yet without the love of Christ he could not be a faithful shepherd over the Lord's flock。 Knowledge； benevolence； eloquence； gratitude； and zeal are all aids in the good work； but without the love of Jesus in the heart； the work of the Christian minister is a failure。
Jesus walked alone with Peter； for there was something which He wished to communicate to him only。 Before His death； Jesus had said to him； 〃Whither I go； thou canst not follow Me now； but thou shalt follow Me afterwards。〃 To this Peter had replied； 〃Lord； why cannot I follow Thee now？ I will lay down my life for Thy sake。〃 John 13：36； 37。 When he said this； he little knew to what heights and depths