the desire of ages-第194章

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ed　the　One　before　him　as　his　Lord。　He　had　no　desire　for　further　proof。　His　heart　leaped　for　joy；　and　he　cast　himself　at　the　feet　of　Jesus　crying；　〃My　Lord　and　my　God。〃

Jesus　accepted　his　acknowledgment；　but　gently　reproved　his　unbelief：　〃Thomas；　because　thou　hast　seen　Me；　thou　hast　believed：　blessed　are　they　that　have　not　seen；　and　yet　have　believed。〃　The　faith　of　Thomas　would　have　been　more　pleasing　to　Christ　if　he　had　been　willing　to　believe　upon　the　testimony　of　his　brethren。　Should　the　world　now　follow　the　example　of　Thomas；　no　one　would　believe　unto　salvation；　for　all　who　receive　Christ　must　do　so　through　the　testimony　of　others。

Many　who　are　given　to　doubt　excuse　themselves　by　saying　that　if　they　had　the　evidence　which　Thomas　had　from　his　companions；　they　would　believe。　They　do　not　realize　that　they　have　not　only　that　evidence；　but

808

much　more。　Many　who；　like　Thomas；　wait　for　all　cause　of　doubt　to　be　removed；　will　never　realize　their　desire。　They　gradually　become　confirmed　in　unbelief。　Those　who　educate　themselves　to　look　on　the　dark　side；　and　murmur　and　complain；　know　not　what　they　do。　They　are　sowing　the　seeds　of　doubt；　and　they　will　have　a　harvest　of　doubt　to　reap。　At　a　time　when　faith　and　confidence　are　most　essential；　many　will　thus　find　themselves　powerless　to　hope　and　believe。

In　His　treatment　of　Thomas；　Jesus　gave　a　lesson　for　His　followers。　His　example　shows　how　we　should　treat　those　whose　faith　is　weak；　and　who　make　their　doubts　prominent。　Jesus　did　not　overwhelm　Thomas　with　reproach；　nor　did　He　enter　into　controversy　with　him。　He　revealed　Himself　to　the　doubting　one。　Thomas　had　been　most　unreasonable　in　dictating　the　conditions　of　his　faith；　but　Jesus；　by　His　generous　love　and　consideration；　broke　down　all　the　barriers。　Unbelief　is　seldom　overcome　by　controversy。　It　is　rather　put　upon　self…defense；　and　finds　new　support　and　excuse。　But　let　Jesus；　in　His　love　and　mercy；　be　revealed　as　the　crucified　Saviour；　and　from　many　once　unwilling　lips　will　be　heard　the　acknowledgment　of　Thomas；　〃My　Lord　and　my　God。〃




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　85

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　By　the　Sea　Once　More


Jesus　had　appointed　to　meet　His　disciples　in　Galilee；　and　soon　after　the　Passover　week　was　ended；　they　bent　their　steps　thither。　Their　absence　from　Jerusalem　during　the　feast　would　have　been　interpreted　as　disaffection　and　heresy；　therefore　they　remained　till　its　close；　but　this　over；　they　gladly　turned　homeward　to　meet　the　Saviour　as　He　had　directed。

Seven　of　the　disciples　were　in　company。　They　were　clad　in　the　humble　garb　of　fishermen；　they　were　poor　in　worldly　goods；　but　rich　in　the　knowledge　and　practice　of　the　truth；　which　in　the　sight　of　Heaven　gave　them　the　highest　rank　as　teachers。　They　had　not　been　students　in　the　schools　of　the　prophets；　but　for　three　years　they　had　been　taught　by　the　greatest　Educator　the　world　has　ever　known。　Under　His　instruction　they　had　become　elevated；　intelligent；　and　refined；　agents　through　whom　men　might　be　led　to　a　knowledge　of　the　truth。

Much　of　the　time　of　Christ's　ministry　had　been　passed　near　the　Sea　of　Galilee。　As　the　disciples　gathered　in　a　place　where　they　were　not　likely　to　be　disturbed；　they　found　themselves　surrounded　by　reminders　of　Jesus　and　His　mighty　works。　On　this　sea；　when　their　hearts　were　filled　with　terror；　and　the　fierce　storm　was　hurrying　them　to　destruction；　Jesus　had　walked　upon　the　billows　to　their　rescue。　Here　the　tempest　had　been　hushed　by　His　word。　Within　sight　was　the　beach　where　above　ten　thousand　persons　had　been　fed　from　a　few　small　loaves　and　fishes。　Not　far　distant　was　Capernaum；　the　scene　of　so　many　miracles。　As　the　disciples

810

looked　upon　the　scene；　their　minds　were　full　of　the　words　and　deeds　of　their　Saviour。

The　evening　was　pleasant；　and　Peter；　who　still　had　much　of　his　old　love　for　boats　and　fishing；　proposed　that　they　should　go　out　upon　the　sea　and　cast　their　nets。　In　this　plan　all　were　ready　to　join；　they　were　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；