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Chapter 21
15-17. Peter Learned to Teach
—There was Peter, who denied
his Lord. After he had fallen and been converted, Jesus said to
him, “Feed my lambs.” Before Peter’s feet slipped, he had not the
spirit of meekness required to feed the lambs; but after he became
sensible of his own weakness, he knew just how to teach the erring
and fallen; he could come close to their side in tender sympathy, and
could help them (
Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the
Seventh-day Adventists, 121
).
(
Luke 22:31, 32
.) Genuine Restoration Reaches the Roots
—
Peter never forgot the painful scene of his humiliation. He did not
forget his denial of Christ, and think that, after all, it was not a very
great sin. All was painfully real to the erring disciple. His sorrow for
his sin was as intense as had been his denial. After his conversion,
the old assertions were not made in the old spirit and manner....
Three times after His resurrection, Christ tested Peter. “Simon,
son of Jonas,” He said, “lovest thou me more than these? He saith
unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto
him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon,
son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou
knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”
[1152]
This heart-searching question was necessary in the case of Peter,
and it is necessary in our case. The work of restoration can never
be thorough unless the roots of evil are reached. Again and again
the shoots have been clipped, while the root of bitterness has been
left to spring up and defile many; but the very depth of the hidden
evil must be reached, the moral senses must be judged, and judged
again, in the light of the divine presence. The daily life will testify
whether or not the work is genuine.
When, the third time, Christ said to Peter, “Lovest thou me?”
the probe reached the soul center. Self-judged, Peter fell upon the
Rock, saying, “Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I
love thee.”
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