Lesson 4588

 (Lesson 4588)(08-26-24) John 21:15-19 

  So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, 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. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.” 

  

 Today’s quote relates that after they had finished eating, Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him, each time instructing Peter to "feed my sheep." That mirrored Peter's three denials of Jesus before the crucifixion. Jesus was reaffirming Peter's role as a leader among the disciples and the early church. He also hinted at the kind of death Peter would face, indicating that Peter would one day die in a manner that would glorify God. After that, Jesus told Peter to follow Him. ~  

Lesson 4587

 (Lesson 4587)(08-25-24) John 21:1-14 

   “After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And 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. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) 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. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.” 

 

    Today’s quote tells us that after His resurrection, Jesus appeared again to His disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together when Peter decided to go fishing. They fished all night but caught nothing. At dawn, Jesus stood on the shore, though the disciples did not recognize Him. He told them to cast their net on the right side of the boat, and they caught a large number of fish. Realizing it was Jesus, Peter jumped into the water to swim to Him, while the others brought the boat and the catch to shore. When they arrived, they found that Jesus had prepared a fire with fish and bread. Jesus invited them to eat breakfast with Him, and none of the disciples dared to ask who He was, knowing it was the Lord. This was the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection. ~ 

 (Lesson 4586)(08-24-24) John 20:24-31 

  But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 

And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” 

 

   In today’s quote, Thomas, one of the twelve disciples, was not with the others when Jesus first appeared to them after His resurrection. When the other disciples told him they had seen the Lord, Thomas doubted, saying he would not believe unless he could see and touch Jesus' wounds. A week later, Jesus appeared again while Thomas was present. Jesus invited Thomas to touch His wounds, and Thomas immediately believed, proclaiming, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus responded by blessing those who believe without seeing. The quote concludes by stating that Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in the book. The purpose of what is written is so that readers may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, they may have life in His name. What a wonderfully glorious Savior we serve! ~ 

Lesson 4585

 (Lesson 4585)(08-23-24) John 20:18-23 

    “Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” 

 

As I stated yesterday, today’s lesson is a continuation of yesterday’s. 

  The latter part of the quote, specifically where Jesus breathes on His disciples and says, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained," has been historically interpreted by the Catholic Church as the basis for the sacrament of confession, where priests, they believe, have the authority to forgive sins. This passage has been used to justify the notion that priests, as representatives of the apostles, have been granted the power by Jesus to forgive or retain sins. The Catholic Church views this authority as being passed down through apostolic succession, meaning that the spiritual authority given to the apostles by Jesus has been handed down through the generations to the priests of today. However, this interpretation has been challenged by many, myself included, who believe that passage does not support the idea that a human intermediary, such as a priest, has ever been given the power to forgive sins. Instead, I believe that the authority Jesus gave to His apostles was a broader commissioning for ministry, particularly in proclaiming the gospel, rather than a specific power to forgive sins in a judicial sense. The New Testament consistently teaches that only God can forgive sins and that Jesus' work on the cross is the sole basis for the forgiveness of sins. That passage in John should be understood as Jesus empowering His disciples to declare the forgiveness of sins through the gospel message, rather than giving any human being the direct authority to forgive sins. In essence, the later part of this quote has been used by the Catholic Church to support the practice of confession and the belief that priests have the authority to forgive sins. However, this interpretation is erroneous in that forgiveness is solely the domain of God and is received through faith in Jesus Christ. ~