Ver. 1.-.A ne10 manifestation on an old scene. I. THE OLD SCENE. This verse "ets all its B'llggestiveness just as we remember the place which Jesus chose for this par- ticular manifestation. Persons and time and place were all combined together into one complete lesson of truth. Capernaum stood on that sea, the one place that came nearest to a home for him who all the years of his public life had no true home. While walk- ing on the margin of its waters, Jesus called his first discipllls to become "fishers of men•• (Luke v. 1-11). To the disciples of JeBUs gathered on -the shores of this lake everything should have been eloquent with stirring memories of their Master. Everything in the way of circumstance and association was made, 88 far 88 it could be, into a hook and a help. lL WHAT WAS ORANQED SINCE THE COMPANY HAD BEEN THERE BEFORE? The interval could not have been very long; yet what momentous things had happened in it I There was no change to speak of in the scene ; a spectator from some coign of vantage would have seen pretty much the same 88 before. Nor would there be much change in the disciples. A great preparation was going on; but the change itself had yet to come. But in Jesus himself, what a glorious change I The mortal had put on immortality, the corruptible had put on incorruption. A great guif separated him and his disciples-an immense difference added on to all the differences existing before. Best of all, the difference was laden with hope and encouragement for all who could look at it in the right way. The change in Jesus heralded and initiated a change in every one of these disciples, and through them a change in many with whom they would have to deal. ill. 'rHE ESSENTIAL JESUS STILL BEHAINED. He had not to make confession of former errors and new discoveries. The change in Jesus was but a metamorphosis ; the change in the disciples was a regeneration. Jesus would look different, for he had put on the body of his glory. Before long, the disciples, looking outwardly the same, would have been profoundly changed. IV. THE NEED OF A NEW MANIFESTATION TO US IN T11E OLD SCENES OF OUR LIFE. Most people have to spend their deys among scenes that are 88 familiar to them as ever the shores of Galilee were to these seven disciples. Life may become very dull and monotonous in these circumstances. But a manifestation of Jesus will make a wondrous change. Then, and only then, will there be sense and comfort in the utter- ance, that" old things have passed ~way, an~ all thi?gs become ne~.'' '!'.he Galil1ea11 cities are gone long ago ; but human1ty remams, needing all the man.Jfestations of Jesus as much as ever it did.-Y. Ver. 15.-An undlJ'l'-shepherd's great necessity. Reasons based on previous experiences of Peter will at once suggest themselves as explaining why the question of Jesus was addressed to Peter rather than another disciple. But the beat reason of all is that Jesus knows best whom to ask, and when. There was need why Peter should be especially addreesed ; but the other listenei:9 were not shut out. Love to Jesus was as much a necessity and a duty to the other six 88 to Peter. I LOOK AT TlIE QUESTION IN THE LIGHT OF THE "THOU.n "Lovest thoo me? " Jes~s addressed no stranger, no occasional acquaintance, but the co11stant co~panio_n and servant over a very considerable time. Jesus can11ot come to a stranger with this question. But who of us should be ablento plead the stranger's plea? Have, we ~iot hel\rd the forerunner's voice, "Repent ? Have we not heard the Masters v01ce, "J!'ollow me "? What a solemn reminder this question contains of the head way some of us may have to make up I It is very plain that such a question must be preceded 526 THE GOSPEL AOOORDING TO ST. JOHN. [on. xxt. 1-26.
by deRlings lcllding up to love. A mother can BILY, " Lovest thou me?" to a ohlld th&t never reml'mbcre the time when that mother's face was not the most famili&r object, Rut the same woman ce.nnot aa.y to & strange child, on her very first meeting with it, " Lovest t-hou me? " She will have to do something before love can spring up. If we have not had experienoee of repenting e.nd of endeavouring to follow Jesus, 1t is vain for us to list.en and we.it, as if love to Jes\18 would spring up mysteriously without app1u-ent cau~e. II. LOOK AT THE QUESTION IN THE LIGHT OP THE" ME." In a few days Peter will have entered on a new and momentous chRpter of life, wbero everything will depend on the completeness of his devotion to Jesus. He will not be of the slightest use if he is to be a man of divided interests and fluctuating attachments. He is to be a shepherd of the flock of Jesus, e.nd it will take all his energy and e.11 his care. The comparison is ever being instituted between the cla.ims of Jesus and the claims of self. Jesus must be first and last, and aJ.l that lies between. If J es\18 is just to tinge our lives with a superficial. influenoe, and modify our selfishness a little, we shall do little indeed for bis sheep. Why flhould we serve the world by candlelight when we can do it by sunlight? why by twilight, when we can do it by noonday? We are bound to do our very best for men, and we ca.u only do it by being servants of Jesus. We do more than othe111, because we a.re able to do more. III. LooK AT THE QUESTION IN THE LIGHT OP THE "LOVEBT," The feeling of love is seed and soil to everything else. Love binds the "thou" and the "me" together, Mere admiration of Jesus will do nothing. The love of Jesus is the only effectual fountain to wash away the selfishness continually rising in our hearts, and especially will the love of Jesus keep us from becoming weary of loving the loveless. 'l'he sin- stricken life, the heart polluted with evil thoughts and affections, needs love. Yet love is what such a life too often mils to get. We fall most naturally into speaking angrily and contemptuously of bad people. But a heart full of living love to Jesus, with him ever in observation, will love and pity the wicked far more than be angry with them. Whatever other good qualities we poasess, love to J8BUB must crown them. If only we can respond fully to this question of Jesus, we shall escape many an irritating thought, many a vexatious brooding over the meanneBSes and dn_plicities of man- kind.-Y. HOMILETICAL INDEX TO
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN.