CLOSING SCENES.
NOT long after the events described in our last lesson, Peter, James, and John, together with Thomas, Nathaniel, and two other disciples, went fishing on the Sea of Galilee. All night they beat about upon the lake, but caught nothing. In the morning they saw Jesus standing on the shore, but did not know who he was. He said to them, Children, have ye any meat?" They answered him, "No." Then Jesus told them to cast the net on the right side of the ship, and they should find. When they had done so, they were not able to draw in the net, on account of the great number of fishes that were caught in it. Then John said to Peter, "It is the Lord." When Peter heard this, he girded his fisher's coat about him, and casting himself into the sea, swam to the shore, while the other disciples followed, dragging the net after them. When they came to land, they saw there a fire of coals with bread and fish thereon; but Jesus said to them, "Bring of the fish which ye have now caught." Then Peter laid hold upon the net, and they drew it to land" full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three;" and yet the net was not broken.
When they had taken out the fish, and counted them, Jesus invited the disciples to come and dine. Although the disciples knew that he was their Lord, they did not dare to ask him who he was, as he gave them of the bread and fish that he had cooked upon the coals. When they had finished their repast, Jesus said to Peter, "Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?" Peter said, "Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." On asking the same question the second time, and receiving the same answer, Jesus said,
"Feed my sheep." Then he said unto him the third time, " Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? "And Peter was grieved to have the question asked so many times, and said, "Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Verily, verily I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst 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."
By these words Jesus meant to signify by what death Peter should glorify God. When he had thus spoken, he said, "Follow me." But Peter, turning about, saw John following them, and said, "What shall this man do?" Jesus said, “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?" Then went the saying abroad that that disciple should not die. Yet Jesus did not say," He shall not die;" but, "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?"
After this, Jesus, according to previous appointment, met with his disciples, and many more, on a mountain in Galilee. When they saw him, they worshiped; and Jesus spoke to them, saying, "All power is given me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded; and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
After this meeting in Galilee, the apostles returned to Jerusalem, where Jesus not many days after met with them, and gave them still further instruction about the work that they were to do. He told them that all which had been written concerning him in the Scriptures should certainly be fulfilled. Then he opened their understanding with regard to the Scriptures, and said unto them, "Thus it is written, that Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the 'third day,’ and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. . . . And, behold, I send forth the promise of my Father upon you; but tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high."
Then the disciples said, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" And he said unto them, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Having led his disciples over the mount of Olives to a place near Bethany, Jesus lifted up his hands, and blessed them; and while he was doing so, he was parted from them, and a cloud received him out of their sight. As they stood gazing earnestly toward heaven, two angels stood by them in shining garments, and said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Then the disciples returned to Jerusalem, praising God.