Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/774

 And after  they  had  eaten,  our  Lord  said  to  Simon  Peter: “Simon, son  of  John,  lovest  thou  Me  more  than  these?”  Peter answered: “Yea,  Lord,  Thou  knowest  that  I love  Thee.”  Jesus said to  him:  “Feed  My  lambs!”  Then  our  Lord  said  to  him again: “Simon,  son  of  John,  lovest  thou  Me?”  Peter  again  replied: “Yea, Lord,  Thou  knowest  that  I love  Thee.”  And  Jesus  spoke to him  again:  “Feed  My  lambs!”  Then  Jesus,  as  though  to  try His apostle  still  further,  asked  him  a third  time:  “Simon,  son  of John,  lovest  thou  Me?”  Peter  was  grieved  because  His  Divine Master seemed  to  doubt  his  love,  and  he  answered  warmly  and earnestly: “Lord,  Thou  knowest  all  things,  Thou  knowest  that  I love  Thee!”  Then  our  Lord  said  to  him:  “Feed  My  sheep.” “Amen, amen,  I say  to  thee,  when  thou  wast  younger  thou  didst gird thyself,  and  didst  walk  where  thou  wouldst; but  when  thou shalt be  old  thou  shalt  stretch  forth  thy  hands and  another  shall gird thee,  and  lead  thee  whither  thou  wouldst  not.”

The Divinity  of  Jesus  Christ  is  proved  by  this,  His  seventh  apparition after  His  Resurrection:  i.  by  the  threefold  miracle  which  He worked,  namely  the  miraculous  draught  of  fishes,  the  marvellous  feast, and the  unnatural  strength  of  the  net  which  remained  unbroken  in  spite of the  weight  of  the  153  large  fishes;  2. by the  prophecy  of  Peter’s martyrdom, which  was  literally  fulfilled  by  his  crucifixion  in  the  year  67. St. Peter  also  testified  to  our  Lord’s  divinity  when  he  exclaimed: “Lord, Thou knowest  all  things!”  for  He  who  knows  all  things,  and  can  read the secret s of  the  heart,  is  omniscient,  and  must  be  God,  Who  alone is omniscient