Part 7

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. When He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose sins ye retain, they are retained.

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. Eight days passed and 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. Now be not faithless but believing. Thomas answered and said unto Him, my Lord and my God. Jesus saith, 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.

21. After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples. It was at the sea of Tiberias. Gathered together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other of His disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say to him, We also go with thee. They went forth and immediately got into a fishing boat. That night they caught nothing.

When the morning came, Jesus stood on the shore. The disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye anything? They answered Him, No. And He said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat and ye shall find some. They, therefore, cast the net. Now they were not able to draw it up for the multitude of fishes in the net. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord.

When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he drew up his fisher's coat around him and cast himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat dragging the net with the fishes. They were only about two hundred cubits from the shore. As soon as they reached the shore, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish already laid thereon. And there was also bread. Jesus saith to them, Bring the fish which ye have caught. Simon Peter went over and drew in the net. It was full of great fishes, one hundred and fifty three. Yet, even though there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. None of the disciples durst ask Him, Who art Thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then came, and served them bread and fish also. This is now the third time that Jesus showed Himself to His disciples.

After 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. Then He saith to him a 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 yet a third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because He said to him a third time, Lovest thou me? 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 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 go. This spoke He, signifying by what death Peter should glorify God. When He had spoken this, He saith unto him, Follow me.

Then Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. This was the disciple who leaned on Jesus breast at supper, and also asked, Lord, who is he that betrayeth thee? Peter, now seeing him, saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come what is that to thee? You follow me. Then the saying spread among the brethren that that disciple should not die. Yet Jesus said not unto him, he shall not die but, if I will that he tarry till I come what business is that to thee?

This is the disciple who testifieth of these things, and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. There are also many other things that Jesus did which, if they were all told, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

08-2002 Lightheart PracticeGodsPresence.com