1912 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

have not been in attendance at any other General Convention this year.We have no doubt that this proposal will be helpful to some who mightnot otherwise be able to bear the expense. The money is depositedwith the Colporteur Department and will be credited on the accountsor handed over in money, as may best suit the convenience of thereceivers.====================R5052 : page 207HOW ST. PETER WAS PUNISHED FOR DENYING HIS LORD"Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thouMe more than these?"--John 21:15-17.THE CONTEXT SHOWS that these wordswere addressed by the Redeemer to St.Peter on the occasion of His third manifestationto His disciples after His resurrection.This was presumably three or fourweeks after the Master's resurrection fromthe dead. His manifestations to the womenon the morning of His resurrection and Hislater manifestation to the two as they wentto Emmaus are evidently not counted, butthe manifestation the same evening in the upper room,when all the disciples except Thomas and Judas werepresent, is counted the first. And the manifestation a weeklater, Thomas being present, is counted the second.The delay in giving this third manifestation was evidentlyfor the purpose of testing the faith of the Apostlesand of leading them to reach a conclusion respecting theirfuture course, which Jesus wished to correct. So far aswe can understand the record at least two Sundays passedwithout any further manifestation of Jesus to Hisdisciples, and then, giving up hope, they decided to returnto the fishing business and did so. The journey to Galileeand the resumption of business presumably took anotherweek.During all those thirty days the mental attitude of allthe Apostles and the other disciples can be better imaginedthan described. They were perplexed, they had indeedhad evidences of the Master's resurrection; they had hadthe Scriptures called to their attention which proved thatthis was necessary and that God had previously so arranged.They had hoped for further conferences withJesus and that He would have told them definitely whatto do.Instead, left to themselves, the disciples were thoroughlydisheartened. They had left all to follow Him, totell the people that He was the Son of God, the long-promisedMessiah, and that He would soon set up HisKingdom, which would bring blessings, primarily to Israeland, secondarily, through Israel, to all the families of theearth in harmony with the Abrahamic Covenant. Now