[A HARD QUESTION FOR PREACHERS.]
THE Lord said once to a preacher, “Simon, lovest thou me more than these?” This question has been variously expounded. It has had at least the following three interpretations given to it:
1. “Lovest thou me more than these other disciples love me?”
2. “Lovest thou me more than thou lovest these other disciples?”
3. “Lovest thou me more than thou lovest these fisheries?”
1. The Archbishop of Cincinnati had the honor—if it be any—of giving the people the first of these, in the debate with Mr. Campbell. He thinks the Lord meant, “Simon, lovest thou me more than these other disciples love me?” He thinks Peter did love his Lord more than the other disciples did, and this is one of his mighty arguments to prove that Peter was the first Pope. But how Peter could answer such a question as that, unless, indeed, he was already the Pope, and infallible, we can not conceive. Certainly the Lord did not expect Peter to know whether he loved his Master better than the other disciples loved him, unless he was infallible. The Lord himself could have answered that question, but certainly no man could. Such a question was not only, in the very nature of the case, one that no man could answer, but one that could have no practical bearing nor use. Not only so, but the answer of the Lord was inappropriate, if he had intended Peter to be Pope. He commanded him, “Feed my sheep.” This was the last thing he would have commanded him if he had intended him to be Pope. In that case he would have commanded him, “Fleece my sheep,” and not “feed my sheep.” The business of Popes has ever been to fleece the sheep, and not to feed them.
2. The question, “Lovest thou me more than thou lovest these other disciples?” though Peter might have been able to answer it, would certainly have been one of but little importance. Not only so, but the language is scarcely capable of this import, and, therefore, it is not probable that such was the intention of it.
3. The sum of the question was, “Lovest thou me more than these fisheries?” Or, to express it more fully and liberally, “Lovest thou me more than thou lovest these fisheries?” The state of the case was, that the Lord had called them to be preachers. They had from the beginning been under a mistaken notion. Their idea was, that Jesus was to be a king in an earthly kingdom. This, they supposed, would all take place in his lifetime, on this earth. It never entered into their minds that Jesus would die before his reign commenced. It specially never entered into their minds that he would die by crucifixion. When he was crucified and actually dead, they thought he was defeated, that his enemies had triumphed, that all was lost and their mission at an end. In this view, Simon Peter said, “I go a fishing.” Another disciple replied, “I go along.” This was utterly giving all up for lost. Poor men; like most preachers, who quit their proper work of preaching the gospel, and turn aside to some secular avocation, they did not prosper. “They toiled all night and caught nothing.” What a caution to preachers who turn aside from their work! The Lord appears to them and inquires of them, “Children, have you any meat?” They reply, “We have none.” He commands them, “Cast your net on the right side of the ship.” They cast the net and take the most astonishing draught of fish they ever saw. He caused their business to prosper beyond anything they had ever experienced. Their prospects in this avocation were now brighter than ever before. They are now in the midst of an excitement of prosperity, intensely engaged with their nets and fish. Every thing is purposely made as attractive and fascinating as it can be. While it is all before their eyes, in its most exciting, fascinating and attractive form, the Lord tries them, puts them to the test: “Lovest thou me more than these?” probably at the same moment, pointing his finger to the nets and fish. Peter replied, “Lord thou knowest that I love thee.” The Lord commands, “Feed my sheep.” That is, “If you love me more than these fisheries,” and are willing to forsake these and do my work, “Feed my sheep.” This question, “Lovest thou me more than these?” is one of so much importance that it is repeated three times over, and the Lord says to them, “I will make you fishers of men.” This remark he had made to them when he first called them from their fisheries. After this last charge, “Feed my sheep,” “Feed my lambs,” we have no account of their ever fishing any more.
We find that there are many preachers in our time to whom the Lord puts the question, “Lovest thou me more than these?” Not, however these fisheries, but these lands, cattle, horses, mules, bank stocks, railroad stocks, houses, barns, mills, shops, stores, offices, politics, wives, children, fathers or mothers. He is very exacting and speaks very decidedly. “If you love these more than me, you can not be my disciples.” This is most fearful language. What is the test? The test is simply this, if we love the Lord more than these, we will follow him and do his work. If we love the Lord less than these, we will forsake the Lord’s work and follow these. This is a matter that preaching brethren ought to put to their consciences. Can men who have the ability to preach Christ, who have tried it and know they can succeed, and whom the Lord has blessed in their efforts, turn from this great work to the pursuits of the world, at will, with impunity? We do not believe they can. It is a fearful thing for them to do so. We know men of great ability—men who can shake up society from its center to its circumference, if they will try, whose talents are measurably buried, or what is the same thing, devoted to the world. These will certainly give a most strict account.