The Bible Story Part 260

Did they not burn within us by the way?'

--_Cowper_.

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III

DOUBTING THOMAS

_How the Lord Jesus Appeared to His Disciples Twice at Jerusalem_.

Those disciples with whom Jesus had eaten at Emmaus rose up that very hour, and returned to Jerusalem, in the evening, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them. The eleven told them in secret, the doors being shut for fear of the Jews, "The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon." And the two disciples told the others the things that happened on the way, and how he was known of them in the breaking of the bread.

And as they spoke these things, he himself stood in the midst of them, and said unto them, "Peace be unto you."

But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they beheld a spirit. And he said unto them, "Why are ye troubled? and wherefore do questionings arise in your heart? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye behold me having."

And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, "Have ye here anything to eat?" And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish.

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And he took it and did eat before them.

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 put my hand into his side, I will not believe."

And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace be unto you."

Then said he to Thomas, "Reach hither thy finger, and see my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and put it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing."

Thomas answered and said unto him, "My Lord and my G.o.d."

Jesus said unto him, "Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed."

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IV

"FEED MY SHEEP."

_How the Lord Jesus Appeared to His Disciples as They Fished at the Sea of Galilee_.

After these things Jesus manifested himself again to the disciples at the sea of Galilee in this way. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter said unto them, "I go a fis.h.i.+ng."

They say unto him, "We also come with thee."

They went forth, and entered into the boat; and that night they took nothing. But when day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus therefore said unto them, "Children, have ye ought to eat?"

They answered him, "No."

And he said unto them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and ye shall find."

They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the mult.i.tude of fishes. That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, "It is the Lord."

So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his coat about him (for he was naked), and cast himself into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little {308} boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits off), dragging the net full of fishes. So when they got out upon the land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus said unto them, "Bring of the fish which ye have now taken."

Simon Peter therefore went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty-three: and for all there were so many, the net was not rent. Jesus said unto them, "Come and break your fast."

And none of the disciples dared inquire of him, "Who art thou?" knowing that it was the Lord.

Jesus came, and took the bread, and gave them, and the fish likewise.

So when they had broken their fast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, lovest thou me more than these?"

He said unto him, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee."

He said unto him, "Feed my lambs."

He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, lovest thou me?"

He said unto him, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee."

He said unto him, "Tend my sheep."

He said unto him the third time, "Simon, son of John, lovest thou me?"

Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, "Lovest thou me?" And he said unto him, "Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee."

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Jesus said unto him, "Feed my sheep."

And when he had spoken this, he said unto him, "Follow me."

Peter, turning about, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following; and said to Jesus, "Lord, and what shall this man do?"

Jesus said unto him, "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me."

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V

THE ASCENSION

_How the Lord Jesus Appeared Again in Galilee, and How He at Last Went Away from Earth to Heaven_.

But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they wors.h.i.+ped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came to them and spoke unto them, saying,--