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==CHAPTER 55==

==CHAPTER 55==

The apostles paused several times on the way to Galilee to tell the story of their risen Master and therefore did not arrive at Bethsaida until very late on Wednesday night.

The apostles paused several times on the way to Galilee to tell the story of their risen Master and therefore did not arrive at Bethsaida until very late on Wednesday night.

====Appearance by the Lake====

====Appearance by the Lake====

As they walked along, Jesus said to John:

As they walked along, Jesus said to John:

*"John, do you love me?"  

*<u>"John, do you '''love''' me?"</u>

And when John answered:  

And when John answered:  

Jesus then turned toward Peter and asked:  

Jesus then turned toward Peter and asked:  

*"Peter, do you love me?"  

*<u>"Peter, do you '''love''' me?"</u>

Peter answered:  

Peter answered:  

Then said Jesus:  

Then said Jesus:  

*"If you love me, Peter, feed my lambs. Do not neglect to minister to the weak, the poor, and the young. Preach the gospel without fear or favor. Remember always that God is no respecter of persons. Serve your fellow men even as I have served you. Forgive your fellow mortals even as I have forgiven you. Let experience teach you the value of meditation and the power of intelligent reflection."

*"If you love me, Peter, feed my lambs. Do not neglect to minister to the weak, the poor, and the young. Preach the gospel without fear or favor. Remember always that God is no respecter of persons. Serve your fellow men even as I have served you. Forgive your fellow mortals even as I have forgiven you. <u>Let experience teach you the value of '''meditation''' and the power of intelligent '''reflection'''."</u>

After they had walked along a little farther, the Master turned to Peter and asked:  

After they had walked along a little farther, the Master turned to Peter and asked:  

Said he to Thomas:  

Said he to Thomas:  

*"Thomas, do you serve me?"  

*<u>"Thomas, do you '''serve''' me?"</u>

Thomas replied:  

Thomas replied:  

Then said the Master to Nathaniel:  

Then said the Master to Nathaniel:  

*"Nathaniel, do you serve me?"  

*<u>"Nathaniel, do you '''serve''' me?"</u>

And the apostle answered:  

And the apostle answered:  

To Philip he said:  

To Philip he said:  

*"Philip, do you obey me?"  

*<u>"Philip, do you '''obey''' me?"</u>

Philip answered:  

Philip answered:  

And then, speaking to Matthew, the Master asked:

And then, speaking to Matthew, the Master asked:

*"Matthew, do you have it in your heart to obey me?"  

*<u>"Matthew, do you have it in your heart to obey me?"</u>

Matthew answered:  

Matthew answered:  

He said:  

He said:  

*"I will soon leave you. You see that I have already left you in the flesh. I tarry only a short time in this form before I go to my Father. You believe in me -- you are my apostles, and you always will be. Go on believing and remembering your association with me, when I am gone, and after you have, perchance, returned to the work you used to do before you came to live with me. Never allow a change in your outward work to influence your allegiance. Have faith in God to the end of your days on earth. Never forget that, when you are a faith son of God, all upright work of the realm is sacred. Nothing that a son of God does can be common. Do your work, therefore, from this time on, as for God. And when you are through on this world, I have other and better worlds where you shall likewise work for me. And in all of this work, on this world and on other worlds, I will work with you, and my spirit shall dwell within you."

*"I will soon leave you. You see that I have already left you in the flesh. I tarry only a short time in this form before I go to my Father. You believe in me -- you are my apostles, and you always will be. Go on believing and remembering your association with me when I am gone, and after you have, perchance, returned to the work you used to do before you came to live with me. Never allow a change in your outward work to influence your allegiance. Have faith in God to the end of your days on earth. Never forget that, when you are a faith son of God, all upright work of the realm is sacred. Nothing that a son of God does can be common. Do your work, therefore, from this time on, as for God. And when you are through on this world, I have other and better worlds where you shall likewise work for me. And in all of this work, on this world and on other worlds, I will work with you, and my spirit shall dwell within you."

It was almost ten o'clock when Jesus returned from his visit with the Alpheus twins, and as he left the apostles, he said:  

It was almost ten o'clock when Jesus returned from his visit with the Alpheus twins, and as he left the apostles, he said: