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The arrangement of leaves on a plant's stalk; the pattern on the opposite wings of a
butterfly display parallel design. The above structure and the more detailed analysis that
follows in the book quoted exhibit similar parallel design. We believe God the
overruling Architect of these His works purposely incorporated these literary parallels
throughout His Word to prove to us their divine authorship.
What in this chapter has the Lord now in mind? None other than to see that His
disciples carry His words to the world. So we find in John 21: 16, 17 Christ appealing
to Peter to feed the sheep--the mature, the lambs--the young in faith, and to shepherd --
or organize and supervise the church generally. The Lord says "feed My lambs . . . . .
feed My sheep", and we know so many times in this Gospel our Lord uses the figure of
bread, water, His flesh, His blood to represent His doctrine and His very presence in the
heart of the believer. This is the specific work entrusted to Peter.
When Peter was converted or endowed with both the Holy Spirit and His gifts we
discovered an entirely new Peter. Not one to hide behind lies but one who, utterly
fearless, stood before the formidable Sanhedrin and testified to the risen Saviour. At
Peter's first miracle, the lame man begging at the gate Beautiful, Peter declares:
"And His Name through faith in His Name hath made this man strong, whom ye see
and know: yea, the faith which is by Him hath given Him this perfect soundness in the
presence of you all" (Acts 3: 16).
When we turn to Peter's second epistle we find a wonderful testimony to the Word of
God:
"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you
the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty"
(II Pet. 1: 16).
"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take
heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place . . . . . knowing this first, that no
prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For prophecy came not in old
time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy
Ghost" (II Pet. 1: 19-21).
Our Lord made use of three outstanding witnesses to His words, Peter, John and Paul.
To Paul was entrusted the ministry of reconciliation between Jew and Gentile consequent
upon the change of dispensation, and finally the gospel relative to the new calling, the
church of the One Body.
What is the impact of the words of Christ on the world today? God has done His part
supervising its original commitment to parchment and preserving it from attack for
thousands of years, guiding the scribes of His people in making true copies. What have
the churches done with it? From the time of Christ there have been faithful groups and
individuals who have kept alive a faith and understanding of its message but speaking in
general terms today there are sadly two features which are prevalent.