Love – The Supreme Test

A touch of the Master’s Hand

‘Twas battered and scarred and the auctioneer

Thought it scarcely worth his while

To waist much time on the old violin,

But he held it up with a smile.

“What am I bidden good folks?” her cried,

“Who’ll start the bidding for me?”

A dollar – a dollar – now two, only two

Two dollars and who’ll make it three?”

“Three dollars once, three dollars twice,

Going for three – but no!”

From the room far back, a gray haired man

Came forward and picked up the bow;

Then wiping the dust from the old violin,

And tightening up all the strings,

He played a melody pure and sweet,

As sweet as the angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer

With a voice that was quite and low,

Said, “What am I bid from the old violin?”

And he held it up with the bow.

“A thousand dollars and who’ll make it two?

Two thousand and who’ll make it three?

Three thousand once, and three thousand twice,

And going and gone!” said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,

“We do not quite understand –

What changed it’s worth?” Swift came the reply:

“The tough of the Master’s hand!”

And many a man with a life out of tune,

And battered and torn with sin,

Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd,

Much like the old violin.

A “mess of pottage”, a glass of wine,

A game – and he travels on.

He’s going once and going twice, He’s going and almost gone!

But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd

Never can quite understand

The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought

By the touch of the Master’s hand.

This poem somewhat describes the life of the Apostle Peter. Simon, son of Jonas was a diamond in the rough. He and his brother Andrew were fishermen on the Sea of Galilee working for their father who was in partnership with Zebedee the father of James and John. Peter was the natural born leader of the crew. He was rough and ready, boastful and proud, a man of great physical courage who rushed headlong into things without due consideration.

One day a man beheld this “diamond in the rough.” This Master of men recognized Simon’s latent abilities and inherent talents. He laid hold of Simon. He gave him a new name, Peter, the rock. It was a name descriptive of the renewed personality that would come to Simon. Under the wise leadership and counsel of this man Simon was tempered, trained, filled with the Holy Spirit and used to the honor and glory of God. From that day until this the world has never been able to quite understand the change” that was wrought by the touch of the Master’s hand.” We can understand to a degree this change that was wrought as we begin to focus three questions Jesus of Nazareth asked Simon, son of Jonas.

Peter and Andrew in one boat, and James and John in another had spent the night fishing upon the Galilean Sea. In the morning with empty boats they came to shore, cold and tired. A great crowd thronged the shoreline, pressing about Jesus of Nazareth “to hear the Word of God.” Peter and Andrew beached their boat and began to wash the nets. Jesus came over and sat down in Simon’s boat and continued teaching the people. When he had finished his sermon He turned to Peter and commanded: “Launch out into the deep and put down your nets for a catch.” Peter replied, “Master, we have toiled all night. We have taken nothing. Nevertheless at you word I will let down the nets.” In a moment the nets were miraculously full and yet they did not break. There were so many fish that they filled both the boats almost to the sinking point. Peter was astonished and falling upon his knees he said, “Depart from me, O Lord for I am a sinful man.” In the presence of Christ, Peter was filled with a sense of his own unworthiness.” 

Jesus never turns a needy soul away empty. He answered, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Peter forsook all and followed Jesus. This is the first question that Jesus asked Peter: “Will you follow me?’ The Master said, “Come, Follow” --- That was all, “Earth’s joys grew dim. My soul went after Him. I rose and followed – That was all, Who would not follow, if he heard His call.” 

Some follow with a greater degree of loyalty than others; some follow afar off, others snuggle right up close to the Good Shepherd. But I feel certain that each of you like Peter have answered the question: “Will you follow me?” in the affirmative. Where He leads me I will follow.

When Peter forsook his old way of life to follow Jesus he entered upon a period of glorious fellowship with the Son of Man. For two and a half years he journeyed with Christ throughout the regions of Judea, Samaria and Galilee. He listened as Jesus taught the multitudes concerning God and His Kingdom. He watched as Jesus gave food and drink to the hungry and thirsty; hope and peace to the sick, worn and weary; forgiveness of sin to the spiritually sick. He was with Christ as He mounted the wave of public acclaim and popularity. Peter beheld the rising wave of opposition and the decreasing popularity. At last there came the time when the shadow of a cross began to appear upon the pathway. The hour was at hand when the Son of God must for the last time go up to Jerusalem, there to offer Himself, the Lamb of God without spot and without blemish as a sacrifice for the sin of man.. but before this fateful journey southward was begun He would spend some time alone with His disciples. The spot chosen for this spiritual retreat was in the mountain fastness of Caesarea Philippi to the northeast of Galilee. So Jesus in company with the twelve went northward and came to Caesarea Philippi.

It was here that the second great question was asked: “Whom say ye that I am?” This question was asked of all the disciples. Peter, the spokesmen answered: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This is the only answer that is satisfactory. In response to this declaration of faith Jesus replied, “Blessed art thou, Simon son of Jonas, Flesh and blood hath not reveled this unto thee, but my Father who is in Heaven.”

We have given many answers to this question. Some have called Him the great reformer, the matchless Teacher, the Way Shower of God, and the best man that ever lived. He is all of this and more besides. These hold Him within the bounds of mere humanity, but He is more than a man. He is the Christ, the Messiah, the one sent from God who bore my “sin in His body on the tree.” He is God become man, not man become God, but God become man to reveal unto me the very heart and nature of God. After two and a half years of fellowship with this man Peter recognized His essential deity and gave expression to it.

Who say ye that He is? Is He to you more than a man to follow, more than a proclaimer of a philosophy to practice. Is He the One who was wounded “for your transgressions, and who was bruised for your iniquities?” Is He your God whom you trust for your eternal salvation? It is possible to follow Jesus, His teachings and His practices and still not enter into the joys of Heaven. (Compare Matthew 7:21-23) What is the will of God? Jesus answers that in John 6:28-29. “This is the work (will) of God that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.” Do you believe on Him. Have you confessed with Peter: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

From this mountain top of confession Peter descended into the valley of denial. After the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane Peter following afar off, came at last into the judgment hall. He did not go and join himself with Christ, but he went and sat with the enemies of Jesus. Three times he was accused of being a member of the band of disciples and three times, first by simple statement, then with a statement and an oath, and finally with a statement and God’s name uttered in blasphemy – he declared that he knew not the Christ. Then the cock crowed, Peter recalled that Christ had warned concerning this denial, and then looking across the judgment hall his eyes came into contact with the eyes of Jesus. Peter went out and wept bitter tears of true repentance. 

There had been a public denial; there must be a public confession. Some days after the resurrection Peter in company with the other disciples returned to Galilee. There they spent a night fishing fruitlessly. In the morning as their boat was heading shoreward they heard a voice coming to them across the water: “Children have you caught any meat? Cast your net on the right side of the boat.” They did s o and were unable to draw it into the boat so great were the number of fishes. John said unto Peter, “It is the Lord.” Peter leaped into the water and went ashore to Jesus. Jesus had prepared a breakfast for His disciples and after partaking they went for a stroll along the beach. Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than all these?” Peter answered, “Yea Lord, thou knowest that I love thee.” This was the third question Jesus asked Peter. “Peter will you follow me? Peter who am I? Peter do you love me? This is the most important question.

It was not until he settled this question that Peter was truly used in the service of Christ. Never again did he deny his Lord. You do not deny that what you love. Never again did he forsake his Master. You do not forsake your true love. Let me ask you, you have these many years been following Jesus, you have confessed Him as Lord and Savior: do you love Him? This is the supreme question. What this congregation truly loves Jesus there will be no problem of financial support. We adequately support the one we love. There will be no problem of Church attendance. We want to meet with the one we love. The sin problem will be settled. For when you love Jesus, there will be desire to flirt with the world, the flesh and the devil. There will be no problem of leadership and service. We delight to serve sacrificially the one we love.

Jesus demands that we love Him because He is love. “Greater love hath no man than this, than that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Last week we read in the paper of a foreign student a Southern College who was unable to swim. His friend, an American student, was in the pool and in trouble and drowning. The foreign student jumped in and managed to save the American student from drowning at the cost of his own life. “No greater love.”

            My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine, for thee all the followers  of sin I resign;

            My gracious redeemer, my Savior art thou; If ever I loved thee, My Jesus, ‘tis now.

            I love thee, because thou hast first love me, And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree;

            I love thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow; If I ever loved thee, My Jesus, ‘tis now.

Dr. Robert W Kirkpatrick

First Presbyterian Church, Charleston, W Va. January 12, 1958