The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-05-25
BAN AND DEMOCRAT BLOOMsBURG COLUMBIA COUNTY, PAL
THE DENIAL OF PETER.
LESSON TX, SECOND QUARTER, INTER.
NATIONAL SERIES, MAY a7.


Verses 73-75-Comment by Rev. II. S
Holman.
CONDENSED from Lesson Helper Quarterly, By
permission OF II. s. Hoffman, Philadelphia pub
iisher.l
Notes.v. Ga. Spit in his face, showing
the highest contempt and insult, Numbers
xii, IA; Job xxx, TO- Buffeted, striking with
closed hands or with the fists, V. 6s. Luke
(xxii, 6D and Mark txiv, 65) tell us that they
blindfolded him before saying these words.
v. 90. Without in the outer court or space,
where the servants gathered. Damsel, a
FORTRESS who kept the door, John
V. II. Porch, the small apartment between
the outer door and the large hail in the CEN
ter Of the building. V. 73 After while,
about an hour later, Luke xxi, SO. Speech
bewrayeth, his Galilean accent showed it.
V. "a. Began he TO curse and swear, losing
all control Of himself he went on to worse
sins. v. 75. Thrice, three times. Luke xii,
6l tells us Jesus looked on him Wept bit
terly, the thought of deep guilt swept over
Peters soul and he went out into the darkness
to repent of his sins
Few events in the Bible are so full of hu-
man nature and divine grace, of warning
and comfort, as the fall and restoration of
Peter. The nearest parallel case in the Bible
is the great sin and repentance of David.
After the preliminary trial before the high
priest had taken place masy of the members
of the Jewish sanhedrim assembled In the
council hall They knew Jesus was to be
arrested, and hence were ready. Perhaps
such members as Nicodemus and ,Joseph Of
Aramathea were absent. The sanhedrim
had authority to try those charged with cap
ital offenses, but could not execute the sem
tence of death. In this midnight trial of
Jesus every rule Of Jewish law seems to have
been violated in the haste and eagerness to
condemn him. A night trial was not legal.
10 be bound as malefactor before he was
arraigned, to be beaten before verdict was
rendered, to be struck in open court while
the trial was going on, were all in violation
OF every sense of right and justice. The ir-
regular and illegal trial of him by night was
suspended until daybreak SO that they could
then secure from Plate the sentence of his
death. In the time elapsing till daylight
occurred the maltreatment by his lawless
enemies and the denial by Peter.
V. g. After the sanhedrim had pro-
nounced him guilty of death" he was sub
1ected to series Of indignities. Before the
trial In the house of Annas he was struck by
one OF the officers. Doubtless others in a,i-
thority offered him insults The common
guard soon followed in jeer and mockery
The abusive insults of the underlings was the
natural sequence of the more formal mockery
OF their superiors. Let it not surprise us it.
as followers Of Jesus we too receive insults
V. 6S. After they had blindfolded him
they scoffed at his prophetic office as Mes
siah. Jesus answered not a word, though all
the universe was at his command. No act is
so contemplate as to ridicule good persons
or holy things And yet when we are
Knocked silence is best
v. 69. Peter was now inside the court ward
Of the palace of Caiaphas. He had gained
admittance through John, who was known
at the palnce. With the servants he was
sitting around the fire, for the night was
cold. FORTRESS looking upon Peter said
that he was with Jesus. This drew upon
him the eyes of all about An obscure SER
want becomes now the innosent occasion Of
the downfall of the chief of the apostles.
V. 20. In the most cowardly fashion he re-
sorts to evasion, which always leads to direct
falsehood and often perjury.
V. II. Perhaps wishing to escape the fur
ther observation of the servants, he went
into the vestibule or porch leading into the
street, where another female slave In ridicule
accused him of being with Jesus. Perhaps
several at the time confirmed her statement.
Christians cannot long be hid when among
men of the world.
V. 72. Now he boldly denies his Master.
and the long cast off habit of swearing comes
back to him in the moment of excitement.
de told an unblushing positive lie, when he
said that he knew not Christ, and then tried
to confirm his falsehood with an oath Sin
grows when it Is not checked. The Disciple
hrst and loudest to profess his Lord now
vehemently denies him! Times of fanatical
defense Of the faith are often followed by
base denial.
". 7S. The men who stood by must have
had q contempt for Peters perfidy
v. "a. lrritated beyond endurance, with a
positive witness against him, Peter how're
sorted to calling down curses on himself.
that what he said was true, affirming before
God what he knew to be false How the sins
Of his former life came again to the surfaced
There Is much hidden and remaining sin in
the best Christian.
When the cock crew Peter remembered
what Jesus had said And it was now that
Jesus turned and looked upon Peter. 1t was
the look OF wounded love. History bears to
US the tradition that ever after when Peter
heard the growing of a cock he fell on his
face and mourned over his base denial of his
Lord.
At about o'clock in the morning, when
bis Inst denial occurred, Peter hurried out
into the dark, and gave way to deep sorrow
for his sins. He not only wept, but wept Bit
terly. We must not only notice Peters sins,
but his sincere tears of repentance The re-
morse Of Judas made him rush out and hang
irt,oa ,fa,,a - d.
turn to God with tears and cries. The re-
membrance Of his great sin ever after hum.
bled his proud and self confident spirit, His
repentance was complete.
Notice the causes Of Peters sin. a. He
followed Jesus afar off. Had he kept nearer
10 Jesus he would have been safer. b. He
got separated from the other disciples. Had
they kept closer together they allwould have
been stronger. c. He underrated and neg
lected the warnings Of Jesus. He was ap-
prised of coming danger. d. He did not be-
lieve the word of the Lord. He had too much
confidence in his own strength. G. He, with
rushed where danger was f.
He neglected to exercise that watchfulness and
prayer Jesus had enjoined. @. He failed to
the teaching which the Lord
had repeatedly given of the necessity of his
sufferings and death. He clung to the Jewish
notion that Christ would establish an earthly
kingdom. h. His pety was controlled more
by feeling than principle In the hour of
sore temptation we must be grounded on the
grand doctrines of grace, otherwise we will
fall Notice the lessons from Peters sin. a.
The danger Of self confidence, see Golden
Text True confidence relies on God, not ON
self, for strength. b. The highest favors aud
blessings do not exempt us from the danger
Of falling into sin Though greatly favored,
Peter snned. Q. 1t is bad sign to conceal
our discipleship The next thing is denial
Of Christ d. The best Of men sin-none are