The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-01-19
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated abovel
SUBJECT: THE CROSSES AND SELF DENIAL
WHICH RESULT FROM A CONFESSION OF
CHRIST.
This lesson naturally divides itself into two
parts-(1) Verses 10 to 81, and ~ Verses 81 to
q inclusive.
Verses IS to 81 tell of ST. Peters answer to
Christ's question, Who am /? Verses II to %
inclusive state the trials, crosses, sacrifices
which Christians were then specially called TO
experience, and which followers of Christ
through all the ages must more or less suffer.
We find ourselves in the vicinity of Cesarea
Philippi. This was in Perea, north OF tho Sea
of Galilee. 1t is May, in the year p A. ID.
Christ raised the question, "Whom do men
say that /, the Son of Man, amp" not for per-
sonal information-not because disturbed by
any of the opinions of men-but mainly to test
the Disciples and to give chance more fully to
reveal himself The very indefinite ideas of
persons in general as to Jesus " IA are finely
contrasted by the precise statement of st.
Peter We notice how Christ in the very form
of his question would help hearers to get cor
rect notion as to the proper answer to be given
to his inquiry. In his question Shrist states
he is the Son of Man, an expression intimating
he was the Messiah. Very much discussion has
arisen as to the meaning of Christs answer to
st. Peter. Some hold Jesus meant to say that
| the Church was to be built on St Peter; others
on the doctrine enunciated by st. Peter When
we remember how faliible man is; when We
recall the weakness of that Apostle, (V. 3d.
| and when on the contrary we consider that
| principles are eternal, we feel greater comfort
/ in the thought the Church is built on an ever
| lasting truth yea on Truth, Christ, rather than
on man whom temptation may overcome at
| the next moment on a man whose faith may
wayer when assailed by even damsels rude
mi
| worthy notice Christ is styled the Rock, the
| Corner Stone, the only Foundation. Protest
ant commentators as a body interpret the
meaning to be that the Church is built on the
/ Rock of Ages, Christ.
Now the Church is established it must have
various ordinances, as, for example, baptism
| and the Holy Communion. These must be in
charge of certain authorized persons-persons
having power to administer, and therefore to
withhold, said ordinances. There must be
| Church discipline, and hence ecelesiastic dis
/ ciplinarians The government of the Church
was assigned primarily to the Apostles and
| their successors A key is an emblem Of power
| and government. (Is., % 90
In Harper's Magazine for February, 1881,
there is an account given of the celebrated
painting by Perugino, the Italian artist, named
Jesus Giving the Keys to Peter"
There is a sense in which the Church is really
built on the Apostles, and hence on st. Peter
among the rest. (Eph., 2: 201 Rev., q IA
We remember ST Peter was first to open the
doors of the Kingdom, using the keys, e. g., the
Key of knowledge, (St. Luke, IL 52,) for the
admission of Jews. (See Acts, H. He also
first gave entry to Gentiles. (See Acts. Chap
| 10) We see, too, in the lesson how advanced
he was beyond the rest of the Apostles in that
he gave such an accurate answer to Christs
questons-an answer which was probably
clearer than that which any other Apostle
could have given.
There is a sense, too, in which all true preach.
ers of the Gospel open the Kingdom of Heaven
Sermons are keys. Through light from the
pulpit. doors open to the unbelieving and g
norant. The doctrines preached, if accepted
lead to repentance; if not needed, they are fol
lowed by conviction. God opens Heaven Il
men on condition they give up sin, and shuts
doors against the rebellious. There is a rela
tion between all Christian effort in behal
of the salvation of sinners and corresponding
recognition in Heaven of those led to Christ OF
earth.
The revelations made by Christ to his Apos
ties were wonderful unraveling of his nature
origin, work and destiny The interview wa
intimate and esoteric. His time had not ye
come and Christ requested his Disciples not t.
tell the matter, the secret, abroad.
Verses 81 to Is inclusive give frank tall
between Christ and his followers as to the con
sequences to be expected by those who attaches
themselves to him and his cause. We now SCI
Christ speaking more plainly He wanted t.
dispel from the minds of the Apostles their vail
expectation that he proposed to establish tenn
poral kingdom He would also show the Dis
cples that their fate as to suffering aud selfde
NAL was not to be borne by them alone, Will
he escaped all trouble. He was to be an exam
, pie to them as to trial and pain. (V. Fl.
: Singularly we find, after but few minute:
: interval between Christ's compliment of 81
Peter. severe Gliding. He seems to thinl
Christ Master of the situation, and able to pre-
: vent any such personal wrong and suffering t
Q himself and so exclaims Avert such calamit
by the exertion of thy almightiness. b
0 merciful to myself" Some render the word
G translated in Verse %, " Be it far from thee,
' MAY God be merciful" or, as we often say
"God forbid or Heaven forbid" Quick q
4 he was to comprehend Christ's true nature
8 " 49, he was slow to apprehend the myS
+ terry and the Office of the suferings and deaf
of Christ He should have had such cor
8 fdence in Christ as not to question any of b
5 statements, and such as would prompt him I
fall into all of the purposes of his Master Chris
rebuked Peters Officousness. The spirit of th
s Disciple was bad. 1t questioned divine VII
= dom and purpose. If the confession of verse !
@ was inspired of Heaven the rashness Of vers
% was influenced by Satan. Christ PRACTICAL
d said to Peter, Thou stumbling-block
i the way of my atoning DEATH" How so2 II
q WOulQ mol nave CHriSG uiS ana YET bRaG Wa
the very mission of the Savior. Christ kne
It he was to suffer aud die, and he could not |
d discouraged nor persuaded otherwise. All h
IS Apostles and Disciples must fall into his plan
it Here Peter is called a skandal0fI, stumbling
stone, in contrast with rock " in verse Il
10 Christs purpose was fixed, and nothing eve
t, Peter could do would check him. So
70 "ofenseD verse 23) we are not to understan
b Peters demand that Christ not suffer and
caused, or was in danger of causing, Chri
to relax his plan. Says DR.. Conant: :" 4
g. Christ might well be offended at Peter
n worldly spirit, and his presumptuous aud Off
sr ious impertnenee; but that he should decla
So this to be snare to himself, or hindrance,
ID scarcely credible"
rs Now Christ passes on to show how vain a
sueh earthly things as those which prompts
u Peter to urge Jesus to give up his purpose-tl
is things of man contrasted with the things
lie God. (V. 3D. And to Offset the prophecy
Or his death he foretels his future glory. Hea
ID ers' minds are attracted from the scourge ar
g. cross to the throne and victory.
,p Christ was frank with his Disciples. He
I'd not mslead them. He offered no false hope
IN He told men plainly what the results would
ce of their becoming his followers.
10 They must deny themselves. Here begi
# the battle with self. All evil propensities mu
be checked. Habit must be seized as pr
oner. The nobler elements of our regenerat'
a. nature EST. john 3: 3-5) must combat with
tl,. Iov,ar or ooruaI (Po e..