Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-05-25
THE DENIAL OF PETER.
LESSON TX, SECOND QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, MAY 27.

Hoffman.
condensed from Lesson Helper Quarterly, by
permission of H. s. Hoffman. Philadelphia, pub
Usher
Notes.-V. CT. Spit in his face, showing
the highest contempt and insult, Numbers
xii, IA; Job xxx, 10. Buffeted, striking with
closed hands or with the fists V. 6S. Luke
xxi, 64 and Mark xiv, 65) tell us that they
blindfolded him before saying these words
V. 60 Without, in the outer court or space,
where the servants gathered. Damsel, a
FORTRESS who kept the door, John
v. n. Porch, the small apartment between
the outer door and the large hall in the CEN
ter of the building. " 70. After while,
about an hour later, Luke xii 50. 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. IS. Thrice, three times. Luke xxi,
81 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 hui
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 many 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
itol of hut a.
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.
To be bound as a 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 ali 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
" 81. After the sanhedrim had pro-
nounced him guilty of DEATH he was sub
jected to a series of indignities. Before the
trial in the house of Annas he was struck bv
one of the officers Doubtless others in au-
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 if
as followers of Jesus, we too receive insults
" 6S. After they had blindfolded him
they scoffed at his prophetic office as Mes
siah. Jesus answered not 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. 90. Peter was now inside the court ward
of the palace of Caiaphas. He had gained
admittance through John, who was known
Mt the palace. With the servants he was
sitting around the fire, for the night was
cold FORTRESS looking upon Peter said
that ne was with Jesus. This drew upon
him the eyes of all about An obscure SER
want becomes now the innocent 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. Il. Perhaps wishing to escape the fur
Their observation of the servants, he went
into the vestibule or porch leading into the
street, where another female slave in ridicue
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. ~. Now he boldly denies his Master
and the long cast Off habit of swearing comes
back to him in the moment of excitement
He 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
first and loudest to profess his Lord, now
vehemently denies him! Times of fanaticaI
defense of the faith are often followed by
base denial.
V. 3D. The men who stood by must have
had contempt for Peters perfidy
V. "a Irritated beyond endurance, with 6
positive witness against him. Peter now re
sorted to calling down curses on himself
that what he said was true, affirming befor,
God what he knew to be false. How the sim
of his former life came Gain to the surface
There is much hidden and remaining sin il
the best Christian.
When the cock crew Peter remembered
what Jesus had said And it was now tina
Jesus turned and looked upon Peter 1t wa
the look of wounded love. History bears t.
us the tradition that ever after when Pete
heard the Growing of a cock he fell on hi
face and mourned over his base denial of hi
Lord.
At about o'clock In the morning, whe,
his last denial occurred, Peter hurried GU
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 han,
himself The repentance of Peter made hin
turn to God with tears and cries The re
membrance of his great sin ever after hum
bled his proud and self confident spirit Hi
repentance was complete.
Notice the causes of Peters sin. a. H
followed Jesus afar off. Had he kept neare
to Jesus he would have been safer. b. HI
got separated from the other disciples. Ha,
they kept closer together they all would hav
been stronger. c. He moderated and neg
lected the warnings Of Jesus. He was an
prised of coming danger. d. He did not be
lieve the word of the Lord He had too mucl
confidence in his own strength. e. He, witt
presumption, rushed where danger was.
He neglected to exercise that watchfulness an,
prayer Jesus had enjoned @. He failed t
comprehend the teaching which the Ior