Frederick citizen., 1895-02-01
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
international Lesson for January 27, 1898
The Great CUnfession-Matt. l6:I3.es.


before the cruciixion
PLACE.-On the way to the Mount of Trans
hguratlon. In the region around Caesarea
iPhilippL This city was situated twenty-five
or thirty miles northeast OF the Sea Of Galilee
near the head waters Of the Jordan; about
four miles east Of Dan. the northcrnmost town
OF Palestine proper 1t was at the foot of the
lofty Eermon (nine thousand feet high) In the
most picturesque part of Palestine. 1t was
named after CDslr and Herod Philip.
JESJS.-About thirty-two and one-half years
old; IL the third year cf his ministry
THE INTERVENING SToRy.-After the dis
course arising from the miracle Of the loaves
many Of the followers OF Jesus forsook Him
Gohn 6:66-7D. Then emissaries from Jerusa-
lem reproached lin for disregarding the tra-
ditions Of the elders Matt. i5:1-20). Tho op-
position in Galilee had thus grown so strong
that Jesus went away into the vic nifty OF Tyre
and Sidon and other regions around Galilee
Matt l5:2l to i6:l2) healing and teaching
Leaving the Sea Of Galilee. they journeyed
northward into the region OF Cesarea Philippi
and on the way the words Of to-day's lesson
were spoken.
THE NEW EPoCH.-This journey marks a
turning point or new era In the education OF
the disciples Jesus reveals to them moro
clearly His nature as the Messiah, and for tie
first time shows them the necessity OF His suf-
ferins and dcath-frst by His teachings and
shch Wy suo tTouSilBuTdLlOn scene. .-e also be-
gins the organized church-lays the first stones
OF the structure upon the great bedrock foun-
dation.
LESSON NOTES
That Jesus is the Messiah Becomes
the Settled Conviction Of the Apostles
VS.. 1917. 13. when Jesus came:"
in His journey from Bethsaida north
ward, along the road east of the Jor,
dan Mark s:22.) Into the coasts" re-
gions or borders, 'of Cesarea Philippi."
We learn from Luke 9:1S that this
new era or epoch began in prayer alone
with His disciples. He asked His dis.
ciples." His object seems to have been
to draw out the faith of His disciples,
and to reveal to them more
fully His nature and His redeem
ing work. He would put and
have them put into definite form
what they had been gradually
learning from His words and works
that He was indeed the Messiah, the
Son of God. "Whom," in modern Eng.
lish who, as in R. ", "do men say that
Man was title He frequently applied
to Himself (see Dan. 7:13-14). but it is
never applied to Him by the apostles.
1t expressed His human, visible side.
He would know what they had found
the popular impression 10 be concern
ing Him, how far they understood His
nature and His work. IA. "Some say
John the Baptist" returned to life.
Among these was Herod Matt. 14:1-2).
"Some, Elias" i. e., Elijah. the fore.
runner of the Messiah, who had
wrought some great miracles, and had
turned the tide Of the nation from
heather worship to the true God. "And
others, Jeremias," the Greek form of
jeremiah. Jeremiah is placed first,
because in Jewish canon he was placed
first among the Old Testament proph.
cts" and was regarded as among the
greatest. Perhaps, also, because Of
the character of his preaching, ming.
ling denunciation with hope. "Or one
OF the prophets" i. e., that one of the
old prophets is risen again" luke 9:l9).
Note that this variety of opinion
shows that the people were thinking
and discussing, but had come TO no
certain beliefs. None of them speak of
Jesus as the Messiah, for His appear
ance was in too great a contrast with
their expectations. Is. "But whom
Or. ", who) say We that amp" OBJ
serve Eye" plural, and by position in
the Greek exceedingly emphatic-in
contrast with the discordant popular
opinions. The question is addressed to
all. and Peter answers as their spokes.
man, just as he does in many other
cases. 16. "And Simon Peter an.
swered." His original name was
Simon or Simeon. Peter was an addi-
tional name conferred by Jesus to cx-
press his nature and work in the church
(John 1: Al, 42). Simon Peter was one
of the quickest to perceive truth, and
the readiest to utter it. Jesus ques.
ton was like match to powder, and
the convictions within him, condensed
in compact form, burst out from the
fullness of his heart. Thou art the
Christ the Amounted One, the Mes
siah. "Christ" is the Greek and "Mes-
siah" is the Hebrew for "anointed."
Amounting was the method by which
kings, and sometimes prophet, were
set apart for their work. 1.-The Son Of
the living God" The Son of God in the
highest sense. which could be asserted
of no other being. God is here styled
living God, because He is the author Of
all life and existence; hence, self-ex-
istent, eternal. The Son of the living
God was one who partool of that liv-
ing, self-eXistent and eternal nature.
II. blessed art thou" Because thou
hast opened thy heart to the truth;
because thou hast broken from the
bondage of Jewish prejudice and world
ly vision; because thou hast such firm
confidence in such Saviour. Faith,
knowledge of Christ as the Son of God,
almighty to save and infinite in love;
heart in which truth finds q natural
soil; a character in harmony with
Jesus; broader outlooks into truths
all are exquisite blessings. 'Simon
Bar-jona;" |. e., son Of Jonah. Bar is
Aramaic (the Syriac Hebrew then in
use) for son. Jonah should begin with
a capital j, as in the r. v. "For flesh
and blood" no man, no weak mortal,
hath revealed this unto you. 1t has
not it's origin in the mere human
knowledge, in the workings of the
human mind. "But my Father which is
In Heaven"
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
What think We of Christ? is the great
question of life. "Of all ideas, none
are so important as the religious. OF