The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-04-07
An EASTER OUTLOOK.
1nessnssseaa1 Sunday seAssa Lesses
for April 10. lsOS.

told. Matthew ls:z-4. Read Matthew ls:
Il See also Mark as. /: Luke s:22-27
our iniguities:.Isa. S:5.
EASTER TEXT.-Now is Christ risen
TIME.-Summer of A. ID. -
PLACE.-On the way from the Sea of
Gslilee to Cesarea Philippi. a city situated
- or " miles northeast Of the Sea Of Cali
COMMENT.
l. Christ and His Cross, and His Vic
tory.-Vs. 2l-23.-"From that time
forth began Jesus to shew unto His
disciples, how that He must GO unto
Jerusalem, and suffer many things of
the elders and chief priests ind scribes,
and be killed, and be raised again the
third day" The fact of the resurrec-
ton is stated in each of the three ac-
counts, and is emphasized for the sake
of the faith and hope of the disciples.
The announcement of Jesus death SO
shocked and astonished Peter that he
did not notice the promised resurrec-
ton, or thought Of it as some figure
of speech. So Peter began (notice he
only "began") to rebuke Jesus: BE it
far from Thee, Lord; this shall not be
unto Thee The plan of redemption
outlined by Jesus was so contrary to
all Peters expectations and hopes, so
completely opposite to his picture of the
Messiah as glorious triumphant king,
that Jesus saying was inconceivable
to Peter. 1t was absurd, ruinous,
death blow to their own hopes, and
triumph TO their enemies.
But Jesus turned and said unto Peter,
Get thee behind me, SATAN" He did
not call His apostle satan, devil, but
he looked for the moment through
Peter, and saw behind him His old
enemy, cunningly making use of the
prejudices and impulsive honesty of the
undeveloped apostle. In this sugges-
ton, that He might gain the crown
without the cross, and attain king
dom of this world, the Christ saw the
recurrence of the temptation which had
offered Him the glory of those king
doms, on condition of His drawing back
from the path which the Father had
appointed for Him Matt. 4:l-1D.
HOu ART uIl ~
block instead of a foundation stone; a
hindrance by placing the temptation be-
fore me, by your blindness in not un-
derstanding the true nature and work Of
the Messiah. Thou savorest not (mind
est noD the things that be of Gods"
Gods plan of salvation and work of
the Messiah, as just before revealed by
Jesus ". 2D. But those that be of
mem" The natural, human view of the
Messiah, n worldly kingdom, riches,
honor, glory and triumph.
II. The Disciples and Their Cross, and
Their Nictory.-Vs. 24-26. These verses
contain an often-quoted saying of Jesus.
1t is u very terse utterance and means
no more and no less than anyone can
read upon the surface, but perhaps it
may be set forth little more at length |
and better impressed on the mind and
heart by paraphrase. Then said
Jesus unto His Disciples, If any man
will (would, wishes TOY come after me
(be my follower, my disciple, seek to
attain to my character and reward), let |
him deny himself (renounce self as mas
ter, and accept me as MASTERY, and take |
up his cross daily and voluntarily, not /
merely endure what is laid upon him,
for the cross is the symbol of doing
duty at any ,cost-even at the cost of |
the most painful DEATH, and follow .
me take me for master. teacher, en-
ample, believe my teaching uphold my .
cause. obey my precepts, and to do this /
though it lead by the way of the cross). .
For whatsoever will save his life (by do
ing wrong, by avoiding hard duties and .
self-denial, by gaining worldly good at
the expense of religion and righteous
ness) shall lose it THAT is. his life, his
soul, the man himself and his eternal
and whosocver will wills .
to) lose his life (by giving up those out
ward things which are desirable and .
blessed in themselves, which worldly
men seek chiefly, and which seem to
make the life on earth happy and worth
riches, pleasure, power)
for my sake (multitudes of people lose
their lives for gain, for pleasure, for
and each of these has more
martyrs than my cross ever required;
but the mere loss OF life has no prom
ised blessing-it is only loss incurred
for love of me, for the sake of preach
ng and advancing the Gospel-who-
soever does this) shall save it"-shall
nave blessedness and glory eternal;
the loss is small, the gain infinite; the
oss is of outward things. the gain is
the soul itself. For land this is the
argument) what is man
,rofited if he shall gain the whole world
md lose his own soul? or what shall
nan give in exchange for his soul?"
III. Christ Coming in His Kingdom.
VS.. 27-2S. Then Jesus turned to the
other side of the picture. The time is
coming, He tells His disciples, when all
these days of humiliation and the cross
will pass away, and Jesus shall be tri-
nmphant king. He shall conquer death
oy the resurrection. The Kingdom
which seemed so feeble then shall rule
over the whole earth.
For the Son of Man shall come in