The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-07-20
NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Matt. lUs3l.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
After healing the daughter OF the
Syrophoenician woman Jesus returns
TO Galilee. and performs many mira.
Giles of healing. This Is in the summer
Of A. ID. 20. IL Is in Decnpolis that
the feeding OF the 1000 from seven
loaves OF bread occurs. Then come,
the demand OF the Pharisees and SAD
ducces for sign. The Pharisces and
Sadducees had not, we may Imagine.
seen any OF Jesus miracles. They had
heard Of His marvellous works ana
came to prove Him. But Jesus refuses
70 give them sign. He would not
perform a miracle for the mere pur-
pose OF demonstrating His power. Fur
| thermorc. we have reason TO believe
that these Jews would not have be-
lieved had they received the sign. but
have used II AS basis for contro-
versy. claiming. as they afterwards
did, that "by Deelzebub casteth lie
out devils" These events are all re-
corded in the first two Gospels in
Matt. 1920 TO 1912, and Mark T.3l 10
1921. Mark also gives the story Of the
healing of blind man at Bethsuida
as occurring at this time mark seq
26).
The Peoples Idea OF Jesus.-After
the events related above, busy days ~
teaching. healing and controversy with
scribes and Pharisecs. Jesus finds Him
self alone for little time with His
disciples. He was drawing near to the
close of His earthly ministry. and took
this occasion TO fasten upon their
minds certain definite Impressions.
They had been with their Master the
better part OF two whole years. During
this time they must have found certain
ideas regarding the work and person
atty of Jesus. yet they had not prob
ably resolved these into definite and
fixed convictions. This was suitable
occasion now that opposition had come
to definitely formulate what was in
their minds and hearts. So Jesus asked
leading up to His real objective in the
most natural way: Whom do men
say that amp" The disciples. during
their preaching tours and by contact
with all SORTS of people, had learned
that the impression abroad was that
Jesus was one Of their prophets re-
turned TO earth. Some said He was
John the Baptist, others that lie was
Elijah, and s,ill others that lie was
Jeremiah.
Peters Declaration.-Bu what Jesus
was anxious about was what they
thought. He sought not for popular
approval. but 10 leave q personal i'm
preston upon the hearts of individuals.
We find Him preaching just as earnest
" 10 an audience Of one as to great null
titudes. But whom say We that am q
Simon Peter answered the query:
Thou art the Christ, the Son of the
Living God" 1t was the great mission
of Jesus TO impress this truth upon the
world. but this was the first time He
had heard il expressed by human lips.
Where had Peter learned it? We could
say he had heard il from Jesus. Him
self. But no mere words coulSl convey
a message fraught with such Heavenly
import. Jesus tells us where Peter
. learned the truth he had just uttered:
; ''Flesh and blood hath not revealed ~
unto thee. but my Father which is IN
, Heaven"
The Rock Foundation.-These words
: Of Jesus help us 10 understand what fox
lows. for it shows upon what is bahi
! the Kingdom of God, both in the heart :
of individual men and in its outward
: manifestation as the Church of God. i
, is the spirit Of being in harmony with
: the Divine influences. being ao.c to hear
amid the confusion of this life the sfl,
small voice Of God, that furnishes NE
was to erect. This faith in the heart "
, Peter has grown and broadened, deep
I ened and heightened until now the host
OF the faithful and consecrated cannot
be numbered No influence is powerful
I enough 10 successfully assail thi'
? structure. Upon this rock" say
: Jesus. Il will build my church. and 'h'
gates of hell shall not prevail again 4
, It,"
: Jesus Death and Resurrection Fore
: to.d.-We may merely note that this Y
i the first time Jesus has clearly and IN
mistakably stated what was before
: Him. His disciples were 10 be fore
warned and so forcarmed.
Peter Rebuking His Master.-The az
5 titude of Peter upon hearing the wore
: OF Jesus was quite natural in one =
I impetuous. yet it comes as surpris'
q after his declaration Of the true chara'
J. ter of Jesus. and the commentator
: Peter by Jesus. But Peter had NJ
!. weak moments. and could hardly haN'
4 known at that time that he was ~.
!. tempting Jesus to overthrow the wof
Of His ministry. for the browning pom
Of that work was upon the cross
/, Requirements OF Discipleship.-i s
:, this very incident serves TO emphas1
!, one OF the most important teaching
I. OF Jesus. namely. self-dcnial and cross