Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-09-20

priest then asked Jesus OF his disciples,
and of His doctrine Jesus answered nm,
| spalle openly TO the world; evcT taught
in the synagogue and in the temple. with
err the Jews always resort. and III secret
have | said nothing. Why a>kcst thnn Me?
Asl; them which heard Ne what ! have
said unto them: behold. they know what
said And when He had thus spoken one
OF Inc officers which stood by struck Jesus
with the palm OF his hand. saving. An
sweres; Thou the high prizes; 81"
/. was m awful thing Tor this man with
open hrnd 10 strike Him in the face. 10
strike Him. before Whom the angels vc:.ed
their faecs; TO strike Him before Whom
the arthangel sang: Hoy. hoy, holy,
Lord God Almighty
Bur do Won notice that when they struck
Him He never shudt!ered: They could not
hurt Him with any snch blows Is this. but
when we read. Now Simon Peter stood
without aud warmed himself this j.
blow which makes the Son OF God shudceT
ard His hear. grow sick
The second part OF the trial was His APP
rcGrance before CaiaphaS. Here. although
false witnesses appeared against linn lie
was perfectly silent. Bat Jesus held His
peace And the high priest answered and
said unto Him. adlnre Thee by the living
God that Thou tell us whether Thou be
the Christ the Son OF God. JESUS said
unto him. Thou hast said: nevertheless L
say unto Won. Hereafter shall We see the
Son OF Man sitting on the right hand OF
power and coming III the clouds OF Eea-
ven"
and they did snit in His face" but He
never saw them. His eyes were blinded 10
His insults. but Peter in the presence OF
His enemies was a blow nj His very heart.
They Smote Him until. ii He had been only
mar He would have staggered in His weak
ness hut they might as well have Strucl;
10 hra ny o.
as TO move Him with their blows. but
when Peter stood IN the presence OF those
who were against Him. like one OF them
himself. it was Il terrific bow at the Son
oi God
The third part of the trial was before
the Sanhedrim. He is led oat from the
court where He has seen both Annas and
Caiaphls, ard passes through an outer
court 20 another room where The Sanhe-
drim is to meet. As He passes. possibly
near enough to reach out His hand and
toucn His disciple, suddenly He hears
Peter saY:
Il tell you know Him not"
He could forget the splitting of His enc
mics. the bows OF those who hated Him.
aud the rods that had fallen upon Him iii
the hands of the angry multitude, but He
could not forget Peter.
That which hurts Him the most in these
DAYS il not the sin OF the unreseneratc-
own people FOR whom lie suffered and
died and rose again.
There Is IN infinite amount of pathos in
the words, "He tnrned and looked at Pc
ter No worl OF reproach fe.l from His
lips. but simniy Al expression OF sorrow
was there to he seen. Does lie not look
upon Won to-day and does He not arouse
MEMORIES in vour life--vows tina, yon have
hrol;ea-?.edges that you have never kept?
Jesus. let Thy pitvins eye call back the
wandering sheep.
Ease to Thee like Peter, | would fam
like Peter weep"
III.
Eut do not he discouraged. Mans use
fitness not infreGuen;,v springs from his
recovery from some sin. Out of Peters
fall cane his first ep;stle. The best glimpse
that | have of the Saviour's heart is that
which comes when thinl. OF His personal
dealings with individuals When | thnl.
OF the God OF Abraham think OF one who
strengthens His child under trial. The
God OF JACOB Is riy encouragement; to be-
lieye that my old nature may be con-
quercd. and my name changed from Jacob
10 Israel. the prince of God. The God Of
Elijah teaches me that PRAYER must he an
swercd. The Saviour of Thomas cacour-
ages me while III doubt; the Saviour of
Paul sustains me in my suffering. hut the
Saviour OF Peter is the restcr.r OF the pen
i:ent.
Peter and Jesus met after the Rcsurrec-
tion OF the shore OF the lake. 1t is most
significant that when he denied Christ It
was in the presence of the fire of Goals in
the court OF the enemy. When the Son
OF God met him on the shore of this lake
there was a fire OF Goals burning there
doIbt not but that all the story OF his de-
NAL came rushing upon him. What was
said at that interview we shall not know
until we hear it from Peters own lips. but
it is safe TO say that all his sins were for
given. and even the marks of his denial
were taken away.
Ii Won have denied this same Lord in
ycur business. in your home. or in society,
He waits to forgive and to forget, and He
sis the same yesterday, to-day and for.
ever