Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-09

f, remains the law for after general tons.
! tRev. xxii:lS-I5)
ENJoINED sILENcE.-Now' comes q
new wonder Jesus forbids His apostles TO
tell che world that He was the Christ. A
| strange interdicti When men took Him
! for an old prophet risen from the dead,
when ne mad diiigenuy sought to make the
| people understand him, when the correct
knowledge of Him was the oae essential TO
the success of His cause, why not allow
even enjoin these men to proclaim the
truth? II they believed, why be silentf
Because He desired that men should Judge
of Him by His worAs and words. He
even required the Baptist to put his est
mate on that basis luke vii:Z2). which
was the most enduring. John Xviii Be-
sides. these men were not ready TO pro-
claim the nature and office OF Christ. There
was another truth Verse 2l over which
they would stumble (verse 22). but which
they should receive, and there was ano her
blessing lActs il2) larger than Sinon's,
which must be bestowed; then they might
and they would speak with bodness what
now must be kept. (Acts i."6)
FORETOLD SUFFERINGS.-Thenb be-
gan Jesus to tell what must befall Himself
go to Jerusalem. suffer many things. be
killed, be raised again Here was predic-
ton; future events were seen and describ-
ed, showing Him to be more than human.
He began this at this time-it was favor
able time TO introduce the subject. and he
frequently referred to 1t afterward Matt.
xvii %: xx:iT-l9l until II all came true,
showing that II was a matter of impor-
lance, one that the apostles ought to have
In mind Strange subjects. indeed, coming
just after His expressed purpose to build
a church! Dead men do not build societies.
Was this ntterance calculated to negative
the former? Yes, but the emphatic word
In Christs sentence was must. There was
a necessity for His suffering and death. IL
was part of the plan OF His life. 1t had
been foretold centuries previously dsaiah.
lni:5). His death followed by a resurrec-
ton was to provide the means and tho
method of accomplishing His designs tJohh,
xii:32; Heb. 1910. What would seem TO
be defeat was the way to victory. Jesus
did not explain the necessity. The apos-
ties were not able to understand. But they
did understand afterward.
DOUBLE REBUKE.-This last intelli.
gence let in light. but It was bewildering.
No wonder that Peter blessed simon,
should think such q destiny inconsistent
with the nature. Office and mission OK
Christ! BE It far from Thee he cried
The King OF the Jews, SO long desired, the
Son of God. put to DEATH Preposterousl
The strength OF ones faith In one doctrine
measures the violence with which SEEM
ingly opposing docHrine Is condemned. The
trouble with Peter was that he had obtain
ed only part of the truth. And so he In
turn was rebuked. Jesus informed him that
on this subject he was speaking from q
purely human or earthly standpoint, not
from a divine conception and illumination
as he had done before. Now we see that
Simon Barjona. the former speaker OF the
twelve. even he who had been divinely
IL he, certainly the others. Hence that en-:
joined silence was In wisdom There must
be further schooling. The lesson will be
learned some day, and mighty men of
faith will preach and suffer and die for
the truth when they see II.
SUMMARY.-The lesson treats three
great themes. 1t tells who Jesus was--
the Messiah, the Son of God. the one prom
ised to Israel. and the rightful Lord OF the
earth. 1t tells His great purpose. TO build
a society, beginning with the company gath
Axt
which He supplies, regulated by truths de-
livered to His first messengers. mighty and
successful. 1t tells His method-by suffer.
ing and death and resurrection, making
atonement, satisfying and adjusting broken
laws and relations. Wondrous themes
stated in few words. But alas! Men are
forever leaving out something. Grasping
part and obscuring the remainder so per-
verting all, they grope on, revising their
mistakes, slowly coming into the truth.
What the world needs is the whole gospel.
the whole story of Jesus-His nature. HIS
Office, His work, His DEATH His rising
again.