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

INTRODUCTION.-Th miracle OF
Jesus in casting demon out of the dsugh-
ter of the Syrophenicisn drew together
vast concourse Of people. so that He WAS
compelled to leave the country to obtain
the rest which had been sought. Passing
around the northern part of Galllee lie
came with the twelve to Decapolis.
province inhabited almost entirely by Cen
tiles. This was on the east of the Sea of
Galilee. Here He cured the deaf STAN
merer and fed 1900 with seven loaves, an
act similar to that on the northeast coast.
Thence He crossed to Dalmanutha. where
He was met by enemies, who demanded
sign as proof of His authority. Leaving
this place He took ship for BethsaIda,
where He restored sight to blind man.
Journeying thence northward, still seeking
seclusion. Jesus came to Caesarea Phiippi.
at the base of Mount Hermon. the most
northern point reached during His ministry.
PUBLIC oPINION.-In this quiet
120 miles distant from Jerusalem. Jesus
held an interview with His apostles He
first inquired, Whom do men say that /.
the Son of Man, ann" During HIS entire
ministry He had sought to make himself
known, employing various methods Tor the
purpose. Now He would learn the result
of His effort, or. rather, as His knowledge
on the subject was not limited He desired
His disciples to inform Him what they had
heard. His motive will presently appear.
They replied that some took Him for John
the Baptist. some for Elias. some for Jere-
miah or one of the other prophets, each
judging by various characteristics of sup
posed resemblance. Here was the doctrine
of TRANSPORTATION of souls not taught in
Scripture, but by Greek philosophers. Prob
ably the conference which Herod had with
his courtiers Mark. vi:16) gave currency to
these opinions, which showed what little
rulftitndaS had received from
ChriSt's words and work.
HONEST FAITH.-This answer gave
Jesus an opportunity to ask the apostles
for their opinion. This was very delicate
business free expression from assoct-
ates is not always desirable. In this case
II was necessary Jesus was educating
twelve men to carry on HIS work. were
they getting ready? Did they know VINO
their. Master was? He therefore required
statement. This was doubtless the oblec-
tive point when He inquired after pupnc
opinion. Peter spoke. He was not mouth
piece for the others in this case. tFerse
10 He spoke his own belief 1t was in
two parts. Thou are the Christ" the Mes
siah, the one promised in the Ola Iesta-
ment expected by the Jewish people, sym
bolized in the offerings. the supreme nope
of the nation. John i:45) Thou art the
Son of the living God, was his next state
ment-the only begotten Son John ii;l6'
lisa ix6). divine being. The first part
of this confession was not surprising, Tor
Jesus had on several occasions set forth
His Messiahship. John iv26; Luke iv:l6-
21.) But the second part was long strloe
into the realm of truth. The angel had de-
clared II to Mary luke 1850, but she had
evidently forgotten The Baptist believed
it. John i:34) Satan assumed 1t in the
wilderness Matt. iv:S) and the devils de-
clared It mark iii:11) On the sea the dis
ciples proclaimed 1t Matt. xiv:33), but now
in a calm hour the two great items are put
together Messiahship and Divinity
BLESSED SIMON.-This was an i'm
portant event a grand achievement IN
apostolic education. Jesus approved the
words. thereby admitting them TO be true.
blessed art thou. Simon" not merely
happy and fortunate, but vastly more, he
was the recipient of a blessing. something
had been bestowed upon him. Jesus ex-
plains The confession was not the result
of Peters insight, but God had revealed
this truth to him. Peter had received light
or help from above. which had made 1t
possible for him to know who Jesus was
u. Cor xii:3) This recalls the meaning
Of all blessing in Scripture, spiritual
quickening. 1t is great day when God
comes to man and gives him clearer
vision. In eastern countries 1t was Gus
tomary TO mark great occasions In mems
lives by giving them new names tGen
xviii:5). And so Jesus says. Thou art
Peter" his original name being Simon
(John lad Thus Jesus fulfilled His words
spoken at the first meeting with Simon
(John i:42). What was then predicted was
now bestowed.
LARGER PROSPECT-A clearer, vision
of Christ begins a new era. Jesus. there
fore. proceeds to speak concerning what
had thus far been a secret In His own
breast. He outlines the church, an insti-
tuition of the future, under five heads-lts
author its progress its founoallon. its sue
cess, its government. The church would be
His in a double sense; He would not only
claim it has His possession but He would
produce it. The church would be bu4it,
increasing from beginning. that increase
by the power of Christ. (Acts n;41) The
foundation or beginning wound be rock,
something stable-a rock then and there
present Men have disputed concerning that
rock Some think it was Peter. his name
being a rock; others think IT was Peters
confession, or Christ. Let Scripture de-
eide (Eph. 400 The foundation was the
company there gathered-Christ and His
APOSTLES Peters confession being their
creed. The success Of the CHURCH was Its
triumph over 1.-The gates of hell" This has
been understood by some to mean the
secret counsels of evil; by others the divid-
ing line between this world and the next.
The government, committed then to Peter,
was afterward given to the whole company
of the apostles, under the guidance of the
Holy Spirit Duke xxiv:49; John xvi:l3).
Jesus Intended that these twelve men
should set forth the principles by which
the church should be governed. These
principles are in the New Testament, which