Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-07-13
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COMPRISING THE SON OF GOD.
Matthew 16: 10 .28.-JuIy II.

Thou art the Christ, the Son of the
living God"
Our Master, wisely and with becOm-
ing modesty, hesitated to declare his
own greatness. He allowed his actions
to speak and to tell to his disciples that
he proceeded and came forth from GOO,
and thai in the performing of miracles,
and particularly in his teachings, he
was the finger of God and his mouth
piece. John the Baptist was sent to be
his special fore-runner. 1t was he that
declared that Jesus was the Lamb of
God which taketh away the sin of the
world" 1t was he that declareth that
the Master was so much greater than
himself that he was not worthy to
stoop down and lose the Masters san
dals
But after John had borne him wit
ness. testifying, This is he" and had
declared that he saw the holy Spirit
descending upon Jesus like dove, and
that this was sign given him where
by he might know his Messiahship.
then came the time for the Master to
bring the matter pointediy to the at
tention of his followers. John had
been cast into prison and later had
been bcheaded. Johns prophetic tes-
timony was fulfilled, when he said of
Jesus. He must increase, but l must
decrease" The mission of Jesus and
his Apostle became more prominent
every dav, and those who had former
ly talked about John We're now asking
respecting Jesus, whether he was a
prophet sent of God or whether he was
the Messiah. Do the rulers indeed
know whether this is the Messiah or
not? Surely mo man could do the
miracles which he doeth unless God be
with him. in some special manner.
Our lord first inquired respecting the
general opinion of the people concern
ing himself. He did this. not because
of his own ignorance. but that he
might draw out the thoughts Of his
disciples. They replied that some
thought he was John the Baptist; 9TH
erS supposed he was one of the pro-
phets The ideas of the heather were
gradually making inroads upon the
Jews. The doctrine of reincarnation,
wholly unscriptural, is suggested i'm
these answers. All the answers. of
course, We're wrong. for the prophets
We're all dead and could not reappear
until the resurrection. Then our Lord
pointedly put the question to his cho-
sen followers: who do We say that !
am? The courageous St Peter prompt
ly answered as spokesman for. the
whole company, Thou art the Christ
(Messiah). the Son of the living God
This was the very answer designed to
be brought forth. 1t was the truth,
but our Lord hesitated to present it. be-
cause it would better come from the
disciples themselves and then have his
endorsement. His answer to st. Peter
was, BLESSED art thou, Simon Bar
jona, for flesh and blood hath not re-
vealed it unto thee. but my Father
which is in heaven"
1t was not that ST. Peter had expert
enced a special vision or revelation
but such a great spiritual fact as was
then under consideration, at that time
could be appreciated only by those who
were specially favored of the Father
Indeed, it is evident that the same
principle still operates. for we read
mo man can come unto me, except the
Father which sent me draw him. Gun
primary drawing and calling is of the
Father up to the time when we accept
his grace in Christ and make our con-
secration to do his will and receive the
spirit of adoption into his family as
Gods children; we are then put into
the school OF Christ to learn of him
Let us learn the lesson that the special
blessings always come, not only from
believing in Christ, but also from con
Tossing to and before others.
According to the Greek, our LORD re-
Cto md
upon this rock will build my Church. "
The rock TpCn which the Church is built
is this confession which St. Peter made
ST. Peter himself was not the rock. but
ne was one of the living stones built by
faith upon the rock of truth. 1t was
this sarne Apostle who SO beautifully
explained the whole matter, assuring
us that all consecrated believers are
living stones in the temple of God
whose foundation and cap stone Is
Christ in whom we are builded t6aa'"
er through the operation Of the nOiy
spirit.-I Peter 2:4-7.
The expression, Upon this rock
will build ray Church and the gates OF
hell (hades) shall not prevail against
it," is one that is much misunderstood
The gates of hell are not gates to some
place of torture, nor gates to pnrga'
tory. They are. in the Greek. gates
of hades." and hades signifies state
or condition of death. The passage
might we'll be translated. THE gates OF
the grave shall not prevail against it.
That is to say. Christ Jesus invites the
Church to die with him. to share in his
sacrifice. in his death. and while, ap.
parently, the gates of hades have pre-
vailed against the Church. agains,
Gods people. for more than eighteen
centuries, nevertheless. we have the
assurance that they shall not forever
prevail The Masters assurance Ia thai
by his death he has become Lord OF al
and has the keys of death and hades
He has the right to open hades, tht
tomb and to call forth all VINO nave
gone down into it. He assures US thai