The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-11-30
Sunday School Column
Side Lights on Next Sundays Les
son for Teachers and Pupils
By CHAS. K. MEYERS

Dec. 7~Feter's Denia1.@Matt. e,
31-35, 69-75.
We consider this week one of the
remarkable incidents of the bible, the
denial of a knowledge of Jesus by
Peter, one of the chief of His dis
ciples. If it were not written in the
book there would be strong denial
that such thing could happen. But
short time ago, when speaking of
the betrayal of Judas, we called at
tention to the fact that he was warned
that he would do the base act, yet
persisted in doing it. Today we find
Peter doing the very things Jesus
told him he would do, after that dis
ciple had specially vowed that he
would not. So the wicked Judas and
the afterwards sanity Peter both
were headstrong when it came to
needing the warnings of the Master.
The record tells us as found in all
the gospels, that while Jesus was q
prisoner on the night He was betrayed
Peter Joined the groupe of soldiers
and curiosity seekers who were warm,
ing themselves about fires which had
been started. On being accused of
being one Of the followers of Jesus,
the prisoner, Peter denied that he
was such three times and this with
much violence. After the last denial
the record in Luke 22-61 declares "The
Lord turned and looked upon Peter"
Then he remembered Jesus had told
him that before the cock crow twice,
thou shalt deny me thrice" The look
and the rush of memory caused Peter
to come to himself and he left the
company, going out to weep bitterly.
We gain some insight into the rea
son for the terrible test given Peter
by recalling the words of Jesus as
found in Luke g. 1892. Here it is
told that Jesus declared as to Peter,
Satan hath desired to have you, that
he may sift you as wheat; but have
prayed for thee, that thy faith fail
not; and when thou art converted,
strengthen thy brethren" 1t seemed
necessary as warning to us and to
make Peter that valiant preacher for
Jesus which he afterwards became,
for him to pass through this ordeal
which would have crushed a man of
a weak nature. Peter had said that
though all others forsook Jesus, he
never would. Alas, in the words of
the golden text written by the great
apostle Paul, Let him that thinketh
he standeth take heed lest he fall"
Without doubt very many will say
within themselves, Il would never de-
ny Jesus in that way" and yet none
are free from denials of Jesus either
directly or by failure to defend His
name and the bible religion He taught.
1t takes one of lion heart and the
closest touch with God, not to deny
discipleship of Jesus when personal
comfort and desire to be thought well
of at the time are on one side, and
ridicule on the other. So, keeping in
mind the words of Jesus as to the one
without sin, casting the first stone, let
none be rash in their denunciation of
Peter
While thinking OF the subject of con-
f0ccSnu 1n{ So
words. that any who confess Him in
this world, will He confess before God
in heaven. These words SO very i'm
pOrtant are found in Matt. 1882.
There also is found the statement that
those who fail to confess or deny
Him, such will He deny before the
Father. The best way is to live right
in the open as christian. BY this
one gains the respect of those who
know him, and the temptations to de-
ny and fall away are much less. There
are thousands of instances on record
where a prompt avowal of Jesus has
been the means of helping others into
christian lives and been further most
Strengthening to the one making the
confession. Thus one blesses others
and makes a gain to himself
The lesson as to Peter is comfort
ing in this that many of US find we
are falling when tempted, and thus
May it not be that like