The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-30

| Peter-what would we ordinary, every
: day, Christians do without his ex-
amplel Human through and through
was this rough fisherman, his character
as full of defects as his hands were
full of callouses; but the grace of the
gospel wrought nightly in him. He is
| the conspicuous instance of what assO-
citation with Christ can do for plain
people. Paul was a scholar. John was
mystic Matthew was an accomplish
ed business man; but Peter was only
an average Galilean peasant, with the
plain mans capacity for devotion
Doubtless it was impatient and in
judicious, but, som chow, we cannot
help loving Peter for that quick stroke
which cut off the ear of the servant of
the high priest. That was the instant
loyalty of red-blooded man. Instinc-
lively he came to the defense of his
friend. Despite his shortcomings, all
mate rather than one of these we'll
poised, calculating, self-serving men
who can be counted upon never to do
anything against their own interest.
Of such a sort was Judas. Peters hot
blood and bad judgme ent led him into
denial of his Master, even while he
was proving his loyalty by trying to be
near Him: but the anguish which he
suffered showed how unlike his true
self this was. This lesson learned,
a chief apostle.
Whoever tries to warm himself at
the worlds fires will find his heart
chilled, as did Peter.
After all has been said that can be
said in criticism of the tempestuous
Peter, it remains true that he was one
Of the three chosen 1ntimates of Jesus;
and the one who. the whole. gave
f.De-< R<1-< - I.w-
his impulsive loyalty and intuition.
Better to sink in the waves while
making a grand attempt than never to
have ventured at all.
Love first asks sympathy and then
loyalty. Mutual understanding is the
basis of friendship. That mishandled
word affinity" which sees more in a
single glance of the eye than an hours
reasoning could make clear, is the ex-
PLANTATION for the highest form of spir-
itual intimacy. Jesus and Peter were
that kind of friends. They understood
each other better than others. All the
immaturity of Peters big blundering
heart was clear to Jesus; but He loved
him none the less. And it was Peter
who first perceived, and declared in an
hour when the Master sorely needed
the comfort of appreciation, Thou art
the Christ, the Son of the living God"
Thus each helped the other to be his
best: and each was a comfort and a
joy to the others heart.
What the persons, who, like Peter,
are temperamentally leaders, most
need is to come under the dominance
of a great allegiance. 1t was Peter,
plus Christ, that gave the world the
great Apostle. If every strong -willed
and venturesome boy or girl could be
brought under the influence of a force
full Christian, and given great ideals of
life, the result to the world, and to the |
cause of Christianity, would be greater
than the establishment of a dozen uni |
versities. There is no more serious
problem before religion than this one
of getting the frst-cIass young people |
to accept Christ as Master.
There came a time when Peter the |
Unstable, Peter the wobbler, Peter the |
creature of uncertain impulses, was
transformed into Peter the Rock, the |
character which Jesus had perceived it |
possible for him to be. The crisis and |
turning-point Of Peters life was Pente-
cost. Thenceforth he stood up in brave
and unbianching defiance of all pow
ers, to proclaim the message of truth.
We have scanned Peters life in vain
if we have not learned that it was the
power of the Holy Spirit that made
him over into the leade of the infant |