The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-11-14
INTERNATIONAL
SUNNS0[lOOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER II
THE GREAT QUESTION.
By n. o. SELLERS. Director of Eve
hing Department The Moody Bible In
stisute of Chicago)

LESSON TEXT-Mark s:27-9:1.
GOLDEN TEXT--"Thou art the Christ
the Son of the living God."-Matthew 16:
l6.
The events of this lesson occur in
the summer A. d. 20 during the last of
Jesus ministry in Galilee just before
his final departure for Jerusalem. 1t
marks parting Of the ways. We have
seen Jesus as introduced by John the
Baptist; heard him on the Mount as
he pronounces the principles of his
kingdom; watched him as he called
his disciples about him for training
and listened to his great conflicts with
the rulers of the people. Already vir-
tually rejected by all save a few faith
full friends he seems to test these to
see If they are fundamentally right on
the two important questions. do they
recognize me as the Messiah?" do
they understand that must die in or
der to accomplish my mission?"
1. "Whom say ye?" Wv. 27-29. No
tice, Jesus does not ask those outside
of his own circle for testimony. There
is a sense in which he is not much
concerned about the opinion of the
world, but he is tremendously con
cerned about what his followers be
lieve His first question ". I'D is
general one and their reply is likewise
. very broad one. To some of US il
suggests something of the physical ap
pearance of Jesus. No one can read
the descriptive passages about John
the Baptist, Elijah or jeremiah an6
come to the conclusion that Jesus was
other than a man of strong physique
not such man as is usually pictured
for us by the artists. But this intro
ductory question does not satisfy the
Savior. 1t will not suffice for us tt
accept Jesus as "a good man little
higher than the prophets" Jesus de
mands more personal reply, "Whon
say ye?" The strength of Christian
ity is our personal opinion of Jesus
the Messiah; the proof of Christianit!
is our personal witnessing; the test o
o, Instantly is our personal expert
eifoe
Peters Answer.
g. "And Peter Answered" v. 29 |. {
to v. 33. Peter the son Of 'timit
dove" casts all doubts, prudence ant
caution to the wind, makes bold
positive confession, sThou art tn
Christ" 1t is true that both Andrey
and Philip had made this same cor
fession John :40-51D much earlier il
the ministry of Jesus; but he did moi
at least publicly, accept it nor wa
that sufficient at that period in hi
life. Peter twice made this assertion
previously; once as he made his ras
attempt to walk upon the water (Matt
14:33), and again when many of tn
followers of Jesus began to deser
him, (John $500. But now popula
enthusiasm is dying out and alread
the shadow of the cross is resting uI
on Jesus, indeed it is only six month
away. Having ELECTED this respons
Jesus commands his disciples to g
lence, for the time had not yet arrive
for them to proclaim it openly. Jesus
however, began "openly" to teach hi
disciples and the multitude the secon
great truth mentioned at the outset
viz, the suffering Messiah, ". 81,
Why the imperative "must"-rea
carefully John 3:14, lisa. 53:4-6, 2 Coz
5:21, 2 Peter 2:24 and other passage
of the same import. His death an
resurrection were essential to tn
whole plan of salvation (Rom. 5:9-10)
What Jesus Said.
8. "He Said Unto Them," Wv. 34-9:
Jesus here sets forth, as contraste
with the prevalent notions of the Mes
siah, three conditions whereby, me-
may become his disciples: (1) Sci
denial. Jesus was on his way t
Jerusalem not to claim authority, bu
to be rejected, not to assume throne
\ but to die. He tells us that we mus
affirm that we have no reliance upo
or obligation to sc,f when it makes 1t
demands, asserts its opinions, or e1
presses it's desire. To deny is to re
nounee. That is exactly what sell
confident Peter did on that last nigh
and three times he confessed his PEN
tence on the shore Of the lake. T
deny self means exactly what tn
words imply and not the usually aC
cepted idea of abstinence from foot
pleasures and luxuries. (2) Cros
bearing. Let us pause often to thin
what of pain and torture and ignomin
is embodied in that word, "cross.
Jesus knew the suffering. the lonel
ness, the shame; yet he set his fac
steadfastly to go to Jerusalem" an
bore all of this with JOY" (Heb. 1872
AS though. If possible. to emphasiz
this thought Jesus gives us a marve
GUS contrast in verses S5-3S. Agai
self-denial is uppermost. 'Tis not sci
seeking, self serving, self culture, bu
self sacrifice that is demanded.
To gain the whole material worlt
an utter impossibility. at the cost @
ones soul. the loss of ones true sell
is the bargain of fool or q mad mar