Imperial Valley press., 1912-11-14
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
The Christ, the Cross, the Crown
Lesson VII.-Novembe II
Mark Sgt; 81
las prepared by Rev. ]. H. Sammis
of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles ]

l. The Christ.
1. A crisis. The Lord had offered
the kingdom. He had given infallible
proof that He was the Messiah. But
He was rejected. He came to His own
and His own received Him not" Ju.
1:1D. From persistent opposition and
persecution He now went forth" from
Galilee as He went before from Judah
(Mt 4:12). They would not have Him,
He gave them over" Ro. 1929, and
his disciples went with him. He
takes the salt" away, corruption fol-
lows (Mt. 5:13: II Thes. 2:O.
.. Critical questions. First: Whom
do men say that 1 ann" Ample testi-
mony had been given, now what were
the results? Some said this, some that,
but no one owned Him Christ. So now
some say "a myth" IAN impostor," Uhe
infideD; some, mere man." good man."
best and wisest of men," Jews and
Unitarians) some mind" principle"
IAN Eddyite," Uhe Christian ScientisD ;
some "a fallible teacher" (the High
er Critic'D. Second: But whom say
ye that l ann" Peter (for the twelvej
| said, 9Th gu art the Christ" What fails
to convince some convinces others.
That the gospel is worthy of belief is
evident, for men most wise and learned
| believe it. That it is doubly worthy
is evident, for the believer is the bet
ter man. What makes the difference
| First: Because it had been revealed
| to them by the Father which is in
| heaven" (Mt. 16:1O. Second: "Oh,
/ Father, Thou hast hid these things
! from the worldly wise and prduent
| and has revealed them unto babes
| (open minded" (Mt. 1925 These
| are life questions. On the right is sal
walton, on the left damnation. Hhere
| is the touchstone of character. What
one sees in Jesus decides the attitude
of his mind toward God. IF We be-
| lieve not that I am He ye shall die
in your sins" (Jn. S:24; IF thou shalt
| confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
| and believe in thy heart that God
| hath raised Him from the dead, thou
| shalt be saved" (Ro. 10:9. See in
| 1913; l in. 2:22; / Cor. 1913 I say
Thou art my Lord and my God. Whom
| do you say that He is? Mt. 22:42
/ II. The Cross.
| l. 1t was now evident that they
would kill Him. Sc He began to
teach that the Son of Man must suf-
! fer" Peter said, This shall not be to
/ Thee" 1t was a great blunder. He
meant well. When will men learn that
W ell meant is not necessarily well
done? Jesus said, Get thee behind
Me, Satan" He sa wthe fend look
ing over Peters shoulder. He was pos
/ before he had done to Eve (Gen. 81
/ Tho Cniui0nS n critics of Gn1'c words
and ways are worthless. Some men
mean well (Ac. 26:9) who would amend
the truth of God. but they are doing
| the devils work 1t was the old temp
| tation tMt 4:s-ID 10 take the crown
| and pass the cross, but such get the
curse, and miss the crown. From Cain
( to Christian Science the flesh hates the
cross U Co. lis, 23). Peter would
have been in hell today if Christ had
yielded to him. The foundations would
have given way, for Jesus was "slain
from the foundation Of the earth" (Rv
! 1888 Before the mountains were
brought forth" Mount Calvary stood
| The cross is the end of creation. The
Son of Man must suffer
.. Crucial contrasts. % Christ's
cross is all that the Christians cross
| that Christ's cross is. Christs cross is
attonement with God for sim our cross
is atonement with Christ in suffering
| Christ's cross is the sign of accept
ance with God; our cross is the sign
of rejection by a prosecuting world
Christ's cross is essentially different
from our Godward, but toward the
world it was the same God laid the
! cross on Jesus Usa. 53:10), and the
! world laid it on Him too (Jn. 1916, 10
/ The world lays il on the Christian
I God does not. (3) 1t is wrong to call
our pains, sickness, losses, our cross
| They are mostly due to our own i'm
| prudence; the world has the same;
| nor are they borne usually without
murmur. If they come upon as soon
| scienciously viewed satanic inflic-
! tions because we are Christ's, they arc
crosses. 1t was so with Job 1:6, y
Only saints have crosses; and that only
for saintliness. (4) Needless privations