The Red Cloud chief., 1912-11-14
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNlXSO[lOOL
LESSON
ming Department The Moody Bible In
stitute OF Chicago)
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER Il
THE GREAT QUESTION.

LESSON TExT-Mark 8:27-9:1.
GOLDEN TEXT-'Thou art the Chris,
the Son Of the living God."-Matthew 1s;
lS
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. II
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 vir1
tually rejected by all save few faith4
full friends he seems to test these td
see II 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 ". ~ Is q
general one and their reply Is likewise
very broad one. To some Of us 1t
suggests something OF the physical ap.
pearance of Jesus. No one can read
the descriptive passages about John
the Baptist, Elijah or jeremiah and
come to the conclusion that Jesus was
other than q man Of strong physique,
not such a 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 to
accept Jesus as "a good man q little
higher than the prophets" Jesus de-
mands more personal reply, Whom
say ye?" The strength of Christian.
ity is our personal opinion of Jesus
the Messiah; the proof of Christianity
is our personal witnessing; the test of
Christianity is our personal expert
ence.
Peter's Answer.
2. "And Peter Answered" v. 20 !. G
to v. 33. Peter the son Of q "timid
dove" casts all doubts, prudence and
caution to the wind, makes a bold,
positive confession, Thou art the
Christ" 1t is true that both Andrew
and Philip had made this same con.
fession (John 1:40-51) much earlier in
the ministry of Jesus; but he did not
at least publicly, accept it nor was
that sufficient at that period In his
life. Peter twice made this assertion
previously; once as he made his rash
attempt to walk upon the water Matt
14:33), and again when many of the
followers of Jesus began to desert
him, John $500. But now popular
enthusiasm is dying out and already
the shadow Of the cross is resting up
on Jesus, indeed 1t Is only six months
away. Having elected this response
Jesus commands his disciples to 81.
lence, for the time had not yet arrived
for them to proclaim 1t openly. Jesus.
however, began Openly" to teach his
disciples and the multitude the second
great truth mentioned at the outset,
viz. the suffering Messiah, ". 3D.
Why the imperative "must"-read
carefully John 3:14, Isa. 53:4-6, 2 Cor.
6:21. 2 Peter 2:24 and other passages
Of the same import. His death and
resurrection were essential to the
whole plan Of salvation (Rom. 5:9.10).
What Jesus Said.
3. "He Said Unto Them" w. 34-9:1.
Jesus here sets forth, as contrasted
with the prevalent notions of the Mes
siah. three conditions whereby men
may become his disciples: (D Sell
denial. Jesus was on his way to
Jerusalem not to claim authority, but
to be rejected. not to assume q throne
but to die. He tells us that we must
affirm that we have no reliance upon
or obligation to self when 1t makes its
demands. asserts its opinions, or ex
presses Its desire. To deny Is to re
nounce. That IL exactly what self
confident Peter did on that last night
and three times he confessed his peni
tence on the shore of the lake. tt
deny self means exactly what the
words imply and not the usually &C
cepted idea of abstinence from food
pleasures and luxuries. (2) Cros!
bearing. Let us pause often to thinl
what of pain and torture and ignomin!
is embodied in that word, "cross.
Jesus knew the suffering. the loneli
ness. the shame; yet he set his fac'
steadfastly to 60 to Jerusalem" ant
bore all OF this with Joy" (Heb. 1879
AS though, II possible. to emphasize
this thought Jesus gives us a marvel
Gus contrast in verses 1888. AgaiI
self-denial is uppermost. Tis not sol
seeking. self serving, self culture. bu
self sacrifice that Is demanded.