Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1912-11-14
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDNSCIIOOL
LESSON
By &c. o. SELLERS. Director OF Eve
ming Department The Moody Bible In
stitute OF Chicago)
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER II
THE GREAT QUESTION.
LESSON TExT-Mark s:z7-s:1.

Il
Jesus ministry in Galilee Just before !
his final departure for Jerusalem. 1t
marks a parting OF the ways. We have |
seen Jesus as introduced by John tho
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 few faith
| full friends he seems to test these to
see IL they are fundamentally right on
| the two important questions. do they
recognize me as the Messiah7" DO
they understand that must die IN or
der to accomplish my mission?"
1. Whom say ye?" w. 1928. 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 ". 10 Is n
general one and their reply Is likewise
a very broad one. To some OF US IL
suggests something OF the physical APP
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 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 tho
Savior. It will not suffice for US to
accept Jesus as "a good man a little
higher than the prophets" Jesus de-
mands more personal reply, Whom
say ye?" The strength of ChristIii-
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.
Peters Answer.
g. "And Peter Answered" v. 20 |. c.
to v. 33. Peter the son OF a 'timid
dove" casts all doubts, prudence and
caution to the wind, makes 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 1t 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.
: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 ST.
lence, for the time had not yet arrived
, for them to proclaim it openly. Jesus,
however, began "openly" to teach his
disciples and the multitude the second
great truth mentioned at the outset,
viz, the suffering Messiah, ". 81.
Why the imperative "must"-read
carefully John 3:14, lisa. 53;4-6, Cor.
5:21, 2 Peter 1924 and other passages
, of the same import. His death and
resurrection were essential to the
whole plan OF salvation (Rom. $500.
What Jesus Said.
3. "He Said Unto Them" Wv. 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: "a Self
. denial. Jesus was on his way to
Jerusalem not to claim authority, but
to be rejected, not to assume a throne,
but to die. He tells us that we must
affirm that we have no reliance upon
| nr 90 n al q
demands, asserts its opinions, or ex-
presses its desire. To deny is to re-
nounce. That is exactly what self
confident Peter did on that last night
and three times he confessed his peni-
tence on the shore of the lake. To
deny self means exactly what the
words imply and not the usually ac-
cepted idea of abstinence from food,
pleasures and luXuries. CD Cross
I bearing. Let us pause often to think
what OF pain and torture and ignominy
. is embodied in that word, "cToss."
Jesus knew the suffering, the loneli-
ness, the shame; yet he set his face
steadfastly to go to Jerusalem" and
bore all of this with joy" (Heb. 1920.
AS though, if possible, to emphasize
lhlS tnougnJ Jesus gives US marvel
GUS contrast in verses 25-3S. Again
self-denial Is uppermost. 'Tis not self
seeking. self serving, self culture, but
self sacrifice that is demanded.
To gain the whole material world,
an utter impossibility. at the cost OF
ones soul, the loss of ones true self,
is the bargain of fool or a mad man.
ETERNITY begins where Imagination
ends" "He that doeth the will Of God
abideth forever" Il John 2:17).
Thus would Jesus emphasize by ar
gument and by illustration that to
come after him, to enter this new
kingdom for which all have been look
ing, his disciples must see him as tho
worlds Messiah and follow him by
! the way of the cross. Once havirs
bartered away the soul ". 80 wha'
possibility Is there OF its recovery