The Tupelo journal., 1912-11-15
INTERNATIONAL
0UNDNSQlOOL
LESSON
by E.. o. SELLERS, Director Of Eve
ming Department The Moody Bible In
stitute Of Chicago.)
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER
THE GREAT QUESTION.

LESSON TExT-Mark s:27-s:1.
GOLDEN TExT-'Thou art the Christ
the Son Of the living God."-Matthew u:
1G.
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 a parting OF the ways. We have
seen Jesus as introduced by John the
Baptist; heard him on the Mount a.
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 II they are fundamentally right on
the two important questions. do they
recognize me as the Messiah" DO
they understand that I must die in or
der to accomplish my mission"
l.. Whom say ye?" w. 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 q
general one and their reply is likewise
q very broad one To some Of us II
suggests something OF the physical ap-
pearance Of Jesus. No n "a 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 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 a little
higher than the prophets" Jesus de-
mands a 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 u personal expert
ence.
Peters Answer.
2. And Peter Answered" v. 20 l. c.
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 1:4O-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.
1888, and again when many of tho
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, ". BIZ.
Why the imperative "must"-read
carefully John 3:14, lisa. b3:4-6. 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 from. $500.
What Jesus Said.
3. "He Said Unto Them" w. 34-s:1.
Jesus here sets forth, as c~ontrasted
with the prevalent notions of the Mes
siah. three conditions whereby men
may become his disciples: (D Self
denial. Jesus was on his way to
Jerusalem not to claim authority. but
to be rejected, not to u a throne.
but to die. He tells us that we must
AFFIRM that we have no reliance upon
or obligation to self when 1t makes It's
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 mean exactly what the
words imply and not the usually &C
cepted idea of abstinence from food.
pleasures and Injuries. (2) Cross
bearing. Let us pause often to think
what OF pain and torture and ignominy
is embodied in that word, cross"
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. 12:2).
As though. II possible. to emphasize
this thought Jesus gives US a marvel
GUS contrast in verses 1898. Again
self-denial is uppermost. IT'S 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.
IL the bargain of q fool or q 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
-.