The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-11-11
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LESSON
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER. IS
JESUS AND PETER.
(By E. o. SELLERS, Acting Director Sun
day School Course, Moody Bible Inst-
tute, Chicago.) Z

LESSON FOR NOVEMBER IS
JESUS AND PETER.
LESSON TExT-Mark 14:z7-s1. IS, "a, g.
n. T." - -.
GOLDEN TEKT-Let him that thiaketh
he standeth take heed lest he fall Cor.
1912.
The record Of Peters failure Is q
sad story. Mark, who received his
Gospel from Peter, gives it in clear
outline. This suggests that Peter did
not spare himself.
1. After Passover Feast, w. 27-3f.
On the way to Olivet Jesus warns the
disciples that all would be Offended"
Caused to stumble) because OF what
was about to occur. Not m escaped.
Matt. 26: So, Zech. 1871. Peter, assured
in his own mind, denies that this
should be true of him, SO confident
was he of himself and Of his devotion.
Over against this warning Jesus
sounds the note Of his resurrection,
and it was chiefly in their inability
to catch, or comprehend this note, that
they stumbled. Particularly is this
true Of Peter. That Jesus could found
a church on the vulgar tragedy Of q
criminals death was beyond the range
Of his understanding. This self-con-
idence was the beginning Of his fall,
Prov. 1913. It js pride like this
which men have in their own strength,
that is the chief reason why they are
not saved. II they are able to a T
for themselves, why do they need the
help Of another? 4
Peters DenIals.
Peter trusted his own heart. A man
Is a fool who will trust such a deceitful
member, Jer. 1873, Prov. 2S;2S.
Peters loud profession is answered BY
a definite prophecy Of his utter fall
ure, ". 80. Before the cock shall
crow twice, thou shall deny me
thrice" Again Peter contradicts the
Lord, 81 will not deny thee" Peters
later denial of the person OF Jesus IN
the judgment hall is prefaced by q
denial of his masters assertions on
the way thither. He had to learn Wis
dom and humility in the bitter schooiS
of experience. Peter is quite like s
all, but he did learn and profted there
by q Peter 5:5), which cannot be
said Of all of us.
H.. Following Afar Of, w. So, 81.
Peter followed affair." into the court
of the high priests palace. We have
suggested 0esson of Nov. 1st) that
zeal and affection prompted Peter, yet
he was expressly forbidden and fore
warned, John 13:36-38. Some one has
said that the development of Peters
weakness began in the garden when
he ceased to pray. That courtyard
and its brazier Of Goals was a danger
GUS place for any disciple Of the Lord.
The servants and soldiers of the pow
ers against Christ were congregated
about that first. It is never safe to
warm oneself at the enemies hre
though we see it constantly being.
done, Matt. 6:13; Ps. IL.
III. ~ Know Not This Man." w. S.
II. While at the fire, a serving maid
looking at Peter said, Thou also vast
with the Nazarne, even Jesus" Inn
mediately and without any seeming
hesitancy Peter denied, and declared
his ignorance both Of the. man and OF
understanding what she said. Peter
did not sympathize with what was be
ing done to Jesus, but at heart ne was
not brave enough to separate him.
self from the enemies Of Jesus thereby
to draw upon himself some sort OF
censure or condemnation. Thus con-
forming to the world about him made
Il easy for Peter to utter his frst
note of denial. Having done SO ne
passed on into the porch and a
the first Growing Of the cock. The
apparent contradiction between Marx
and the other writer's over the ques-
ton of the number Of maids seems
to be solved by John 1925, where
reference is made to several VINO
spoke at the same time. Doubtless
the words of the first maid are re-
enforced by those Of another on tne
second occasion; they both brought an
accusation against him.
Speech Betrayed Peter.
This second maid addressing the
Unlocking spectators said, This is one
of them" and again Peter denies the
accusation. He had escaped one pre-
dicament only to be plunged INTO an
other and perhaps more dangerous
one. To deny afresh seemed to De
the only way of escape, James IA; l
Cor. 1852 R. v. A few words OF
serving maid filled Peter with dis
NAV but a second denial did not de-
liver him from his ~predicament. AFTER
a little those standing with him de-
clared he must be one Of the follow
ers of Jesus, for his speech betrayed
him to be a Galilean. Then Peter
touched the bottom, for he accom-
panies his denial with curses ana
oaths. One OF the principal uses OF
profanity Is to emphasize a lie ana
the larger the lie the more profuse the
profanity. Again he hears the COCK
crow. Mark says nothing about the
look of the master and seems to as
cooia+o peter's weeping chiefly with