The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-11-14

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GOLDEN TEXT-Let him that thinketh
he standeth take heed lest he fall Cor.
10:12.
The record of Peters failure is a
sad story. Mark, who received his
Gospel from Peter, gives 1t in clear
outline. This suggests that Peter did
not spare himself.
l.. After Passover Feast, W.. 27-3f.
On the way to Olivet Jesus warns the
disciples that all would be offended"
was about to occur. Not one escaped,
Matt. 26:56, Zech. 1877. 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 1t 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 a
criminals death was beyond the range
OF his understanding. This self-con-
fdence was the beginning OF his fall,
Prov. 1918. 1t is pride like this
which men have in their own strength,
that is the chief reason why they are
not saved. If they are able to care
for themselves, why do they need the
help of another?
Peters DenIals.
Peter trusted his heart. A man
is a fool who will trust such a deceitful
member, Jer. 1879, Prov. 2S:26.
Peters loud profession is answered by
a definite prophecy Of his utter fail
ure, v. 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 a
denial of his masters assertions on
the way thither. He had to learn wis
dom and humility in the bitter school
of experience. Peter is quite like us
all, but he did learn and p~rofted there
by Il Peter 5:5), which cannot be
said of all of US.
u. Following Afar of, W.. SO, 50.
Peter followed afar" into the court
of the high priests palace. We have
suggested Uesson of Nov. 1st) that
zeal and affection prompted Peter, yet
he was expressly forbidden and fore
warned, John 13:36-3S. Some nj 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 c~ongregated
about that first. 1t is never safe to
warm oneself at the enemies fire
though we see 1t constantly being
done, Matt. 6:13; Ps. IL.
III. al Know Not This Man." ". &C.
72. While at the fire, a serving maid
looking at Peter said, Thou also vast
with the Nazarne, ever Jesus" I'M
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 he 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
1t easy for Peter to utter his first
note of denial. Having lone so he
passed on into the porch and heard
the first Growing of the cock. The
apparent contradiction between Mark
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 who
spoke at the same time. Doubtless
the words of the first maid are re-
enforced by those of another on the
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 be
the only way Of escape, James 4;4; I
Cor. 1872 R. V. A few words Of a
serving maid filed Peter with dis
may 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 and
oaths. One of the principal uses OF
profanity is to emphasize a lie and
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
sociate Peters weeping chiefly with
the effect produced up his memory by
what the master had said. The mem
DRY of those words banished Peters
disloyalty and c%owardice, filed him
with remorse and shame and turned
him to tears of bitterness and repent
ance. The memory of his own act
and the evident dashing OF his Mes
sianic hopes Of Jesus, plunged him
into the depths Of despair.
From his high and exalted state OF
mind, his high hopes as to Jesus, he
sees himself a traitor and Jesus about
to be crushed by the hand of man.