Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-29
SUNDAY SCHOOL qesson(

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Peter had commenced to grow in the
likeness of Christ, SO that unconscious
ly he would have initiated the Great
Physician. The historian as well as
Peter tells US that the apostle was
whom Jesus had returned to give HIS
disciples spiritual power with which
to do their Lords work. The faith
cure that enabled the lame man
through the exercise of his faith in the
name of Jesus to leap up. stand: walk
and praise Christ in the temple is told
here because he attracted the great
crowd to hear Peters sermon, that
brought on the first persecution OF the
church. If all who have been blessed
by divine grace-transformed both
spiritually and physically-would fol-
low the lame mans example Of prais-
ing God our churches would be crowd
ed with worshipers. While there are
preachers who draw crowds to hear
them, the great drawing power OF the
church today is the praying, praising
people of the membership. They are
the most effective force in winning
men today.
Peters Second Sermon.
Peter took advantage of the curIos-
ity of the people who had followed
the man, who had been healed. cling
ing to the apostles, into Solomon's
rorch, which had been a favorite place
with their Lord in His ministry. The
message of Peter has been held to be a
greater miracle than the healing or
the lame man. Certainly it was mar
vel of composition, eloquence, holiness,
directness and power. While there Is
close parallel between this sermon and
his former one, yet there appears TO De
a different spirit and very substan-
tiaI enlargement of the apostles
knowledge in this sermon.
From their quarters overlooking Sol
omon's porch the ecclesiastical rulers
could both see the crowd that was rap
idly assembling, looking with admira,
ton and wonder upon the apostles and
the man that had been healed. and hear
the sermon that by its very pungent
presentation must have stirred them
to action as they heard his condemna-
ton of their attitude toward the Jews,
which was nothing less than a chal-
lenge to them. 1t forced the issue be-
tween Christianity and Judaism and
brought on the young church the in
evita BILE controversy.
No one can understand Peters sermon
unless he remembers the Jewish point
Of view. He denied that the apostles
had by any personal power or piety
performed the miracle. He insisted
Lord Jesus Christ, but the God of their
fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac
and of Jacob. had cured the lame
man. The evidence of the divine part
in the mans cure was known to all,
for they were all familiar with his for
mer condition of heiplessness, the COM
pleteness of the cure, and he cited the
miracle as an evidence of their Gods
desire to glorify Jesus. whom he had
raised from the dead. He claimed that
the miracle established that Jesus was
the Messiah This is why Peter refers
to Him as the Servant of God. concern
ing whom Isaiah had predicted His
coming and suffering. He calls Jesus
the Holy One, the conSecrated one, and
righteous because He had fulfilled the
law. and charged the rulers and the
people with overriding the judgment
of PLATE. Gentle. who planned to re-
lease Him. the author of life, when
they petitioned for murderer. Be
cause Jesus was the prince of life,
which had been demonstrated by his
| resurrection, the miracle had been per-
formed to prove to them that Jesus
| was the Christ.
Peters Purpose and Patriotism.
The heart OF the sermon will be
missed II one forgets that the purpose
of the apostle was to persuade his fell
low-countrymen to accept Jesus, whom
ne ha0 presented 10 them as the
Messiah under seven different FORMS
Peter claimed they had rejected the
Lord because of their Ignorance of the
| true character of Jesus He urged them
| to repent. turn to the Lord Jesus, as he
| had done, SO that they might be saved
and the kingdom of God be restored
| by the return of the absent Messiah to
establish His reign upon the earth
Their misunderstanding OF Jesus had
worked out. he declared, in accordance
with Gods plan for the ages and their
| return. by repentance. would bring the
times of refreshment and restoration
through the Lords return.
| 1t was the patriot who loved his
under the direction of the Holy Spirit
| tried to show Gods love for Israel.
| During the centuries of history that
ought to have been Influenced by the
| teachings of Christ and His apostles
| the Jews have been scattered among all
nations, preserving amid persecution
| their oneness as nation without a
country or ruler they could claim as
| their own. Christians owe them a debt,
| for they have given them. as the chosen
people of Jehovah. their Christ, their
church and their civilization. All had
an opportunity last Thursday to reveal
something of the spirit of the Lord In
| by Peter in his sermon in solomon's
porch. by making a gift for His glory
| that would help. aid and assist His
own people and brethren. II any one
failed to respond then 1t Is not too
late to do something now that may help
the Jewish people, whose burden of
suffering. sorrow and sacrifice in the
war zone Is beyond the power of pen
to describe.