Grainger County news. (Rutledge, Tenn.) 1917-current, 1918-04-11
IMPROVED UNFoRM INTERNATIONAL
SUNDNSOIOOL
LESSON
(By REV. 4. u. rIIzwArER, d. D,
Teacher OF English Bible in the
Moody Bible Institute of Chicago)
Copyright. 1918. Western Newspaper Union
LESSON FOR APRIL IA
JESUS REQUIRES CONFESSION
AND LOYALTY.

After me, lei MIN deny himselt, ana take
up his cross, and follow me.-Mark 1884
DEVOTIONAL READINGS-Romans
10:S-l0: Hebrews l2:l-2. i2-l5
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
TEACHERs-Luke Sissy; 67-s2.
PRIMARY AND JUNIOR TOPIC
Jesus and the Blind Man.
LESSON MATERIAL-Mark S:22-26.
PRIMARY MEMORY VERSE-He hath
done all things well-Mark 1887.
The time has now come for Jesus
TO take account Of his ministry. Hav-
ing been rejected by the rulers, he
goes into retirement with his disciples.
His primary object In his teaching
during this time is to prepare the dis
ciples for the tragedy Of the cross.
which he knew was so near. His
teaching gathers around the great
cardinal doctrines of the Christian
faith. He lnstructs them touching his
person, atOning death. resurrection
and glorious coming again. He knew
that In the measure that they intelli-
gently apprehended these things they
would be able TO pass through the
ordeals before them. The same Is
true today. Those who clearly appre-
bend the Divine Person, the vicarious
atonement, the glorious resurrection,
and second coming of Christ, are I'M
disturbed by the world tragedies of
the present hour.
|. Peters Confession OF Christ (vv.
27-3O).
Two questions of Christ provoked
this confession:
l. "Whom do men say that l anf'
(vv. 81, 2S).
This question referred to the opin.
ions of the people regarding Jesus.
Some believed him to be John the
Baptist, some Elijah, and some one Of
the prophets. They oil recognized him
to be teacher or prophet with more
than human authority and power. To-
day, as then, there Is diversity of
opinion among people as to Jesus
Christ. Some think that he was only
man, others that he was great
teacher, but nothing more. Jesus was
not content with this acknowledgment.
Had he been satisfied with this, he
would not have been molested in
Jerusalem. for the Jews willingly &C.
knowledged him as much more than a
human teacher.
2. "Whom say We that amp wv.
20, 30).
u. Jesus Teaching Concerning the
Cross wv. 1889.
Christ charged the disciples not to
make public his Messiahship, as that
would precipitate the crisis. The dis
ciples needed much instruction yet to
| prepare them for the crucial hour of
the cross.
l. What he taught ". 31.
| ~ THE Son of Man must suffer
many things"
He suffered physical WEAKNESS and
hunger, ridicule and contempt, and
even misunderstanding and lack of ap
probation on the part of his friends
and disciples.
(2) "Be rejected of the elders, chief
priests and scribes."
These were the nations official rep
resentatives, the very ones who should
have known and received Christ anC
recommended his reception on the part
of the nation. Truly, he came to his
own. and his own received him not
John / II. To be rejected by ones
own friends and relatives is doubly
painful.
(3) BE killed."
This announcement was startling Il
the disciples. They had not yet come
to realize that redemption was to bt
accomplished through the passion ani
the cross. Jesus now states will
definiteness and certainty that hi
must die on the cross. This necessity
was due primarily to the fact that Il
was the divine purpose to make thu
death of Christ the heart and core Of
the atonement; and also, to human
hatred and opposition.
(4) Rise again"
Though this was utterly incompre
hensible to the disciples, he show!
them that this would be the gloriou.
issue of his death.
| ~. The Cost of DiseipIeship ". 34)
The law of the Christian life Il
suffering. To follow Christ means t,
turn ones back upon the world. L,
repudate the world means to incu
the hatred of the world. To be Chris
tians, therefore, means to shar,
Christ's sufferings.
l. There must be denial of self {. 34)
This mea6s the sufferings and sham,
which lie In the path of loyalty t.
God. To live the godly life means
suffering e Tim. 3:12).
3. Christ must be followed ". 34).
This means to have the mind O
Christ (Phil. 2:5) and to perform tn
service of Christ.
W. The Issue Of Discipleship wv
35-3S).
The blessed issue of following Chris
is life of freedom here art aow, an,
eternal life hereafter. Such sacrific
enriches the life that now Is, and pre-
pareS for the enjoyment of the lif
which is to come. To barter the fu
ture life for present enjoyment is mos
foolish, for the choices of. life ar
fraught with eternal issues. Thcs
who refuse to follow in Christ's foot
steps shall be separated from him a