Cleveland County herald., 1918-04-11
SUNn6YSC[lOOL
 LESSON
 (By REV. r. rlIZWATEh. D. D., Teacher of English Bible in the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.) Copyright 1918. Western Newspaper Union.1 ]
LESSON FOR APRIL IA
JESUS REQUIRES CONFESSION
 AND LOYALTY.
LESSON TExT-Mark s:27-ss.

after me- let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me:-Mark s:34 DEVOTIONAL READINGs-Romans | 10:S-10; Hebrews 12:1-2. 12-15. | ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR TEACHERS-Luke 9:18-27, 57-62
 PRIMARY AND JUNIOR TOPIC | Jesus and the Blind Man. | LESSON MATERIAL-Mark 8:22-26. PRIMARY MEMORY VERSE-Fe hath done all things well.-Mark 7:37.
 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 eiples 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 instructs them touching his person, atoning death, resurrection and glorious coming again. He knew that in the measure that they intelli- l 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 yicarious atonement, the glorious resurrection, and second coming of Christ, are un- disturbed by the world tragedies of the present hour.
 l. Peters Confession of Christ (vv. 1 27-3O).
 Two questions of Christ provoked this confession:
 1. "Whom do men say that I ann" (vv. 27, 28).
 This question referred to the opin- 1 ions of the people regarding Jesus 1 Some believed him to be John the Baptist, some Elijah, and some one of the prophets. They all recognized him to be a 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 a man, others that he was great teacher, but nothing more. Jesus was not content with this acknowledgement. Had he been satisfied with this. he would not have been molested in
  | knowledged him as much more than a human teacher.
 2. "Whom say ye that I am2" (vv. 29, 30).
 II. Jesus Teaching Concerning the Cross (vv. 31-33).
 Christ charged the disciples not to make public his Messiahship, as that would precipitate the crisis. The dis eiples needed much instruction yet to prepare them for the crucial hour of the cross.
 l. What he taught (v. 3D.
 CD "The Son of Man must suffer many things"
 He suffered physical weariness and hunger, ridicule and contempt, and even misunderstanding and lack of ap- preciation on the part of his friends and disciples.
 CD '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 and recommended his reception on the part of the nation. Truly, he came to his own, and his own received him not John 1 Ill. To be rejected by ones own friends and relatives is doubly painful.
 (3) Be killed"
 This announcement was startling to the disciples. They had not yet come to realize that redemption was to be accomplished through the passion and the cross. Jesus now states with definiteness and certainty that he must die on the cross. This necessity was due primarily to the fact that it was the divine purpose to make the 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 shows them that this would be the glorious issue of his death.
 III. The Cost of Discipleship (v. 34).
 The law of the Christian life is suffering. To follow Christ means to turn one's back upon the world. To
 
 the hatred of the world. To be Chris tians, therefore, means to share Christ's sufferings.
 l. There must be denial of self {. 34).
 This means the sufferings and shame which lie in the path of loyalty to God. To live the godly life means suffering c Tim. 3 :12).
 3. Christ must be followed (v. 34).
 This means to have the mind of Christ (Phil. 2 :5) and to perform the service of Christ.
 Iv. The Issue of DiscipIeship (vv. 35-3S).
 The blessed issue of following Christ Is a life of freedom here and now, and eternal life hereafter. Such sacrifice enriches the life that now is, and pre- pares for the enjoyment of the life winch is to come. To barter the fu- ture life for present enjoyment Is most foolish, for the choices of life are