Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1918-04-13
LESSON FOR APRIL IA
JESUS REQUIRES CONFESSION
AND LOYALTY.


PRIMARY AND JUNIOR TOPIC
Jesus and the Blind Man.
LESSON MATERIAI.-Nark S.22 -26.
PRIMARY MEMORY NEESE-ile hath
done all things wclL-Mark 1.31.
The time has now come for Jesus
10 take account of his ministry. Hay
Ing been rejected by the rulers, he
goes into retirement with his disciples.
His primary object in his teaching
during this time is 10 prepare the dis
Ciplcs for the tragedy of the cross.
which he knew was 50 near. His
teaching gathers around The great
cardinal doctrines of the Christian
faith. He inStruCtS them touching his
person, afuning death. resurrection
and glorious coming again. lie knew
that IN the measure that they intclli-
gently apprchcndcd these things they
would be able To pass through the
Ordcais before them. The same is
true today Those who clearly apprc-
bend the Divine Person, the yicacious
ntoncmcnt, the glorious resurrection
and second coming of Christ, are UNI
disturbed by the world tragedies of
the present hour.
I. Peters Confession of Christ wv.
27-3O).
Two questions of Christ provoked
This confession:
]. "Nhom do men say that | ann"
wv. -, 2s).
This question referred To the Opin-
ions of the people regarding Jesus.
Some believed him to he 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, rs then. there is diversity of
opinion among people as 10 Jesus
Christ. Some think that he was only
n man, others that he was Il 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
Jerusalem, for the Jews willingly ac-
knOwledged him as much more than
human teacher
2. whom say We that l ann" wv.
20, 3O).
u. Jesus Teaching Concerning the
Cross wv. 1889.
Christ charged the disciples not to
make public his Messiahshp, as that
would precipltate the crisis. The dis
ciples needed much instruction yet to
prepare them for the crucial hour of
the cross.
/. What he taught ". 81.
(D "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
resentativcs, 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 i'll. To be rejected by ones
own friends and relatives is doubly
painful.
CD 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 1t
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.
~. The Cost Of OiscipIeship ". 34). !
The law of the Christian life is
suffering. To follow Christ means TO
turn ones back upon the world To |
repudinte the world means to incur |
the hatred of the world. To be Chris |
tians, therefore, means to share
Christ's suirerings.
|. There must be denial of self {. 80. /
This means the Sulfcrings and shame /
which lie In the path of loyalty to
God. To live the godly life means
suffering G. Tim. 3:l2).
3. Christ must he followed ". 3D.
This means to have the mind Of
Christ (Phil. 2:5) and to perform the
service of Christ.
w. The Issue Of olscipleship wv.
S5-3S).
The blessed Issue Of following Christ
Is 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
which is TO come. To barter the fu.
turc life for present enjoyment Is most
foolish, for the choices Of life are
fraught with eternal issues. Those
who refuse to follow in Christs foot.
steps shall be separated from him M /.
his glorious appearing ". IS; compare I.
= ThCas l.T-inl Arc vn,, ,,r,,,,r,d