The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1918-04-11

LESSON TEXT-Mark S:27-3S.
GOLDEN TEXT-Whosoever will come
after me-. let him deny himself. and take
up his cross. n follow me.-Mark 1874.
1o:s-l0: Hebrews 12:l-2, 1915.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
TEACHERS-Luke 9:1S-27; 57-62.
PRIMARY AND JUNIOR TOPIC
Jesus n the Blind Man.
LESSON MATERIAL-Mark S:22-26.
PRIMARY MEMORY vERsE-He hath
done all things well.-Mark 1881.
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 vas 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. BE knew
that in the measure thai 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-
hend the Divine Person, the vicarious
atonement. the glorious resurrection,
and second coming of Christ. are In
disturbed by the world tragedies of
the present hour.
l. Peters Confession of Christ wv.
27-39).
Two questions Of Christ provoked
this confession:
l. Whom do men say that l am?"
wv. %, 2S).
ions of the people regarding Jesus.
Some believed him to be John the
Baptist, som Elijah, and some one of
the prophets. They all recognized him
to be Il teacher, or prophet With more
than human authority and power. To-
opinion among people as to Jesus
Christ. Some think that he was only
q man, others that he was Il 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 ac-
knowledged him as much more than a
human teacher.
.. "Whom say We that l am?" Wv.
90. SOY.
II. Jesus Teaching Concerning the
Cross wv. 31-333).
Christ charged the disciples no to
make public his MessiahSl,ip, as that
would precipitate the crisis. The dis
c!ples needed much instruction yet to
prepare them for the crucial hour Of
the cross.
l. What he taught (v. 31).
% The Son of Man must suffer
many things"
He suffered physical WEAKNESS and
hunger, ridicule and contempt. and
ven misunderstanding and lack of APP
probation on the part of his friends
and disciples.
(2) BE rejected Of the elders, chief
priests and scribes."
These We're 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 I'LL. To lie 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
dctiniteness and certainty that he
must die OH the cross. This necessity
was due primarily 10 the fact that ii
was the divine purpose to make the
death OF Christ The heart and core OF
the ntonelnent: and also. to human
hatred and opposition.
% Rise again"
Though this was utterly incomnre.
hcnsible To the disciples. he shows
issue OF his death.
Ill. The Cost OF Olscip!eship (v. 3i)
The law of the Christian life is
suffering. To follow Christ means tc
turn ones back upon the world. Tc
repudiate the world means to incu,
the hatred Of the world. To be Chris
tians. therefore. means to s!.ar.
Christ's su%iferings.
/. There must be denial of self {. 3i)
=. This can the SutIerir.s ard sham,
which lie in the path of loyalty IL
God. To live the .odly life mean.
suffering G. Tim. 3:l2).
3. Christ must be followed (v. 81.
This mean to have the mind o.
Christ tPhil. 2:I) and to rerfor;a tn,
service Of Christ.
~. ne Issue Of Discipieship wv
35-3S).
The blessed issue of following Chris
is Il life of freedom here and now, unt
eternal life hereafter. Sucl, sacrinc,
enriches the life that now is. and IRE
parcs for the enjoyment Of the .if,
which is to cOiGe. To barter the III
ture life for present enjoyment is mos