The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-12-04

able Us TO use the commuters alternative
lesson. THE Prince Of Peace" for q
Christmas lesson next Sunday
I. Peter Denies the Lord (1s:i5-is.
2527).
!. Before the servant maid tvv. 10
1877. Peters FIRST blunder was to at.
tempt 20 follow Jesus NJ this time
Christ had told him that he could not
follow now tl3 :36). Presumptuous
holiness ofientlmes places one In IN
embarrassing position. IN such cases
compromise or cowardly denial usu
ally follows. Wisdom as TO our weak
nesses should move one TO avoid I'M
necessary trials. John. seeing Peter
standing at the door. introduced him
20 the house Of the high priest. Here
under the tauni Of Jewish maid he
openly denied his Lord.
2. Before the servant and officers
". 25). Peter had not only ventured
where II was not necessary. but was
warming himself AT the enemies fire.
Having qualled before the sarcastic
lmpudence of n servant maid he open.
iy denied his relationship with the
Lord when questioned by the officers
and servants nj whose fire he WIS
warming himself To have clear and
independent testimony. one should be
separate from sinners Gil Cor. 8:i4-is).
3. Before the kinsman OF Malchus
wv. 20, 30. This man had seen Peter
l..
In his raShness smoie on the ear Of
Malchus (see verse 100. Hearing Pet.
er's denial. this servant Of the high
priest put the question. Did ! not see
thee In the garden with him1" When
Peter uttered the third denial the cock
warning words Of Jesus MARX IA :72)
This IN an example ~ what q disciple
~ Jesus may do In the hour OF great
temptation.
u. Jesus Commits His Mother to
John 90 ;2527).
Though suffering the Understandable
anguish Of the cross he tenderly re
membered his grief stricken mother
and charged John 20 care for her. Mary
had other sons who should have cared
for her. but they were unbellevers IN
after Jesus resurrection. He knew that
his mother would have better care ~
the hands Of the beloved disciples than
nj the hands ~ her own children who
did not believe In and love Jesus. Love
10 Jesus Is stronger than human affec.
tion.
~. Peter and John Al Jesus Tomb
t20:l.iO).
when Mary came In breathless haste.
announcing the fact ~ the empty tomb.
Peter and John ran Ia investigate.
When John came 10 the tomb he gazed
into Il. but when Peter came he went
In. John with holy reverence hesitated
to enter. but Peter through his impul.
siveness entered at once. The difference
does not lie In the fact that one loves
more than the other. but In their differ
eDt temperaments One should not
expect the same behavior from all
This Investigation WAS convincing ".
81.
~. Peters Restoration and Com
mission (2i ;i5-l9).
Peter had thrice denied the Lord.
40 before he again entered the service
he had thrice TO confess his love for
Jesus. In this commission to Peter
In set forth the motive and nature of
service which is incumbent upon all
Christian ministers and teachers.
l. His motive-love for Christ. Love
II the supreme qualification for service
for Christ: n Is the very spring from
which all activity flows. II Is not
learning and eloquence. bur love that
makes pastor. "a Feed my lambs"
The weird for feed" as well as lambs"
signifies that the work here Is that OF
nurturing the babes 10 Christ. (2)
"Feed my sheep" The word here
means 10 feed. guide. correct. and lead
the maturer class OF Christians. II
carries with II not only the responsi.
bility OF feeding, but correction and
discipline. II this he attempted with.
out love. failure will inevitably ensue
cay Feed my sheep" TAis relates
10 the care Of the aged Christians
The word feed" returns somewhat to
the meaning In the first instance where
he says. feed my lambs" 10 that the
ministers responsibility 10 care for
the aged Is equivalent 10 that Of the
young.