Cleveland County herald., 1919-11-06
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL SINI(1ISCINu)L
 LESSON fBy REV. F. s. tITZWATlR, D. D.. Teacher Of English Bible in the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago) Copyright. 1919. Western Newspaper Union)
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 9
PETERS GREAT CONFESSION.
LESSON TExT-Matt. 16:1s-24.

LESSON TEXT-Matt 1613-24
 GOLDEN TEXT-Thou are the Christ the Son of the living God.-Matt. 16.16.
 ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Mark S:2T- Ss; Luke s:1S-26; John 6:66-6s.
 PRIMARY AND JUNIOR TOPIC-What Peter confessed.
 INTERMEDIATE TOPIC What 1t means to confess Christ.
 SENIOR AND ADULT TOPIC-The Messahship of Jesus.
 The time has now come for the King to take account of his ministry.
 This confession in some sense marks the turning point in Christ's ministry. Hereafter it is more restricted to his disciples. Two reasons are sufficient why this should be (vv. 1-12): CD The Pharisees and SadduceeS show their attitude towards him in their de- mand for a sign. His aIswer is that none shall be given save that of his death and resurrection, as symbolized in the experiences of the Prophet Jonah. (2) The disciples show their inability to understand the spiritual nature of his teaching. When he warned them of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees they under stood him to refer to bread, when he meant their doctrine. It was at this crisis when Christ turned from the nation which had rejected him, that Peter made this great confession. It was made in the borders of Caesarea- Philippf, practically Gentle territory.
 !. Peter's Confession (vy. 13-16).
 Two questions of Christ provoked this confession:
 1. The question as to the opinion of the people concerning him.
 They recognized him as teacher or a prophet of more than human author fty and power. Today, as then, there is diversity of opinion among the people as to Jesus Christ. Some think he is only a man; others, that he is great teacher, but nothing more. Had he been content with this he would not have been molested in Jerusalem, for the Jews willingly acknowledged him as more than a human teacher. It was his persistent claim to be the Goldman, the Son of God, that sent him to the cross
 ?. The second question involved the personal opinion of the disciples con- cerning him. To be able to tell what others think of Jesus is not enough; there must be definite, correct. and personal belief in him.
 II. The New Body, the Church, An nounced (vv. 17-20).
 Peter had made noble confession of Christ, so now Christ confesses him. If we confess Christ he will confess us (Matt. 10:32, 33). Christ declared his intention of bringing into existence new body to the members of which he will give eternal life, and to whose hands he will entrust the keys of the Kingdom. Peter was to have a dis tinguished place in this body The keys entrusted to him were used on the day of Pentecost, and again in the case of Cornelius Association in this new body cannot be broken by death, for the gates of hades shall not prevail against it. This body, the church, is of heavenly origin, heavenly calling, and heavenly inheritance
 III. The Cross the Way to the Throne fvv. 21-33).
 This was, no doubt, startling to the disciples. They did not realize that re- demption was to be accomplished through the passion of the cross. So unwelcome was this announcement that Peter cried, This shall not be unto thee" Peter later saw through this darkness to the glory on the hill top beyond. A new hope then filled bis breast q Peter 1 8, 4). Victory through death is yet the stumbling block of many. Many are stumbling over the doctrine of salvation and re- demption through the suffering of the cross All such are under the control of the devil (v. 23). Salvation by blood, the devil hates.
 W. The Cost of DiscipIeship (vv. 24- 2D.
 To follow Christ means suffering. To follow him is to turn ones back upon the world. Life can only be saved by losing it. If we are going to be Chris GanS we must share Christ's suffering. We cannot go to heaven on f1owery beds of ease.
 1. There must be denial of self (v. 24). There is a wide difference be- tween self-denial and denial of self. Self-deniai is practiced everywhere by all people. but only the disciples of Christ or Christian people deny self. Christ takes the place of self. 2. "Take up his cross" This cross Is the suffering and shame which lie in the path of loyalty to God To do our duty will mean suffering c Tim. 3:12).
 8. Follow Christ. This means to have the mind of Christ, to do like | Christ. Al! such shall be rewarded