The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1919-11-06
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
Especially Prepared for The Republi-
can by DIR. U. S. Wright.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9.
Peters great confession. Matt. 16:
1924. Read Mark 8:27-98; Luke 9:1828.
Simon Peter answered, and said. Thou
art the Christ, the Son of the living
God. Matt. 1916
THE PEOPLES PORTRAIT.
Three or four months have passed
since Jesus fed the multitude beside the
sea and refused the crown. This break
with the crowd called for the question
to the Disciples, Twill ye also go
away" Evidently Christ's popularity
was seriously shaken. Immediately
thereafter he took the little group of
still loyal followers into the region of
Tyre and Sidon and away from the pres
sure of the Jewish opposition that in
the solitudes there might be strengthen
ed undisturbed the impression His life
was making upon them. A brief touch
at the sea was followed by the renew
ed plunge into the Businesses of the
hills and the lesson, late in August
probably, is given under the shadow of
Hermon that looks out upon Damascus.
Here they had their examination. Jesus
would test how far their insight had
carried them into the secret of His
matchless life and quicken by the open
speech the developing process which
they were undergoing at the hands of
the Master of all teachers. 1t opened
with the thing they fully knew ques-
among whom they had been mingling.
The response was ready enough. John,
Elijah, jeremiah or one of the Proph-
cts" were the suggestions that fell
from the lips of the crowd. 1t is the
commonest experience. We hear some
speaker and are asked, What did you
think of him?' "He reminded me of
Roosevelt, is reply that draws an
immediate picture in the mind of the
person addressed. HE reminds me of
Wilson," would be as different as the
two men are apart. Here is the first
hand impression Jesus made upon the
crowd who heard Him. He was like
"John, " "Elijah," or Jeremiah. And
of what sort were these men? Certain
ly the effeminate type that the artists
have pictured could never have given
these reactions from the throng. Every
one was virile red blooded man who
dared defy the wrong upon the throne
if need be and would overthrow it at
whatever personal cost it might de-
mand. Jesus moved among men like
master and the first impression was
power and courage to use it in the in
terest of Righteousness. What King
He must have been! But there was
note lacking in the picture for after all
it was merely anIunusual Jew that they
saw and if the impression was no deep
er than this it would be a fleeing one.
There was no hint even that He was of
royal line but was merely one of the
unlineaged figures that from time to
time had broken into their history.
PETERS PORTRAIT.
Would the Disciples stop here also?
Was it an anxious moment on the part
of Jesus as He listened for the reply
that would test his teaching as much as
their own responsiveness? Certainly
there was a strain of almost extrava-
giant joy in the words with which He
welcomed it. There.was no hesitation
on the part of Simon and doubtless he
was merely spokesman for them ali
when he said, Thou art the Christ,
the Son of the living Cod" He said,
Thou art the Amounted and rightful
Messiah orlKing of our race" Simon s
conception of that King had been slow
ly changed until he was ready to see in
this figure that refused force and
wrought by love the ideal of the Jew.
And the Kingdomsover which such an
one would reign could not help being a
different one from the conception gen
orally held among the people. They
saw a prophet where Peter saw King
He wouldsnot answer to their ideal of
rule and that had been Peters along
with allEthe other Jews at first so that
his vision of the Kingdom had been
slowly transformed into something re-
motelY resembling that which Jesus
had in His own mind. Whether
Peter s!phrase held all the Deity that
the words express to US may be ques-
toned but there can be none concern
ing the ;position he took in the Messi-
anic term and the level upon which he
placed his acknowledged Master was
not that of common man even among
the bestsof greatIrace. He put Jesus
In class by himself. He was the most
unique character, the one above all
others. thatsPeter saw and in this also
his perception was far in advance of
that of the common people who saw
greatness but it. was level with other
great that thelJ ewshad known.
CHRIST'S PICTURE.
Christ's reply contains the first men
a.. Az ol,,oI ord -,