The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1919-11-05
Nov. 9. Peters Great Confession.

NOV. .. ToCor s. GredC CONCESSION.
Matt. 1913 to "a.
Our lesson of today relates to an
occurrence in the life of Jesus after
He had been in His public ministery
for over two years. There was of
course much discussion among the
people as to the mission and true
character of the new teacher. The
same thing would happen if seeming
wonder worker was going about in our
locality. The people then were divid-
ed. Some said the power to do mir
acles came from the devil and that
was the reason Jesus could cast out
devils. Jesus combated that idea by
saying it was not probable the prince
of evil would cast out spirit like his
own from people, for that would be
house divided against itself. It ap-
pears from the lesson text that some
people said Jesus was John the Bap-
fist, some the prophet Elijah and 9TH,
er jeremiah, or some other of the
prophets. AT this time Jesus put the
question straight to the disciple Peter,
Whom say We that am?" Then came
that great declaration. Thou art the
Christ, the Son of the living God"
Jesus knew we'll the Importance of
the confession or declaration of Peter
fore took special pains to note the
same. He praised Peter for it and
added the inspiration for the public
acknowledgment was revealed to Peter
by the Father in heaven. Jesus said
that on and about the truth that He
was the Son of the living God His
church in the earth was to be founded
and that even the gates Of hell should
not prevail against it," Il J., =
It might be we'll to call attention to
something else Jesus said at this
time in the following language, adj
dressing Peter: 81 will give unto thee
the keys of the kingdom of heaven,
and whatsoever thou bind on earth
shall be bound in heaven and whatso-
ever thou shalt loose on earth shall
be l0osed in heaven" As is we'll
known the great Roman Catholic |
church makes much of this charge to /
Peter, holding that he was thus made |
the head of the church of Christ on
earth and to him and his successors
was given certain power to forgive |
sins.
Things did not go we'll with Peter
later. The lesson verses tell us that |
Jesus began to tell His disciples that |
He must go to Jerusalem and suffer |
many things of the chief priests and |
scrtbes, and be killed and be raised !
again the third day. We are told that |
Peter rebuked Jesus, remarking that |
what He had just said would not hap
pen. ThereupOn Jesus told Peter Get !
behind me satan, thou art an offense |
unto me for thou savOurest not the /
things that be of God, but those of
men," Jesus added here that if any
man would follow after Him and
serve Him he must deny himself and
take up his cross and follow after.
There are host of things to be
brought out from this lesson, but I
desire to write OF the question OF Jesus
which, means for us what
think We of Christ" This is question
every man and woman must answer
some way. Peter said "Thou are the
Christ" What do you say? 1t seems
to me that the religion of Jesus has /
made good in the world. In determ-
lining this, consideration must be Il
made for the natural savagry, selfish
ness animallsm in the makeup of man.
kind. With such material to use the
results have been marvellous. 1t has
been a fight by inches but each series
of ,years has shown progress. Coming
before the people when the great Ro-
man empire was in power with it's best
christianity was able to
show better way of living and to
Gttract men and women to it. Every
where it went the gospel message
turned its converts from the beastual
TO- the spiritual, to responsibility for
others. for love and a common broth
erh00d. The place of woman was
raised from that of a beast Of burden
and mere bearer of children, to that
Of high learning and power From the
gospel religion has come hospitals,
care for the unfortunate, helpful nurs-
lng, sanitary conditions, cultivation of
the best in mankind, rather than the
low and degrading. It has given the
world the free governments which are
30 priced by all peoples, allowing the
man to look forward to occu-
Dyine the greatest DOsitions in every