The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1924-11-13
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Prepared Especially for The Repub-
ican by Rev. U. S. Wright, DID.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER IS, 1924
PETERS CONFESSION.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER Is, 1924.
PETERS CONFESSION.
i Matt. 16 1920.
Read Mark s:27-3O; Luke 9:1s-2I.
Thou the Christ, the Son of the living
/ God.-Matt. 1916.
THE CONFESSION OF THE
PEOPLE.
For three months following the
| Passover and the rejection at Caper-
naum there had been the seemingly
aimless wanderings of the little
group that had refused to desert.
They had hidden in some house near
Elijah's old place of retirement, they
had traversed the fields of Gilead,
they had Stunned publicity in every
way possible and were now far afield
from the Jewish centers under the
shadow of Hermon. They were fol-
lowing an utterly discredited Leader
through personal loyalty. 1t is quite
possible that some of them had been
back in the old haunts else they could
not have reported so accurately upon
the words Of the people. 1t was the
twilight Of their belief and of the
career of Jeus. Why He did it is a
question that has no answer unless
it lies in the increasingly close per-
sonal contact with the Twelve that
would give opportunity to lead their
!
thinking into fuller appreciation of
| Himself. Perhaps it was also a per-
! iod of ripening convictions upon His
own part and the getting of a clear
er vision of the road He must travel
outside the demands of throngs seek
ing healings. But He had reached a
decision and was ready to plunge
once more into the storing 5truggle
against tradition, only He must see
| if the Disciples were ready to travel
it with Him. So He asks His ques-
ton, "Who do men say that l ann"
The swift answer gives the picture
that had impressed the folks who
had seen Him in action in most sur
prising fashion.
The lst includes John the Baptist;
jeremiah, Elijah or some other Of the
prophets. 1t is a perfectly natural
way of expressing ones impression.
If some one should return from a Pc
litical meeting saying, 'Do you know
he reminds me so much of Roose-
velt," picture woulc Tairly leap
from the words. If it had been evil
SON. what a different one would have
resulted. Here is the same franl;
statement from the people of our
Lords day. 'He made me think of
John, or of Elijah, or of jeremiah"
was the response to the query, "What
/ did you think Of Him." Run over
the group and see if it is possible to
gather any hint Of an effeminate, an
aemic figure? That group is all fire;
vigorous in word and deed, flaming
with enthusiasm and GROWING con-
science as they dared defy all au-
thority save the imperial voice of
their own souls. There was no Gen
tie Jeus" in the picturing of the peo-
! pie. Nor was there any hint of Mes
siahship. Evidently Jesus had steer
ed His course away, safely away,
Messiah that was talked about beside
every camp fire and every group Gag
/ O7, e., 1,a--a1+ IJo he =
completely obscured Himself as the
MAN on Horseback" of popular de-
sire and this in itself was great
achievement.
THE CONFESSION OF PETER.
"But who say We that l ann" was
the question that would be decisive
in all the days to come. It's answer
would determine the next step on the
part of Jesus. 1t would tell the re-
Spouse Of the Disciples to the COM
radeship with their Leader and guage
their spiritual quality. Upon it hung
the fate of the Kingdom and the con-
quest of the Cross. For suppose it
had been, "Thou art prophet of
Galilee?" Then had it been a dis
couraged Lord, conscious of lost
cause, staggering toward the inevita-
bic end that would have left scarce a
scratch upon history's page. Per-
haps some of thine could say no more
but the leader of the group, hot
hearted Simon, spoke unhesitatingly,
Chou are the Christ of God" And
if there were but one man who had
grasped that truth then was prog
ress possible. For it meant that this
group had discarded the JEWISH no.
ton of the Messiah and had accepted
the idea of Jesus throning a Recon-
ciler as the chief figure in the impend-
ing Kingdom. 1t was the summit
glory of the new internationalism
whose glow was caught by these ear
ly watchers for the dawn and tho its
light has not yet penetrated the val
leys where red war turks in the mists
and murk, it held within it the only
/ hone of a world r111ad hv shirt in