The Republican., 1930-10-30
improved Uniform International
Sl11nldayScflool q
' Lesson '
(By REV. p. B. FITZwATER. D. D., Mem.
ber of Faculty. Moody Bible Institute
OF Chcago.)
&C. 1889. Western Newspaper Union.l
SIMON PETER, FROM WEAKNESS
TO STRENGTH

LESSON TExT-Mark S:27-2s: Luke
22:3l-34; John 1851; a2l:16-17.
GOLDEN TEXT-Now when they
saw the boldness Of Peter and John.
and perceived that they were unlearned
and ignorant men. they marveled; and
they took knowledge Of them. that
they had been with Jesus.
PRIMARY ToPIC-A Weak Man Be.
JUNIOR ToPIc-A Weak Man Be-
comes Strong.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR
TOPIC-How q Weak Man Became
Strong.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-How Christ Gives Strength.
I. Peter confessIns Christ mark
s:27-29).
The time was near at hand when
Christ should make the supreme offer
ing of himself for sins on the cross.
Knowing the tragic experience through
which the disciples would pass be-
cause Of it, he sought to prepare them
for it by leading them into the appre-
hension of the cardinal doctrines Of
the Christian faith such as: the In.
tegrity Of his person, atoning death,
resurrection, and second coming.
Peters confession was provoked BY
two questions of Jesus.
/. "Whom do men say that / amp
Opinions differed, but all recognized
him to be teacher or prophet with
more than human authority and power.
2. "Whom say ye that I ann"
Jesus persistently claimed to be the
very Son of God. He would have his
disciples to possess personal and
experiential knowledge Of himself as
to being God manifest in the flesh.
II. Christ Warning Peter Uuke
% :31-3A.
1. He told him of Satan's desire
concerning him ". 31). Satan is con-
stantly striving to destroy men.
2. Christ's prayer for Peter " 32).
He prayed that Peters faith fail
not, not that he should escape the
siftings.
3. Peters confidence ". 33).
His fall began when he refused to
listen to Christ's words about the
cross. Believers begin to weaken
when they no longer desire to hear
about Christ crucified.
4. Denial announced ". 34).
This was to take place three times
before the Growing Of the cock.
III. Peter Denying His Lord John
1S :25, 27).
1. Before the servant maid wv.
1873.
Peter blundered In attempting to
follow Jesus at this time John 13 1857.
Presumptuous boldness frequently
leads into embarrassing positions. Un-
der the taunt Of the Jewish maid he
openly denied the Lord.
2. Before the servants and off,
GERS ". 25).
Peter was now warming himself at
the enemy's fire. When questioned, he
denied his relation to the Lord. Sep
aration from everything that is op-
posed to the Lord is necessary in order
to have a clear testimony (H Cor.
6:14-1S).
8. Before the kinsman of Malchus
". 26).
This man had seen Peter with Jesus
in Gethsemane ". 1O when Peter
rashly cut of the ear Of Malchus. He
put the question straight to Peter.
did I not see thee in the garden
with him" At the utterance Of the
third denial. the cock crew. reminding
Peter of Christ's warning (Mark IA :72).
w. Peters Restoration (John
q :15-17).
Peter had thrice denied his Lord.
Therefore, before his reinstatement
in the Lords service he must thrice
confess his love for Jesus. In this
reinstatement and commission Of Peter
is set forth the motive and nature Of
the service which has Christ's ap.
proval in all times. Love for Christ,
not primarily love for the sheep,
proves the genuine shepherd.
1. Feed my lambs"
The word feed" as well as "lambs"
signifies that the work here enjoined
is that Of nurturlng babes In Christ.
2. Feed my Sheep"
The word here means to feed, guide,
correct, and lead the maturer classes
Of Christians. It carries with 1t not
alone responsibility of feeding, but cor
rective discipline. Failure will In
evitably follow If this be attempted
without love.
8. Feed my sheep"
This doubtless relates to the care of
aged Christians. The word "feed" re-
turns somewhat to the meaning as In
the first instance where he says,
"Feed my lambs," SO that the min
ister's responsibility to care for the
aged is equivalent to that Of the young.
Peter was to express devotion to
Christ by a martyrs death.