The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1930-04-03
Lesson for April 6
THE LAW OF THE CROSS

LAW VT ShSSS
LESSON TEXT-Matthew 16:13-26.
GOLDEN TEXT-If any man will
come after Me. let him deny himself,
and take up his cross. and follow Me.
PRIMARY ToPIC-Proving our Love
for Jesus.
JUNIOR ToPIc-Proving Our Love
for Jesus.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
;IC-Denying Self for Christ.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
DEMONSTRATING in the Christian life.
The lesson topic is narrower than
the Scripture text. 1t includes Christ
taking account of Els ministry, Peters
confession, Christ's prediction con-
corning His death and His teaching
concerning the cost of discipleship.
!. Christ, the King, Taking Account
,of His Ministry wv. 1910.
1. The place ". 13).
, It was at Caesarea Phflippi, the
northern limit of Jewish territory,
practically in Gentle territory.
: 2. The time in Christ's ministry.
The cross was only a few months
away. The King had already been re-
jected. They had charged Him with
being in league with the devil and
sought to kill Him. 1t was highly i'm
portant that the disciples have clear
views as to Christ's person in order
to stand the test of His trial and
,crucifiXion.
: 3. Peters confession wv. 1916.
!, ~ The occasion wv. 1870. Two
Questions asked by Jesus Christ pro-
ivoked this confession. a. AS to the
fopinion of the people concerning Him
NV. 10, 14). They recognized Him as
ia teacher and prophet Of more than
human authority and power. Had He
been content with this, He would not
have been mGlested in Jerusalem. 1t
was His persistent claim of being the
Goodman, the very Son of God, that
sent Him to the cross. b. AS to the
personal opinion of the disciples ".
'15). 1t was not enough for them to
Nbe able to tell what opinion the peo-
iple held concerning Jesus. 1t was nee
essary that they have definite, correct
rand personal knowledge Of and belief
lin Him. (2) The content ". 16). 1t
consisted of two parts. a. "Thou art
the Christ" This avowed Jesus to be
1.-THE Messiah-the fulfiller Of the Jew
,ish hopes and expectations. b. "The
Son of the living Cod" This acknowl-
edged Him to be divine. 1t was the
recognition of His glorious person in
keeping with the Jewish hope lisa.
9:6, y.
4. Christ's confession of Peter
~. ~.
; Those who confess Christ shall be
confessed by Him (Matt. 10 :32, 33).
Christ pronounced blessing upon
Peter-not in the nature Of reward,
but declaration of the spiritual con-
sdition of Peter because Of his clear
apprehension of his Lord.
. 5. Christ's charge to the disciples
Nv. 20).
He asked them not to tell any man
that He was the Messiah. The time
was not ripe for such testimony.
u. The New Body, the Church, An
nounced wv. IS, 19).
Following the confession Of Peter,
Jesus declared His intention of bring
ing into existence new body, to the
members of which He would give
eternal life, and into whose hands He
would entrust the keys of the King
dom. Peter was to have distin-
;guished place in this body. Associa-
ton in this new body cannot be brok-
en- by death, for the gates Of Hades
shall not prevail against 1t.
III. The King Predicts His Death
.(vv. 81, '23).
This prediction was no doubt star
ytling to the disciples. They did not
vet realize that redemption was to be
accomplished through the passion Of
the cross. So 'unwelcome was this an
nouncement that Peter cried, "This
shall not be unto Thee" Later Peter
saw through the darkness to the sum
light on the hilltops beyond. A new
hope filled his breast Il Pet. 1 3, a..
Victory through death is yet the
stumbling block Of many.
~. The Cost Of 0iscipleship wv.
24-26).
Life can be saved only by losing
it. If we are going to be Christians,
we must share Christ's suffering.
1. There must be denial Of self ".
i24). There is a wide difference be-
tween self-denial and denial of self.
All people practice self-denial, but
only real disciples Of Christ deny self.
# 2. 'Take up His cross" ". PAY.
This cross is the shame and suffer-
ing which lie in the path Of loyalty to
Christ.
8. Follow Christ ". 24).
This means to have the mind Of
;Christ-to be like Christ.