Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1935-01-11
Uniform c~Yr~~r
-:-LESSON =
(By REV. p. b. FITzwATER. d. d..
Member Of Faculty. Moody Bible
Institute OF Chicago.)
@, Western Newspaper Union.
Lesson for January IS
PETERS GREAT CONFESSION


PRIMARY ToPIc-How Peter
Pleased Jesus.
JUNIOR ToPIc-Pster's Great
Answer.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR
TOPIC-What It Means to Confess
Christ.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
TOPIC-What Think Ye of Christi
The disciples had been with the
Lord for several years. They had
heard his wonderful words and wit
messed his mighty works. Various
opinions were extant about him.
Since Jesus was soon to go to the
cross, 1t was necessary for the dis
ciples to have a definite and true
conception Of him. In order to help
them into the right conception he
provoked this confession from Peter,
as the spokesman Of the group Of
disciples.
!. Peters Confession wv. 1870.
1. How provoked ". 49,. Two
questions put to the disciples called
forth this great confession.
a. Who do men say that the Son
of Man is? ". 49,. He first inquired
for the opinion Of the people con-
corning him. It is not enough to
think that he was a great teacher.
Had he been content with this, he
would not have been molested at
Jerusalem, for this the Jews will
ingly acknowledged. 1t was his per-
sistent claim to be the Goodman,
the Messiah, the Son of God, that
sent him to the cross.
b. Who say We that / am? ". 15).
This question involved the personal
opinion Of the disciples. To be able
to tell what others think Of Jesus
is not enough; there must be def
mite, correct, and personal belief
In him. Belief and character are In
separately united.
2. What Peters confession In
volved ". 49,. It was his Messiah
ship and Deity. The burning Ques-
ton Of the hour is, what think ye
Of Christi" 1t is a question that
must be answered by every one.
8. Christ's commentator Of Peter
". I'D. He pronounced him blessed.
He was truly blessed, for he both
possessed and confessed Christ. His
confession showed his touch with
the Heavenly Father.
II. The New Body, the Church,
Announced by Christ wv. 1920.
At this juncture Christ declared
his intention Of bringing into exist
ence a new body. Peter was to have
distinguished place In this body.
He declared that Peter should be
foundation stone in his Church.
Christ Is the chief corner stone upon
which the Church Is built. Christ's
person and Messiahship were con-
fessed by Peter, and on this rock,
the truth confessed, L. laid the foun.
dalton Of the apostles and prophets
(Eph. 2:20). He further declared
that association In this new body
could not be broken by death, for
the gates Of Hades should not pre-
vail against 1t.
~. The Cross the Way to the
Throne (vv. 21-23).
From that time Jesus began to
show unto his disciples that ne must
go unto Jerusalem, to suffer many
things, to be killed and raised again
the third day. This, indeed, startled
the disciples. They did not as yet
realize that redemption was to be
accomplished through the sufferings
Of the cross. So unwelcome was
this announcement that Peter said,
"This shall not be unto thee" Pc
ter later saw through this darkness
to the glory of the hill tops. A
new hope then filed his breast q
Pet. 1 g, A.. Christ's victory through
death is yet a stumbling block to
many. Many are stumbling over the
doctrine Of salvation through the
sufrerings of the cross. Salvation
by blood is hated by the devil.
~. The Grand Objective Of the
Members Of the Church Il Pet.
2:6, 81.
1t is the highest ambition Of every
Christian to become a working part
Of Christ's glorious Church, which
has as its supreme design the show
ing forth Of the glory Of God. II
- this that beckonS the believe On