The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-01-12
Peter's Great Confession

science of mankind If 1t had been burdened down with detail of in- cdient and discussion.
 It does, however, make it neces- sary for us to look through the pages as through windows, or gaps in which we may see Q great deal that is not recorded.
 Here and there we are able t. appreciate how busy was the life of Jesus, how fully his days were occupied in conversing with his disciples, or with other individuals and in speaking to the multitudes Occasional references, also, remind us how largely he organized the work of evangelism, sending not only his immediate disciples, but "other seventy" also on preaching missions to the villages.
 What was the response to this preaching and teaching? Here in our lesson Jesus is asking his dis ciples what the people are saying. The answers are interesting and expressive alike of popular hope and popular superstition.
 Some believe that Jesus Is John the Baptist returned to life; oth- CTS say that he is Elijah or one of the old prophets reincarnated to speak forth once more the mes- sages of truth and righteousness.
 But when Jesus challenges the disciples themselves, Peters an- swer Is much more simple. Jesus is to him the Messiah-the Christ of God.
 It is easy to read in this confes- sion of Peter the theological dog mas of a later time. But apart from theological dogma, 1t does not seem difficult to see what Peter meant.
 He believed that Jesus was a revelation of God, a Redeemer come to men.
 It is inconceivable that Peter had considered very much such questions as later were to rend Christendom asunder, questions concerning the metaphysical na- ture of Jesus. It was the moral and spiritual reality of Jesus that Peter acknowledged in hailing the Master as the Divine Son of God.
 What 0 disappointment it must have been to Peter, with this dream of the Messiah setting up an earthly kingdom, to have Jesus speak of the sorrow and death that awaited Him!
 One can imagine that even Pet CT, and the other disciples who had left all to follow Jesus, must have had their faith and their hope seriously tested as Jesus spoke of discipleship in terms of sclf-denial and taking the cross, rather than in terms of the glory thoy would share with the Mas ter in an earthly kingdom.
 It was 0 mark of the quality of these disciples, and of the depth and strength of their faith, that they did not waver when the true mission of Jesus and the means by which He was to accomplish His salvation became evident.
 It Is an experience that comes to almost every Christian disciple in every age, and disciples have met 1t in different ways. Here and there are those, like Judas and Demas, who find the way too hard and the goal too far removed. Through weakness or impatience they surrender their faith, and they turn back with indifference if they do not become involved in denial and betrayal.
 The way of faith is not easy. It means tremendous thing to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Master, to share His life and mis- sion, to surrender our lives to God in such way that self-wlll and worldly aspirations are all aban- doned in the single quest of at- taining to what God would have us be and do.
 Yet the verses in our lesson from I Peter speak of the reward and glory of the Christian who can thus share the sacrificial life and purpose of the Master. It is true to-day, as 1t was in the days of stress and martyrdom, that he that "believeth on Him shall not be put to shame"