The Coolidge examiner., 1939-01-05

What think ye of Christi"
This question, which was asked by
Jesus Himself (Matt. %: 42), is the
touchstone that tries men, and
churches, organizations, and move
ments. The answer to it determines
character, condition, and destiny.
AS we study the life of Peter and
see how he responded to the ques-
tion of Jesus, let us not fail to apply
the truth to ourselves and to those
to whom we minister. This is indeed
1. A Crucial Question (vv. 1870.
With His crucifiXion now only six
months away our Lord in prepara-
tion for it is about to make more
definite claim to Messiahship, and
thus to establish the truth in the
minds of His disciples. He there
fore asks this all-important ques-
tion about Himself.
First, it is a general query,
Whom do men say that l ann"
The answer ". 14 indicates that
the common opinion concerning
Christ was a very high one. He
had made an impression on the
people of His time, and this has
been true down through the ages.
Even those who do not believe on
Him admit that He was 1.-The ideal
representative and guide to hu-
manity." or the person before whom
everyone would kneel." But beau
tiful tributes to His character and
leadership are worse than mean
ingless unless they lead to a per-
sonal confession of Him as Lord
and Saviour.
The question becomes personal as
He asks, Whom do ye say that l
ann" That question no one can eS-
cape. We cannot refuse to answer.
Neutrality is impossible. Whatever
we do or say, or do not do or say,
is a decision.
Peters answer is really the sum
and substance of Christian doctrine.
He recognized Him as the Messiah,
the fulfillment of all Hebrew prophe-
cy, and as the Son of the Living
God. the Redeemer and Savior of
men, the One in whom centers all
Christian faith.
ii. A Divine Revelation wv. IT.
2O.
Peter had been ready to be taught
by the Holy Spirit, and therefore
made confession of Christ which
was not conceived in the mind Of a
man but was conviction born Of
the Spirit of God (cf. l Cor. 12:O d.
Upon Peters confession, which
was thus really a divine revelation
of the person and work of Christ,
the Church is established, Christ
Himself being the chief cornerstone
q Pet. 2:O with Peter himself as
one of the apostles built into its very
foundation (Eph. 2:20).
Note that Christ calls it my
church" 1t is His Body, and He as
the Head rules over it. The gates
of Hades, that is, the wicked pow
ers of the unseen world, while they
now seemingly have great power
against the Church. shall not ulti-
mately prevail. We have victori-
Gus Christ.
The giving of the keys, and the
authority to bind or loose have been
variously interpreted. 1t would
seem to be clear, however, that this
was not intended to be any personal
power to be used by Peter, and
quite evidently not to be transferred
by him to others. 1t was rather the
authority to admit men into the
kingdom of God as they fulfill His
provisions for entrance, and to de-
clare that those who do not enter
by way of Christ must be forever
barred from it's sacred precincts.
iii. The Shadow of the Cross (vv.
21-25).
The cross of Christ casts its shad-
CIV over the little group as Jesus
begins to show to His disciples
". 2D what He is to suffer as the
Saviour of the world. The city OF
Jerusalem exalted to heaven by its
opportunities and privileges is tc
be the place where He is to be
nailed to the tree. Where roses
ought to bloom, sin has often plant.
ed thorns." Peter in an outburst OF
affectionate folly tries to hinder
Christ from going to the cross, and
becomes for the moment the serv.
ant of Satan. He 'meant well, u
but it is not enough to have good
intentions.
The cross of Christ calls for the
cross of the Christian ". 24. Note
well that this does not refer to little
acts of so-called 'self-denial," but
rather to the denial of self. 1t means
that sef-will is set aside and God s
will becomes paramount in the life
". 2N. 1t means the abandon
ment of selfish motives and desires
the losing of life for ChriSt'S sake