Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1950-09-01

Knew MIN DeloIe ne dlltuuiltNN u
anything. so he can't amount to
anything now.
A Case Against Peter
TT Is A GOOD thing the Christian
! church never took that attitude
about the Apostles, and a very
good thing they didn't take that
line with Peter II is true that he
did not come out OF the top drawer
II Is quite true that when he was
young he was no prize specimen.
In fact, il would not be hard to
make almost as strong case
against him as against Judas, #
you take Simon Peter at his low
point
"shall we keep Peter on Our list"
Suppose you had been one Of the
other apostles and had been asked
that question the night after the
crucifixion. II you had not had a
rather generous heart, you could
easily have turned in an unfavor-
able report.
well" you might have said,
che has some good points. lie
Is sometimes on the alert. new
er fails for something to say. But
he doesn't always eeme through
In n pinch. I understand the Lord
took him I'M TO the top Of the
mountain when he was trans
figured. and what did that man
do but go 10 sleep? Any Of us
would have given our right eye
10 have been there. But we
never did get much Of story
out Of poor old Simon Peter.
Tie was asleep most Of the
time.
"And do you remember that din
ner when Mary poured all that
ointment over Jesus head? II was
beautiful thing Tor her TO do. I
mean her motive was beautiful But
Peter complained about t.
"Then there was the uight-only
last night but II seems a year away
when Jesus took Simon Peter and
those two others into the garden
with him. All the Master wanted
was company. But old Peter was
asleep again In no time.
But that's not the worst Last
night at the supper table Peter
Dragged about how brave he was
got out o couple Of swords IN fact
and he swore that even n every
one else denied the Master he
wouldn't But just before cock. Grow
he showed himself up for a llar and
n coward. Some girl. just q Girl,
mind you, somebody out Of the
kitchen. said she knew he was a
friend Of Jesus. And this Peter
starts swearing In the ugliest kind
of language that he never knew
Jesus. his very best friend.
"weil, Judas hanged himself.
and Peter might as well 49,.
I don't see how he can possibly
hold his head up again after
last night"
Man Of Power
NEVERTHELESS, Peter became
~ hero. a man Of power. Look
at his story IN Acts 2.5. A recos-
nized leader Of the Christians. dc.
flying the very men Of whom he had
once been so afraid; honest rock.
ribbed. standing up for the Master
when II meant risking his life to
do so.
Even u you could not believe
the miracle-stories which are
told about him In Acts, you
would have 10 admit that II is
not every man who has mir.
ACCESSORIES told about him.
II is no weakling who has the
reputation Of being able to raise
men from the dead and 10 kill liars
with glance Of the eye.
Transforming Secret
WHAT WAS the secret Of Peters
w Transformation from the half.
braggart hah.coward he used 10
be. 10 the stalwart fearless man Of
power he became2 The answer
is In those stories in our Scripture
readings from Matthew and John.
The first tells Of Jesus faith
In Simon Peter. The second
tells Of that again, and also Of
Peters response to Jesus faith
In him. u Is the secret Of any
CHRISTIANS success In being all
that God knows he can be.
Copyright by the International coun
gu IF Religious Education on behalf o
~ Iioiestnnt Denominations. Released
BY WNU Features)