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T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
March 1930
atonement of Christ. Peter was correct about the first but would have omitted the second. If both are omitted, a com mon ground for a universal but anti- Christian religion might readily be found. 5. Christ is building His Church and battling against the foes of the Church. He cannot be defeated. 6. Unaided human reason is an insuf ficient guide in searching for divine truth. God has given a revelation. 7. Good but ignorant and misguided men often do Satan’s work though they may be unaware of it. 8. Christians can “remit” sins by point ing sinners to the Saviour. God help us if their sins are “retained” because we fail to .tell them o f the way of salvation. 9. Thinking God’s thoughts leads men to strive for eternal values; the thoughts o f , men are concerned with worldly wealth, ease, pleasure, etc. 10. Jesus Christ never drives men to the Cross. It is a matter of choice. 11. “Millions of money for an inch of time,” said Queen Elizabeth on her death bed. The money was at her command but she could not “exchange” it for her life. 12. Note three great doctrines concern ing Christ in the passage studied : His deity (v. 16), His cross (v. 24), His glory (v. 27). * * * G olden T ext I llustration We all know that a cross is made o,f two straight bars laid across each other. A Christian father once told his little daughter that the longer piece stood for God’s will, and the shorter piece, our will. When our will was contrary to God’s will, then we had to bear a cross. A lady has a little gold cross ; on the upright part of the cross the words “ God’s will” are graven. On the crossbar are the words “My will.” By touching a spring the cross disappears, and leaves only a straight beam bearing the words “God’s will.” . So when our will is lost in God’s and we are indeed dead unto sin, it is no longer a cross to follow Christ.— The Sunday School Times. * * * The Law of the Cross Matthew 16:13-26 Golden Text : “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). Approach .—Tell how Jesus and His disciples had been up in a mountain to rest; a great multitude followed, and Jesus “had compassion” on them ; so He
10:34). The three classes in the Sanhe drin, the elders, chief priests, and scribes, are named as those officially responsible. Be killed. The Jews expected a conquer ing, reigning Messiah, not one who should suffer humiliation and death. Be raised up. Jesus had given intimations of His lesurrection before this, even to His ene mies (cf. John 2:19; Matt. 12:40); now He distinctly announces it to' His disciples (cf. 17:9, 23; 20:19). That they were un able to take in His meaning, is clear from the fact that they failed to remember these predictions after the events had oc curred. V. 22. Peter took him. That is, took Him aside, to privately correct Him. Re buke him. Peter had not seen the force of the Master’s words, "must be killed,” Ac cording to his thinking, it was ridiculous that Messiah should die at Jerusalem. Be it far from thee. Or, as the margin of the Revised Version reads, “ [God] have mercy upon thee.” Perhaps it was a prayer that God would in mercy prevent such a tragedy as had been announced. This shall not be. Peter seems to assume that his advice would be taken. The state ment is very emphatic. V. 23. Get thee behind me, Satan. Peter had rebuked Jesus; He rebukes Peter, using the same language He had employed in addressing Satan himself (cf. 4:10). The language was appropriate, for Peter was repeating Satan’s temptation, in try ing to turn Jesus away from His ap pointed path. An offence. Literally, a stumbling block (cf. 5:29). Savourest not. He was thinking man’s thoughts, not the thoughts of God. According to God’s eternal plan, Christ must suffer and die (cf. Luke 24:26; 1 Pet. 1 :11). IV. The Supreme Test of. Discipleship'. V. 24. Then said Jesus. Not to disci ples only, but to all (cf. Luke 9:23, R. V . ). A general rule for all disciples is given. I f any man would come. Or, wishes to come. A definite choice must be made. Deny himself. This is not self- denial and not the enduring of petty troubles; it is a renunciation, a disown ing of self, a declaring that self shall not rule. Take up his cross. It was the com mon practice that condemned men should carry their cross to the place of execu tion. The meaning is that the disciple must be ready, as the Master was, for suffering and death. V. 25. Would save his life. Or, wishes to save his life. He who chooses the tem poral life, loses eternal life. Lose . . . . for my sake. He who for love of Christ renounces the bodily, temporal life, will gain that life which is eternal. V. 26. What . . . . be profited. A les son in profit and loss. When eternal riches are lost, nothing on earth is worth while. Give in exchange. Though the whole world is gained, it will not suffice to buy back the life that is forfeited. * * * L esson Q uestions V. 13. Where is the scene of this les son? What was Jesus doing (Luke 9: 18) ? What question did He ask the dis ciples? Why did He ask it? Was it im portant? Is Jt still important? V. 14. How many different opinions were expressed? In what respect,did they all agree? V. 15, What was the second question asked? Why did He press this question
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upon the disciples? Is it a question every one must answer? V. 16. Which disciple answered? Who did he say our Lord was (cf. John 1 :49; Matt. 14:33)? Is it important to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (cf. 1 John 4:15; 5:1, 5; John 20:31)? V. 17. Was Jesus pleased with this confession? How did He express His pleasure ? How did He say Peter had learned this truth? V. 18. What else did Jesus say to Peter? What does the word “ Peter” mean? What is the “rock” upon which Christ builds His Church? What does “church” mean? What is meant by “the gates of hell” not prevailing against it (cf. Isa. 54:17)? V. 19. What does Christ say He will give to Peter? What is meant by “the keys of the kingdom of heaven” ? Did Peter ever use the keys (cf. Acts 2:14; 10:34; 15 :7) ? What is meant by “bind ing” and “loosing” ? V. 20. What charge did the Lord give His disciples? Why? Are we bound by any such charge (cf. Matt. 28:19)? V. 21. What did Jesus say was about to happen to Him? Why “must” these things be (cf. John 3:14; 2 Cor. 5:21)? Had He ever before foretold His death and resurrection (cf. John 2:19-21)? V. 22. Which disciple spoke? Was he concerned for Christ or for himself? What did he suggest? V. 23. What did Jesus answer? Why did He call Peter “ Satan” (cf. Luke 4: 8) ? Where had Peter received the idea that the Cross could be shunned? V. 24. To whom did Jesus then speak? What lesson did He give to the disciples? What is meant by “ deny himself” ? By “take up his cross” ? By “ follow me” ? Vs. 25, 26. What general principle is laid down? What does “ soul” mean? Is the contrast between the present and the future? May present gain mean future loss, and vice versa? sfc * * P ractical P oints 1. What men think of Christ is of greatest importance. It involves present happiness and eternal destiny. Each must settle the question for himself. There can be no expectation o f salvation when Christ is taken merely as Teacher or Prophet and refused as Christ the risen Lord (Rom. Kh9, 10). 2. Men are quick to invent new the ories about Jesus when through prejudice or love of sin they will not own Him as Lord. 3. The true disciple must always be prepared to break with popular opinion when Jesus Christ is dishonored. 4. Much popular acclaim of Christ which is heard today1, is wholly wrong be cause it does not accept two fundamental Christian doctrines: (1) the deity of Jesus Christ, (2) - the substitutionary
multiplied the seven l o a v e s and little fishes, providing for the hungry people b e f o r e they re turned home. Then He came into the coasts of Magdala. One d a y some Pharisees came to Jesus and tried to puzzle or trap Him w i t h a question.
They hated Jesus because He told them plainly o f their sins. They were unwill ing to admit any sin in their hearts.; indeed, prided themselves, on their good ness. But Jesus can read hearts, and « / V i s t o *
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