Helps for the Children When Peter Was Afraid Matt. 26:57-75
our utmost to realize that what Jesus did at Calvary was for us and that it was our sins that put Him there as much as those who actually placed Him upon the tree. We can well let verse 36 be the key verse in our present consideration: “And sitting down they watched Him there.” If we will carefully watch Him and listen to Him as He hangs upon the cross, we will understand the purposes of His passion. The Humanity of the Saviour v. 32 After all that He had gone through, it is likely that the Son of God weakened beneath the load of His cross. It was then that a colored man was compelled to bear the cross to the place of execution. If Christ did so weaken in this experience, it shows again that He was possessed of our humanity. He was “touched with the feeling of our infirmity.”
The Place of Crucifixion v. 33
How fitting that Jesus should be cru cified at the “ place of a skull” ! He was about to suffer death in its fullness. Not only death of the body but also of soul and spirit in that He was to experience separation from the Father. The Stupefying Drink v. 34 This sort of a drink was usually offered to those similarly executed in that time in order to ease the victims’ pain. Jesus refused this drink in order that with full control of His mental faculties He might pay the debt that was against man because of his sin. The price must not be diminished. The Fulfillment of Scripture vv. 35, 36 The cross of Christ was not something apart from the plan of God. It was a' definite part of His plan for the redemp-
Memory Selection: “ If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed’’ (1 Pet. 4:16). Have you ever watched a dog who has been trained to obey every command of his master? If he obeys anyone other than his master, he is punished. His master’s voice is the only voice to which he is supposed to listen. One of Jesus’ closest friends, Peter, had followed his master closely for three years. Jesus had been training Peter to obey only His voice. Peter had eaten with Jesus, had seen Jesus perform great miracles, and had heard Jesus preach many sermons. Peter believed in his heart that Jesus was the Son of God. When Jesus told the disciples that all of them would forsake Him, Peter said that he would never do such a thing; he would always be faith ful to his Master. One day Jesus was arrested by His enemies. Peter was afraid to walk with Jesus as He went to His trial; Peter followed afar off. While Jesus was having His trial, Peter sat down by the fire that Jesus’ enemies had made. As Peter was warming his hands, a young girl looked at him and said that he too was one of Jesus’ friends. Two other times during the trial people said that Peter was one of Jesus’ disci ples. Each time Peter lied, and finally swore, that he did not even know Jesus. After the third time, Peter heard a cock crow. At once he remembered Jesus’ words, “ Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice” . Jesus turned from His trial and looked down at Peter. Peter’s heart was broken to think that he had denied his Master. He went away and wept. Peter had been like a dog who had listened to a voice of one who was not his master; he had obeyed Satan instead of God. Jesus lovingly forgave Peter and made him a great preacher in the early Christian churches. Peter, like most of us, was afraid of what others might say or do if they knew that he was Jesus’ friend. We some times think that we may be called a “ sissy” or a “ scaredy-cat” if we obey the Lord Jesus. God can help us to refuse to deny our Lord. He can give us courage to stand up for Him and to be proud that we know Him, as our Saviour and our Lord. Mar. 29, 1953 CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS Matt. 27:32-44, 54 Pointers on the Lesson There are in reality two great centers around which the revelation of the New Testament revolves. The first is “ the sufferings of Christ”—the Cross of Cal vary. The second is “ the glory that shall follow”—His Second Advent (1 Pet. 1:10,11)/. The Lord Jesus Christ in His sufferings is the theme of our lesson today. It is the first great center about which so much of the Biblical story gath ers. As we contemplate it we should do F E B R U A R Y , 1 9 5 3
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MEUf COMMENTARY E l i A M i ^ e i i ^ a i r u n i f EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY! N ew T estament C ommentary By DR. W ILLIAM H END R IK SEN 14 VO LUM ES à'isvii A completely new commentary by a capable and'painstak ing author. mih .' iijh i .'TII The only complete, new commentary on the New Testament for evangelicals in this decade.| THUE-TO-THE-IIILEI The author has an unwavering faith in the infallibility and inspiration of Holy Scripture. ITTgllg.HUI Recent discoveries and
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