475
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
October 1930
a - International £esson (Commentary ^ ^ ^r\ t i t T all the disciples. There is comfort in the fact that Christ saw in His disciples real “wheat” ; they were not merely chaff. V. 32. I made supplication for thee, Satan sought to use Peter for his own dastardly purpose and incidentally to de stroy the faith of the disciple. The Lord Jesus intervened and asked the Father to keep this humble believer who had been given to Him (cf. John 17:9-11). Peters faith failed partially but not completely ot finally. When once thou hast turned. The Master anticipated the recovery of Peter. How His prayer for this disciple was an swered was made perfectly clear on the day of Pentecost and afterward when Peter proved himself a bold and faithful servant of Christ. V. 33. I am ready to g o . - . , to prison. Peter’s strength was his weakness. His self-confidence caused him to stumble. He promised to go with his Lord to prison or to death, mistaking natural courage for real faith. V. 34. 1 tell thee, Peter. It is significant that the Master uses the new name, “ Peter.” Surely he was not at the moment acting like a stable “ rock” disciple! Jesus thought of him as he would be after he was recovered. Thou shalt thrice deny. Mark (14:30) gives more details, saying, “ Before the cock crow twice, .thou shalt deny me thrice.” Peter should have taken warning from this prophecy o f his fall, but he was unconscious of his weakness. III. Peter Stumbling (John 18:25-27). V. 25. Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. The night was cold and a fife had been kindled in the courtyard of the palace of the high priest. Before this Peter had been following “afar off” (Matt. 27;58). His love had been chilled. Art thou also one. The other Gospels state that one o f the maid servants of the palace charged Peter with being one of Christ’s disciples. Peter quickly denied that he knew Him, then withdrew from the' group and went out into the porch. Mark tells that while there Peter heard a cock crowing. This first warning was not heeded. He went back again to the fire in the court where another maid charged him with being one of the dis ciples. Again he denied more vehemently that he knew Jesus. V. 26. One o f the servants. The third test was the most severe. This servant was a kinsman of Malchus, whose ear Peter had cut off (John 18:10). Did not I see thee in the garden? This was a defi nite charge which Peter could with dif ficulty meet. ■ . V. 27. Peter therefore denied again. This time he denied with cursing and o a t h s (Matt. 26:74; cf. Mk. 14:71). Straightway the cock crew. Luke (22:61) says that at thisj point “the Lord turned, and looked upon'Peter.” This look of the Master must have shown sadness and yet reflected tender love. Shame and grief H eart of the L esson I. Peter Tested and True (Mk. 8:27-29). V. 27. Jesus went forth. The Master had left the territory about Jerusalem be cause of increased hostility of the Jews. Caesarea Philippi was in the extreme northern end of Palestine. Who do men November 2, 1930 Simon Peter From Weakness to Strength Lesson : Mark 8 :27-29; Luke 22:31-34; John 18:25-27; 21:15-17. Golden Text-. “Now when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). * * * L esson in O utline I. Peter Tested and True (Mk. 8:27- 29). 1. The test question—who is Jesus Christ? ' 2. The popular answer—John the Baptist; Elijah; a prophet. 3. The answer of Peter—“thou art the Christ.” II. Peter Boastful (Lk. 22:31-34). 1. A coming sifting foretold (31). 2. Christ, the helper by prayer (32). 3. A self-confident boast (33). 4. The Master’s warning (34). III. Peter Stumbling (John 18:25-27). 1. Folldwing afar off (Matt. 27:58). 2. Love chilled—at the enemy’s fire (25). 3. Deliberate denial (25-27). IV. Peter Restored (John 21:15-17). 1. A threefold question—“l o v e s t thou me?” 2. A threefold a n s w e r—“t h o u knowest that I love thee.” 3. A threefold commission—“ f e e d my lambs,” “tend my sheep,” “ feed my sheep.” * * * A pproach to the L esson P E T E R was first called as a disciple at 1 Bethabara (John 1:28). Gradually his contact with Jesus brought him to the con viction that He was “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This conclusion was reached some months before the cruci fixion. Peter’s denial of Jesus occurred in the hours just before the dawn on the day o f the crucifixion. His restoration to apostleship came at the Sea of Galilee during one of the appearances of the Lord Jesus after His resurrection. This lesson shows both the strength and the weakness of Peter. Over against the story of the disciple’s failure stands the grace of his forgiving Lord, who sup ported him in his trial by prayer, and who gave him a second opportunity to make good. say that I am? It was vital that the disciples should be able to answer this aright. It is still the central question in Christianity. V. 28. They told ■him. Popular opin ion was divided. Some thought He was John the Baptist. This would involve the idea that John had risen from .the dead (cf. Matt. 14:2). Others identified Him with Elijah. The Jews quite generally looked for this prophet to live again and to be a herald of Messiah (cf. Matt. 11: 14; Mai. 4:5). Still others said that He was' “one of the prophets.” Opinion was divided also as to whether some old prophet would rise again from the dead or a new prophet would appear. V. 29. Who say ye that I am? The question must be answered by each of the disciples. It still remains an individual matter and none can escape it. Peter an- swereth: This impulsive disciple was fre quently the spokesman of the group. No doubt other disciples shared his views (cf. Matt. 19:28; 26:40). Thou art the Christ. Matthew’s account reads: “Thou art the Christ, the Son o f the living God.” This doubtless is the complete statement (Matt. 16:16). In the first clause the pronoun is emphatic. The meaning is, “Jesus and none other is the Messiah.” He is not merely a prophet or special forerunner of Messiah. II. Peter Boastful (Lk. 22:31-34). V. 31. Simon, Simon. The repetition of the name indicates special earnestness. Satan asked to have thee. Several impor tant facts stand out in these words. (1) Satan is recognized as a personal evil spirit. (2) He seeks to destroy the chil dren of God (1 Pet. 5 :8, 9). (3) He can not touch them without permission from God (cf. Job 1 :11, 12). Sift you as wheat. The pronoun is plural and may apply to Teachers Find it Helpful I have found T he K ing ’ s B usiness so valuable that I am asking you to send[ it to two friends who are also teachers of the Word and who will be prof ited by its devotional pages. —From California.
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