followed. He speedily returned to fel- lowship with the risen Lord. Tradition says that whenever Peter heard the crow of the cock he wept. Steps in Peter's Fall: (1) Self Confidence, Matt. 26:33-35. (2) Ambition, Luke 22:24 (Comp. 1 Pet. 5:5.) ()3 Sleeping, Mark 14:37 (Comp, 1 Pet. 5:8.) (4) Rashness, Mark 14:47 (Comp. 1 Pet. 2:11-23.) (5) Following Afar, Mark 14:54 (Comp. 1 Pet. 4:13.) (6) Warming at World's Fire, Mark 14:67, 1 Pet. 4:1-3. POINTS PRACTICAL. (1) The most self-confident became the most definite in denial. (2) An ounce of performance is worth a pound of promise. (3) Peter was warned, weighed anck found wanting. / (4) Peter stood in with the crp-wd, in place of standing out with the Lord. (5) He was long on profession but short on power. (6) One look from the Lord and he went out weeping. (7) He learned a lesson which lasted a life-tme. The text of the lesson is too great for the limited period allowed to teach- ers. The lesson itself is one so sad, so solemn, so sacred that the approach to it should be in the deepest of humility and pra'yerfulness. With shoes re- moved and heads uncovered we should stand in the presence of the Cross of Christ and listen to the still small voice of the Spirit. No one is competent to teach this lesson. The parallel passages should be read carefully. There are four great actors at the Cross.
fidence was Peter's snare. We are right in having perfect confidence in our standing in the Lord, but we must be modest about our standing with the Lord. Our salvation is sure because it depends upon His promises, but our walk depends upon our keeping in closest touch with Him. Peter departed from the Lord when the worldly fear crept in, and he ended with a public brazen denial of His Master. He warmed himself at the world's fire, but his soul was chilled to the marrow. To the man who once had declared " Th ou art the Ch r i s t" came the privilege of defending Him as the " S o n of the Liv- ing God," but he missed his oppor- tunity. He did not Watch and Pray in the garden, and now he fails to pray and watch in the palace. SELF-CONDEMNED. The Lord's prophecy came true. The last denial was followed by the crow- ing of the cock. Peter's conscience was stirred, and he remembered the words of Jesus, vs. 75. Luke tells us that .Tesns turned and looked upon Him, Luke 22:61, and Peter went out and wept. Peter responded to a look. He loved His Lord; he was weak rather than wicked, and his safeguard was the pa- tient graee of his Lord. He awoke from the stupor to consciousness of the enormity of his guilt, and he broke down under the. burden of his sin. His tears were a testimony of his contri- tion; regret filled his soul, repentance.
LESSON XI. DECEMBER 11, 1910
The Crucifixion. Matt. 27:15-50. ' Golden Text —Isa. 53:5. Outline.
Pilate and the Prisoners, 15-26. The Robe and the Reed, 27-32. The Christ and the Cross, 33-44. Darkness and Death, 45-50.
The order of events at the Cruci- fixion as given in Schofield's Bible are as follows:
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