November 1924
T HE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
706
Jesus gave thanks, there was enough to feed the multitudes. When we give what we have to Jesus, He blesses it. Closing Prayer. NOVEMBER 16, 1924. PETER’S CONFESSION Golden Text: “ Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”,. Matt. 16:16. Lesson Text: Matt. 16:13-20. (Read Mark 8:27-29; Luke 9:18-20.)
Jesus Feeds Hungry People John 6:1-15 Memory Verse.— “ Give us this day our dally bread.” Matt. 6:11. Approaeh.4§Earl, do you think hoys and girls can help in the work for Jesus in the church and Sunday School? Indeed they can, and they can do so many things that the big folks can not do. The first thing ELEMENTARY is to be willing to help wherever there Mabel li. Merrill is a chance. Jesus loves to have the boys and girls serve Him with willing hearts. Our story this morning is about a little boy who had a chance to do something that no one else in the big crowd of people could do, and he was willing to do it and helped Jesus. Let us bow our heads and thank Jesus for the many things He has given lis to do. Lesson Story.—Richard, can you tell its about the young man in our story last week, who ran away from home? (Review). This young man was like some boys and young men today, who get tired of home and think they can have a much better time somewhere else, and find, when their money is all gone, or when they get sick, that home is the best place to be, but they are not all as wise as this young man, to come home and tell the home folks he did wrong by running away and spending his money in a wrong way. Our story this morning is about a big crowd of people^ who were hungry, and we will see how a little boy helped. Jesus and His disciples wanted to be alone for a while, so they crossed the Sea of Galilee by boat into a desert place, and when the people heard it, they followed on foot and went around the lake. Now Jesus came to this place to be alone with His disciples, but do you think He sent the peo- plè away telling them He was too busy? No, He felt sorry for the people who had walked the long distance, many of them carrying sick ones. So Jesus went about among them and healed the sick ones, and then before the day was over He did something else more wonderful than healing the body. In the after noon the disciples came and asked Jesus to send the people home that they might get something to eat, as the place was a desert placé. Jesus knew the people were' tired and hun gry, and would not send them away without fèeding them. The disciples knew there was no place to buy food, but An drew Said that a little boy there had a lunch of five crack ers and two fishes/' Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down on the grass. Now the boy was the only one in that great crowd who had a lunch, but he did not refuse to give it to Jesus. I think he watched Jesus very closely, and wondered what good his little lunch could do for such a great number (5000). Jesus took the lunch, and when He had given thanks, He gave to the disciples and told them to give to the people. Now listen, boys and girls, the people-had all they could eat, and then Jesus told the disciples to gather up what was left, so nothing would be wasted. We see Jesus taught them something far more wonderful than just healing their sick bodies, for He showed them He was the Son of God who had power to do all things, and because He was the Son of God, He could save them from their sins, and feed their souls, No one can save us from our sins hut Jesus, and when we take Him as our Saviour, He forgives all our sins, and then every day we must ask Him to help and lead us in the right way. I wonder if we thank Him for our food each time we eat? There was just lunch enough for one little boy, but after
C O N V I C T I O N
T f c R I V A T E m T u b l i c
V / O N F E S S I O N Heart belief— mouth confession.— Rom. 10:9, 10
The Confession of Peter is universally regarded as mark ing a new era in the life and public ministry of Christ. Matthew’s Gospel may be represented by an ascending line up to ch. 16: 21. The phrase “ from that time” is the apex. From, that point to the close it may LESSON be represented by a descending line. EXPOSITION The Saviour had passed through Judea, F. W. Farr Samaria and Galilee and His rejection by “ His own” was now complete. The people had eagerly welcomed His earthly things but when He began to speak to them of heavenly things they “ went back and walked no more with Him.” With the little band of faithful disciples which He had gathered around Him, He withdraws to the neighborhood of the Gentile town of Caesarea Philippi. The time has come to test their own faith and hope. He does this by asking them first what they think of Himself and then by showing them what they must expect if they continue to follow Him. The test of their faith is to ascertain what they have learned by their intercourse with Him. The test of their hope follows, lest their discipleship should be based on expectations doomed to disappointment. The test of faith was a strictly personal one. The first inquiry brought the current popular opinions. The second inquiry sought their own conviction. “Whom say yd that I am?” With what intense feeling must t.he Master have put the question. With what joy must He- have hailed the response of Peter, who, with eyes lighted with affection and heart glowing with enthusiasm, replied: “ Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This confession was welcomed by the Saviour’s first per sonal beatitude, suggesting Matt. 5:3, 10. In declaring His relation to the Father, Jesus had said: “No man knoweth the Son but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son' and he. to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.” (Matt. 11:27,) The notions of the people were the surmisings of flesh and blood. This faith of the apostle came from heaven. The foundation is laid and the building of the spiritual temple can begin. This region was famous for its great temples. The little group was standing on a rocky ledge of Mt. Hermon, and great boulders were here and there around them. It is possible stones were in sight that had been cut out of the rock to be made use of in building like those still to be seen in Baalbec to the north of Hermon. Jesus uses two related words which may be paraphrased: “ Thou art Peter (a piece of roek, a detached stone), and on this bed-rock or ledge (or we might say, on this kind of stuff) I will build my church and the gates of Hades shall
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