230
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
April 1927
(v. 54), and now was beneath in the palace at the lower end of the hall. Those that are shy of Christ, that are shy of attending on holy ordinances, shy of the communion of the faithful, and loath to be Seen on the side of despised godli ness,. are in a fair way to deny Him. 2. It was occasioned by his associating with the high priest’s servants, and sit ting among them. They that think it dangerous to be in company with Christ’s disciples, because, thence they may be drawn in to suffer for Him, will find it much more dangerous to be in company with his enemies, because there they may be drawn in to sin against Him. 3. The temptation was, his being charged as a disciple of Christ: " Thou also yeert with Jesus of Nazareth” (v. 67). “This is one of them (v. 69), for thou art a Galilean, one may know that by thy /Speaking broad” (v. 70). It doth not ap pear that he was challenged upon it, or in danger of being prosecuted as a criminal .for it, but only bantered upon it, and in danger of being ridiculed as a fool for it. While the chief priests were abusing the Master, the servants were abusing the disciples. Sometimes.-the cause of /Christ seems to fall so much on the losing side that everybody has a stone to throw' at it, and even the objects gather themselves to gether against it. When Job was on the dunghill, he was had in derision of those that were the children of base men (Job 30:8). Yet, all things considered, the temptation could not be called formid able ; it was only a maid that casually cast her eye upon him, _and, for aught that appears, without design of giving him any trouble,' said, “Thou art one of them,” to which he needed not to have made any reply, or might have said, “And if I be, I hope that is; no treason.” 4. The sin was very great; he denied ■Christ before, men, at a time when he ought to have Confessed and owned Him, and to have appeared in court a witness for Him. Christ had often given notice to His disciples of His own sufferings; yet, when they came, they were to Pete! as great a surprise and terror as if he had never heard of them before. He had often told them that they must suffer for Him, must take up their cross, and fol low Him; and yet Peter is so terribly afraid of suffering, upon; the very first alarm of it, that he will lie apd swear, and do anything, to avoid it. When Christ was admired and flocked after, he could readiljg/own Him; but now that He is de serted, and despised, and run down, he is ashamed of him, and will own no relation to him. 5. His repentance was very speedy. He repeated his denial thrice, and the third was worst of all, for then he cursed and swore to confirm his denial; and that third blow, which, one would think, should haye stunned him, and knocked him down, star tled him and roused him up. Then the cock crew the second time, which put him in mind of his Master’s words, the warn ing He had given him, with that particu lar circumstance of the cock crowing twice; by recollecting that, he was made sensible of his sin and the aggravations of it; and when he thought thereon, he wept. Some observe that this evangelist who wrote, as some have thought, by St. Pet er’s direction, speaks as fully of Peter’s sin as any of them, but more briefly of his sorrow, which Peter, in modesty would
P ith and P oint Nothing locks the lips like a life that is out of fellowship with Christ. The dust on your Bible reveals the rust on your soul. The high cost of living is nothing com pared to the high cost of sinning. Backsliding has begun when you begin to compare yourself with others to their detriment. Some of the most earnest workers for God are those who have made mistakes enough to make them humble. No one ever backslid on his knees. It is good to learn of your own weak ness if it drives you to lean on Him for strength. Going back usually begins with looking back. If you would master temptation, let Christ master you. S uggestive Q uestions What is the first result of the back sliding of a child of God? (Eph. 4:30). If the Holy Spirit is grieved, what is bound to follow? (Psa. 32:3, 4: 1 Cor. 11:32). Can a Christian who is out of fellow ship with Christ have any real joy? (Psa. SI :3, 4, 12) . If backsliding is persisted in, what may be the result? (1 Cor. 11:30). What happened not many days after Peter shed his tears of repentance? (Mark 16:7; comp. Luke 24:34). Having denied Jesus three times, by what three steps did Peter come back into fellowship? (John 21:15-17),3|f What was it ,that kept Peter from fall ing to the same depth to which Judas fell? (Luke 22:32). Does this intercession extend to those of our day who accept Christ? (Jn. 17: 20; Rom. 8:34). Selected from Matthew Henry ^L7E have here Christ’s arraignment, trial, conviction, and condemna tion, in the ecclesiastical court, bef&re the great Sanhedrim, of which the high priest
not have to be magnified, and because he thought he could never sorrow enough for so. great a sin. His repentance here is -thus expressed: “He added to! weep,” so some give it, making it a Hebraism; he wept, and the more he thought of it, the more he wept; he continued weeping, he flung out, and wept:; burst out into tears; threw himself down and Wept; he covered his face, and wept, so some give it; cast his garment about his head, that he might not be seen to weep; he oast his eyes upon his Master, who turned and looked upon him ; so Dr. Hammond sup plies it, and it is a probable conjecture. Or, as we understand it, fixing his mind fplpbn it, he wept. It is not a fansr-nt thought of that which is humbling that will suffice, but we must dwell upon it. Or, what if this’ word should mean his laying a loadriupon himself, throwing con fusion into his own face? He did as the publican that smote his breast, in sorrow for sin; and this amounts to his weeping bitterly. Peter Grieves Jesus and is Sorry Mark 14:53, 54, 66-71; Luke 22:61, 62. ‘ Memory Verse : “And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter;” Luke 22:61. Approach : The cables or great wire ropes by which, workmen are let down into the deép mines must be very strong. Before they áre allowed to be used, every ples going with Jesus upon a mountain, and they had a wonderful time. Who will tell us the Story? (Review, emphasizing the glory and power of the Lord Jesus Christ.) Now after the wonderful time Peter had'with Jesus up on the mountain, our story today is a very sad one. Jesus Was soon to die upon the cross, and He and the disciples were often together, and Jesus was telling them of the things that would happen. Peter had uttered some wonderful words when Jesus asked His disciples who He (Jesus) was, and Peter said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of God.” At the Last Supper Jesus had told Peter that Satan had asked for Peter to test him, and Jesus told Peter He would pray for him. Peter then told the Lord he was willing to go to prison with Him, and to ,even die for Him. Peter was not as strong as he thought, and Jesus .could look right down into Peter’s heart, and knew his weakness. Listen to what Jesus said to Peter: “This night, before the cock crows twice, thou shalt three times deny that thou knowest me.” But Peter answered the more confidently, “Though I should die with thee, I will not deny Thee.” Cruel men had seized Jesus, and taken him to the office of the high priest, where He was to be tried. Peter followed Jesús afar off, and remained with the servants and officers, and warmed himself at the fire. Peter must have known what was to happen to the Lord Jesus. A young woman came in and said to Peter, “Thou wast with Jesus foot is. tested with a testing machine. If they .are to. lift a ton, ;t h e y may. be tested for two tons. —Arnold’s Practical 'Commentary. Lesson S t o r y . Last week we heard about Peter and two of the other disci
was president, or judge of the court; the same Caiaphas that had lately ad- judged it expedient he should be put to death, guilty or not guilty (J o h n 11: 50), and who there fore might justly be excepted against as partial.
Christ is hurried away to his house his palace it is called, such state did he live in. And there, though in the dead of the night, all the chief priests, and elders and scribes that were in the secret, were assembled, ready to receive the prey, sc sure were they of it. Peter followed at a distance, such a de gree of cowardice was his late courage dwindled .into, v. 54. But when he came to the high priest’s palace, he sneakinglj went, and sat with the servants, that he might not be suspected to belong to Christ The high priests’ fireside was no proper place, nor his servants proper company for Peter, but it was his entrance into a temptation. 1. It began by his keeping at a distance from Him. Peter had followed afar off
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker