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Advent Lessons

Lesson 13 · Sept. 26, 1891

Eternal Life; Its Cost.—Mark 8:10-38

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Parallels: ; .

  1. 1.After feeding the four thousand where did Jesus go? ; .
  2. 2.What was he asked by the Pharisees? ; .
  3. 3.How did he answer them? ; .
  4. 4.What did he say was the character of that generation which seek a sign? And why? . See note 1.
  5. 5.When going from them to the other side of the sea, what had his disciples forgotten? .
  6. 6.What charge did Jesus give them? .
  7. 7.To what did the disciples suppose he had reference? .
  8. 8.How did our Saviour rebuke them? .
  9. 9.Who could have provided them bread if they were in need? .
  10. 10.To whom did our Lord refer? .
  11. 11.Whence did Jesus go from there? .
  12. 12.What question did he ask his disciples?—
  13. 13.What reply did they make? .
  14. 14.What personal question did he put to them? .
  15. 15.What answer did Peter make?—
  16. 16.What assurance did our Lord give Peter? . See note 2.
  17. 17.What charge did he give his disciples? .
  18. 18.What did he say to them of his sufferings? .
  19. 19.How did Peter regard these things? ; .
  20. 20.How did our Saviour treat this apparently kindly rebuke of Peter? . See note 3.
  21. 21.What principle did he lay down as the foundation of the Christian life? .
  22. 22.Can this self-denial be made once for all? .
  23. 23.How far is this principle to extend? .
  24. 24.What all-sufficient reason does he give that we should deny ourselves? .
  25. 25.What solemn warning does he present before us? ; .
  26. 26.What precious assurance does he also give? .

Notes

1. Asking a Sign.—"A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign." We have no instance of one soul's accepting Christ because He wrought a sign for the seeking. God always gives sufficient evidence to him who desires to know and do God's will. "If any man willeth to do His will, he shall know of the teaching." , Revised Version, margin. The foundation of faith is a pure heart. The foundation of unbelief and infidelity is a heart which loves sin. Intellect has but little to do with it.

2. Thou Art Peter.—The assurance was that as God had revealed the truth to him that Jesus was Christ, so would he build upon that truth confessed by Peter, and that Rock, which was the incarnation of all truth, his church, against which the gates of hell, hades, should not prevail. Just so long, therefore, as one holds to such foundation, so long will he stand against all the powers of the enemy. The word "Peter" comes from petros, meaning a stone. "Rock" comes from petra, meaning rock, but never stone. The stone, Peter, is built upon the Rock, Christ. See . The binding and the loosing doubtless had reference to the same great truth. He who confessed Christ would be loosed from sin; he who rejected him would be bound and lost. See No. 63 Bible Students' Library, "The Sure Foundation."

3. The Things of the World.—Peter's remark, which on the surface seemed so kindly meant, was based on the veriest selfishness. He had identified himself with Jesus, and he knew that if Jesus was to suffer, it would involve him also in the humiliation. Our Lord discerned his spirit and properly rebuked him. The plan of salvation was laid in the self-denial of love. We can be partakers in that plan only as we partake of the same spirit.

Bible texts in this lesson

Matthew 16:6-28 · Luke 9:18-26 · Matthew 15:39 · Mark 8:10 · Matthew 16:1 · Mark 8:11 · Matthew 16:2 · Matthew 16:3 · Mark 8:12 · Matthew 16:4 · Mark 8:13 · Mark 8:14 · Mark 8:15 · Mark 8:16 · Mark 8:17 · Mark 8:21 · Matthew 16:8-10 · Matthew 16:11 · Matthew 16:12 · Mark 8:27 · Mark 8:28 · Mark 8:29 · Matthew 16:17-19 · Mark 8:30 · Mark 8:31 · Mark 8:32 · Matthew 16:22 · Mark 8:33 · Mark 8:34 · Luke 9:23 · Mark 8:35 · Mark 8:36 · Mark 8:37 · Mark 8:38 · Matthew 16:27 · Matthew 10:32 · John 7:17 · 1 Peter 2:4-8

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