Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 169, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1915 — An Awkward Position [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

An Awkward Position

By REV. J.H. RALSTOM

SecreUry of Corapoodcac* DiufTwt, Moody Bible iixtituia of OiicMo

TEXT—Did I not see thee in the garden with him?—John 18:26. Peter’s position as indicated by this question depends on two or three

things; the person to whom it was addressed, the person referred to in the closing pronoun, and the circumstances that the question involved. The person addressed was Pdter, the person referred'" to in the closing pronoun was Jesus, the circum stances were about these: Jesus was on trial before the Roman

governor; Peter was in an outer hallway warming himself by a fire; one of the maids connected with the household of the governor recognized Peter as one that she had seen in the garden of Gethsemane with Jesus and Bhe at once accused him of being a disciple of Jesus by asking the question of the text. Out of the question that indicated Peter’s position grow some helpful suggestions. Companionship Indicates Discipleship. If Peter was with Jesus he was prima facie his disciple. When Jesus ■was gathering his disciples his frequent word was, “Follow mt>.” We read that Matthew left all and followed Jesus, and so with other disciples. “Sell that thou hast and follow me.” “Whosoever will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” We find that the disciples attached themselves to the person of Jesus because they were his disciples or learners, keeping within easy reach of the great teacher’s voice. Jesus Christ does not ask this mark of discipleship without guaranty of reciprocal companionship. He fulfilled to the letter the promise, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” Disciple Cannot Escape Recognition. Christians are marked men, not with the stigma such as- St. Francis fancied he carried, but with marks easily discovered by the world. A professor in a theological seminary, addressing a new class entering the institution, startled them by saying, “You are marked men.” They soon found out that on the streets, in the stores, in social circles and elsewhere, they were recognized as theologues. The disciples of Christ are usually marked by a public union with the Christian church and thus recognized as church members. The world primarily understands that church membership means true discipleship, however false many church members are to their vows; yet the least distinguishing mark of the Christian is his profession. He must bear about with him every day the marks of the Lord Jesus as Paul did. He must be always doing the will of God, gbing about doing good, manifesting his true character as a servant of all, and showing the spirit of selfsacrifice, even unto death. Test of Discipleship. The test of Peter’s discipleship here was the most trying one that could have been put on him, and at the same time it gave him an opportunity of showing the true fiber of his character and thus proclaiming hip loyalty to his master. It is not difficult to be a Christian on the Lord’s day or in the revival meeting, but it is difficult to be a Christian when one is surrounded by drunkards, profane swearers and the licentious. It was a hard thing for a believer to be a Christian in Rome, for that city was infamous in its immorality. It was hard for Peter to be sincere where he was, and this difficulty primarily had its root in his folly in being where he ought not to have been. The greatest pains the Christian suffers are the reproofs he receives from the world because of his inconsistencies. There is a peculiar delight among the people of the world In easting up the inconsistencies of Christians to them. Peter was true enough in the garden, but before the servants he was as false as a man could be. He was brave enough in the garden, but before the kitchen maid he was timid. But it is before the world that the best testimony can be made, indeed, it is the Christian’s business to witness in a world of sin. The testimony of the master himself was given in the world, and for two thousand years that testimony has stood and is as effective today as when first given. Even the memory of Jesus Christ, as we might say the tradition of Jesus Christ, has a place in the world that nothing else can take. Ea** of Apostasy. And there is an incidental suggestion in connection with Peter’s base denial, in that the step from close companionship with Jesus Christ to apostasy is not a long one. Peter was in a true sense a primate among the disciples, yet his base denial of his Lord is told as widely as the perfidy of Judas Iscariot himself. To rest in any relationship to Jesus Christ with too great confidence la dangerous.