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led the real tendency of their doctrines； and improved every occasion to instill them artfully into the minds of their hearers。 These false principles； when once accepted； worked like leaven in the meal； permeating and transforming the character。 It was this deceptive teaching that made it so hard for the people to receive the words of Christ。
The same influences are working today through those who try to explain the law of God in such a way as to make it conform to their practices。 This class do not attack the law openly； but put forward
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speculative theories that undermine its principles。 They explain it so as to destroy its force。
The hypocrisy of the Pharisees was the product of self…seeking。 The glorification of themselves was the object of their lives。 It was this that led them to pervert and misapply the Scriptures； and blinded them to the purpose of Christ's mission。 This subtle evil even the disciples of Christ were in danger of cherishing。 Those who classed themselves with the followers of Jesus； but who had not left all in order to become His disciples； were influenced in a great degree by the reasoning of the Pharisees。 They were often vacillating between faith and unbelief； and they did not discern the treasures of wisdom hidden in Christ。 Even the disciples； though outwardly they had left all for Jesus' sake； had not in heart ceased to seek great things for themselves。 It was this spirit that prompted the strife as to who should be greatest。 It was this that came between them and Christ； making them so little in sympathy with His mission of self…sacrifice； so slow to comprehend the mystery of redemption。 As leaven； if left to complete its work； will cause corruption and decay； so does the self…seeking spirit； cherished； work the defilement and ruin of the soul。
Among the followers of our Lord today； as of old； how widespread is this subtle； deceptive sin！ How often our service to Christ； our communion with one another； is marred by the secret desire to exalt self！ How ready the thought of self…gratulation； and the longing for human approval！ It is the love of self； the desire for an easier way than God has appointed that leads to the substitution of human theories and traditions for the divine precepts。 To His own disciples the warning words of Christ are spoken； 〃Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees。〃
The religion of Christ is sincerity itself。 Zeal for God's glory is the motive implanted by the Holy Spirit； and only the effectual working of the Spirit can implant this motive。 Only the power of God can banish self…seeking and hypocrisy。 This change is the sign of His working。 When the faith we accept destroys selfishness and pretense； when it leads us to seek God's glory and not our own； we may know that it is of the right order。 〃Father； glorify Thy name〃 （John 12：28）； was the keynote of Christ's life； and if we follow Him； this will be the keynote of our life。 He commands us to 〃walk； even as He walked；〃 and 〃hereby we do know that we know Him； if we keep His commandments。〃1 John 2：6； 3。
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Chapter 45
The Foreshadowing of the Cross
The work of Christ on earth was hastening to a close。 Before Him； in vivid outline； lay the scenes whither His feet were tending。 Even before He took humanity upon Him； He saw the whole length of the path He must travel in order to save that which was lost。 Every pang that rent His heart； every insult that was heaped upon His head； every privation that He was called to endure； was open to His view before He laid aside His crown and royal robe； and stepped down from the throne； to clothe His divinity with humanity。 The path from the manger to Calvary was all before His eyes。 He knew the anguish that would come upon Him。 He knew it all； and yet He said； 〃Lo； I come： in the volume of the Book it is written of Me； I delight to do Thy will； O My God： yea； Thy law is within My heart。〃 Ps。 40：7； 8。
Ever before Him He saw the result of His mission。 His earthly life； so full of toil and self…sacrifice； was cheered by the prospect that He would not have all this travail for nought。 By giving His life for the life of men； He would win back the world to its loyalty to God。 Although the baptism of blood must first be received； although the sins of the world were to weigh upon His innocent soul； although the shadow of an unspeakable woe was upon Him； yet for the joy that was set before Him； He chose to endure the cross； and despised the shame。
From the chosen companions of His ministry the scenes that lay before Him were as yet hidden； but the time was near when they must
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behold His agony。 They must see Him whom they had loved and trusted； delivered into the hands of His enemies； and hung upon the cross of Calvary。 Soon He must leave them to face the world without the comfort of His visible presence。 He knew how bitter hate and unbelief would persecute them； and He desired to prepare them for their trials。
Jesus and His disciples had now come into one of the towns about Caesarea Philippi。 They were beyond the limits of Galilee； in a region where idolatry prevailed。 Here the disciples were withdrawn from the controlling influence of Judaism； and brought into closer contact with the heathen worship。 Around them were represented forms of superstition that existed in all parts of the world。 Jesus desired that a view of these things might lead them to feel their responsibility to the heathen。 During His stay in this region； He endeavored to withdraw from teaching the people； and to devote Himself more fully to His disciples。
He was about to tell them of the suffering that awaited Him。 But first He went away alone； and prayed that their hearts might be prepared to receive His words。 Upon joining them； He did not at once communicate that which He desired to impart。 Before doing this； He gave them an opportunity of confessing their faith in Him that they might be strengthened for the coming trial。 He asked； 〃Whom do men say that I the Son of man am？〃
Sadly the disciples were forced to acknowledge that Israel had failed to recognize their Messiah。 Some indeed； when they saw His miracles； had declared Him to be the Son of David。 The multitudes that had been fed at Bethsaida had desired to proclaim Him king of Israel。 Many were ready to accept Him as a prophet； but they did not believe Him to be the Messiah。
Jesus now put a second question； relating to the disciples themselves： 〃But whom say ye that I am？〃 Peter answered； 〃Thou art the Christ； the Son of the living God。〃
From the first； Peter had believed Jesus to be the Messiah。 Many others who had been convicted by the preaching of John the Baptist； and had accepted Christ； began to doubt as to John's mission when he was imprisoned and put to death； and they now doubted that Jesus was the Messiah； for whom they had looked so long。 Many of the disciples who had ardently expected Jesus to take His place on David's throne left Him when they perceived that He had no such intention。 But Peter and his
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companions turned not from their allegiance。 The vacillating course of those who praised yesterday and condemned today did not destroy the faith of the true follower of the Saviour。 Peter declared； 〃Thou art the Christ； the Son of the living God。〃 He waited not for kingly honors to crown his Lord； but accepted Him in His humiliation。
Peter had expressed the faith of the twelve。 Yet the disciples were still far from understanding Christ's mission。 The opposition and misrepresentation of the priests and rulers； while it could not turn them away from Christ； still caused them great perplexity。 They did not see their way clearly。 The influence of their early training； the teaching of the rabbis； the power of tradition； still intercepted their view of truth。 From time to time precious rays of light from Jesus shone upon them； yet often they were like men groping among shadows。 But on this day； before they were brought face to face with the great trial of their faith； the Holy Spirit rested upon them in power。 For a little time their eyes were turned away from 〃the things which are seen；〃 to behold 〃the things which are not seen。〃 2 Cor。 4：18。 Beneath the guise of humanity they discerned the glory of the Son of God。
Jesus answered Peter； saying； 〃Blessed art thou； Simon Bar…jona： for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee； but My Father which is in heaven。〃
The truth which Peter had confessed is the foundation of the believer's faith。 It is that which Christ Himself has declared to be eternal life。 But the possession of this knowledge was no ground for self…glorification。 Through no wisdom or goodness of his own had it been revealed to Peter。 Never can humanity； of itself； attain to a knowledge of the divine。 〃It is as high as heaven； what canst thou do？ deeper than hell； what canst thou know？〃 Job 11：8。 Only the spirit of adoption can reveal to us the deep things of God； which 〃eye hath not seen； nor ear heard； neither have entered into the heart of man。〃 〃God hath reve