One day Peter and others listened to a conversation between their Lord and a rich young ruler. He was a young man, rich, and, as painted by the old masters, very handsome. But with all, he had kept himself morally clean, and desired to get eternal life. [6] But his heart was set upon his riches; so when the Savior said, "Sell all thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me," the young ruler went away very sorrowful. Then Peter said, "Lo, we have left all and followed thee." As much as to say, Lord we have left everything for Thee, now what shall be our reward? Jesus said: "There is no man who has left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time; and in the world to come, life everlasting." "But," He added, "there are many who make themselves first, that shall be last; and the last first." [Sidenote: Humility.] This last statement must have contained for Peter, the first among the Twelve, an important lesson in Humility. A LESSON IN FAITH It was probably on Tuesday of the last week that Jesus spent with His apostles, that Peter called attention to the result of a divine curse. [Sidenote: The Barren Fig Tree.] A day or so before this, Jesus had gone out of His way to get some figs from a tree that stood some distance off. When he found that the tree bore no fruit He said it should never bear fruit again. On this Tuesday morning as the disciples were passing by, "they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots." "And Peter calling to remembrance said unto Him, Master, behold the fig tree which Thou cursedst is withered away." [Sidenote: Power of Faith.] Jesus answered: "Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith." [7] On that same day, Peter was undoubtedly with the Twelve on the Mount of Olives when they asked Jesus "privately" about the destruction of the Temple. [8] [Sidenote: Keep Commandments.] To Peter and to all He said: "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, and keep my commandments, that ye may be counted worthy to escape all these things which shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man when He shall come clothed in the glory of His Father." Footnotes: 1. Ex. 30:13. 2. Matt. 17:24-27. 3. Matt. 18:21. 4. Matt. 18:22 5. See II Kings 4:1; Lev. 25:39. 6. Read Luke 18:18-30. 7. Mark 11:22-28. 8. Mark 13; Matt. 24; Luke 21. LESSON 9 ON THE NIGHT OF THE BETRAYAL "The weakest spot in every man, is where he thinks himself the wisest." IN THE UPPER ROOM On Thursday of the Passion Week, Jesus called Peter and John to Him, and said: "Go, and prepare us the passover, that we may eat." [1] [Sidenote: The Passover.]