Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-02-17

Central Truth PROPHECY Is luIuIIeu
in Jesus.
Subsequently to the events narrated
i'm the last lesson we have the baptism
of Jesus hy John, and the divine attes.
tation of his person and character, then
the history of hls temptation Iii the
wilderness, his first miracle, his memor.
able interview with Nicodemus and also
with the Samaritan woman, and the
miracle of the healing of the nobleman's
son. After these our Lord returned to
Galilee 10y divine guidance. This was
his second journey into GalIlee, and he
makes a visit To Nazareth.
BY this time he had become very IA.
nous IN ali the region, though this does
not imply great personal popularity.
Our Lord was never popular, though he
often attracted crowds to hear his
preaching and to see his miraculous
works. But the men of Na2areth-hrs
own towu-reiected him, and when he
came to his own, his own received him
not.
At his second visit to Nazareth, he
went into the synagogue, as his custom
was, showing that he had always been
in the habit OF attending public wor.
ship and in taking part in the services
as reader. The arrangements of the
synagogue much resemhled those of
our modern places of worship. The
people sat in the front part of the
where the reader or speaker stood.
Behind these was a row of elevated
seats where the Scrihes and Pharisees
were fond OF sitting, they being the
"ohief places \ chest stood near the
pulpit, where the manuscript rolls of
the law, or the Scriptures, were kept,
from which the reader selected the por.
ton to be read or expouudcd to the
people. After the exposition, prayers
were offered and at the close, the benc.
dictIon was pronounced. to which all
the people responded Amen, and the
service was concluded. The service
was not conducted by ordained minis
ters, and any competent person was at
liberty to act as refder, and could even
add his own comments by permission
from the ruler OF the synagogue. Jesus,
by rising in his place, sienlGcd his wish
or intention to read. and the roll was
therefore brought to him by an attend.
ant, and he read the portion which was
in course for the service O. the day.
The lesson was in the book OF Isaiah,
and it was most appropriate 70 the Mes.
siah. His reading excited profound
attention, and the eyes OF all were fast
ened upon him. After he had closed
the book he sald to the people: This
day is the Scripture fulfilled in your
ears" This was equivalent to claiming
that he was the Messiah, and that the
inspired prophecies were spoken of
him. His claim was bold one, and he
simply asserts it, offering no argument
to p-oye 1t, Contentiug himself with the
simple authoritative declaration that he
was the Christ, the annointed One sent
by the Father.
Jesus was perhaps stranger to many
of his hearers, at least they might not
have heard him expound the Scriptures
before in public. so that they listened
TO him intensely and heard him with
astonishment aud interest.
The usual length OF the lesson read
was about tweniy.one verses, and the
reader stood during the reading, and
was seated during the exposition. On
this occasion his discourse must have
been OF very interesting character, for
we are told "they wondered at the Rra.
cious words which proceeded out Of his
mouth" 1t was the first distinct pub
lie announcement Of his Messiahship,
and it stirred the hearts of many who
we're looking and longing for the good
tijings OF the hope OF Israel. There
were many who were waiting for the
coming Of the Lord, and were ready to
receive him into open and anxious
hearts.
PRACTICAL sUGCEsTIoSs
|. II is characteristic Of the Gospel
that il Is first addressed to "he Door."
This Is proof OF its universal adapt.
alton. All men are spiritually poor.
Sin has impoverished the race. IL has
stripped men of all true wealth. and
reduced them to spiritual bankruptcy.
The true wealth Of the soul Is that
which is in accordance with its nature.
and lasting as its duration. Holiness
and the favor of God alone can make
us rich. Sin has robbed us of both, and
without the Gospel we must remain
hopelessly and forever poor. Earthly
wealth cannot supply spiritual needs.
We may spend money for that which is
not bread, Tor man cannot live by bread
alone. The supplies Of riches, tho
offers of pleasure, the promises Of fame.
are but a mockery to the lost sinner
seeking a way Of pardon and peace.
When a man realizes bis poverty
of the spirit, this bankruptcy Of the
soul. then he can appreciate the value
of Christ as one who was annointed
to preach the Gospel to the poor"
2. How attractive should be the Cos.
pei OF Christ to every variety OF spiritu.
al need.
IL has comfort for the broken heart.
ed, deliverance for the enslaved. sight
to the blinded soul, freedom for the op.
pressed spirit, acceptance for the guilty
and condemned, relief for every want
and woe which poor sinners can on.
dure.
3. What preacher is Christ.
lie is a Scriptural preacher. lie is