Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-01-05
From the Now York Observer.
INTERNATIONAL LESSONS,
BIT EEv. nEmT n. GEovr, D. D.
JANUARY s.
Lesson 2-Jesus in Galilee.
AIark ltlt-2s

Mark l4-2s.
GotpES TEXr:-"Ths people that walked In darkness
have seen great lighL'-lsaiah . =.
Central Truth The ardor OF Jesus in
the saving work he had come to do.
Neither of the Evangelists tells the
whole story of our Saviour's earthly life.
Each selects and groups the facts to suit
his own divinely guided purpose.
Among the things omitted by Marx. are
the events which followed Immediately
upon our Saviour's baptism and tempta.
tion. Most of these are recorded IN the
first FIVE chapters Of John. They include
the testimony OF the Baptist TO Jesus as
the Lamb Of God, the first meeting with
Andrew and John and Simon and PEi'ip
and Nathaniel, the marriage AZ Cana,
the first cleansing Of the Temple. the
interview with Nicodemus, the talk
with the woman at the well, the cure Of
the noblemAn's son at Cana, and the
IMPRISONMENT of the Blutst. These
made up the first year of Christs public
ministry; and they all occurred be
tween the events OF our last and our
present lessons.
Accordingly, Jesus is now in the
miist of his earthly work. During most
of the first year he had been IN Judea /;
the larger part of the next year and a
half will be spent in Galliee.
Palestine, il will be remembered. was
divided into four provinces Perpa on
the east side of the Jordan. and Judea
and Samaria and Ga.ilee on the west.
OF these, Galilee was the most northern.
Il was not large, not exceeding sixty
miles in length aud thirty IN breath.
But, in our Sayiour's time. il was very
fertile and poPu!ous. The region about
the Lake or Sea OF GAiilee was "studded
with towns and villages. and formed a
perfect bee hive Of swarming life" one
could easily reach many people, and
rapidly extend an influence once gained.
1t was hither that. after Johns Imprls.
onment, Jesus came to continue work
of which, in these verses, we get an in
structive glimpse.
/. lie "came preaching Apreacher
is herald, one who procIaims n message.
Now our Saviour was preacher. And,
for one thing, we here learn that his
message WAS a Gospel, that IL, glad
tidiDgs, good news. IL was not intended
to make men gloomy, but joyful. lie
did speak of Gin and misery; but sin Is
mans work, and misery Is sins fruit.
From all this he would save them. For
another thing, we here learn what was
hs substance of his Gospel. Gods king.
dom was at hand not an outward,
carnal, kingdom, such as the Jews look.
ed for. but one far more glorious the
blessings of which were satisfying and
lasting-as pardon, peace. divine keep.
ing, cleansing and eternal lite. And
the way into it was neither far of nor
difficult ; "Repent ye, and believe the
Gospel" That is, come over TO Gods
side. and take him at his word OF pro.
mise. Such blessing, on such terms,
was surely good news OF II, all had
need and it was in the reach OF all.
2. lie was very eager to have men
hear and heed his message. This comes
out in the variety of ways he took to
get their attention. The place where
be was, was near the Sea of Galilee.
And there were many fishermen there.
lie did not despise these, nor did he
wait for them to come to him. lie
went after them. IL was with this in
mind that "he walked by the sea-"
And when he had finished with one
person or group, he went "a little
farther" When the Sabbath day came
''he entered the synagogue and taught"
there. All this shows his great earnest.
ness. lie went where the people were,
addressed ell classes, sought out indivi.
duaIs, and was as ready TO speak to one
or two as to Sabbath assembly or
great crowd on the street. Nineteen
private interviews are said to be men.
toned in the Gospels.
3. He called others to assist him in
HE work. Turning 10 Johns Gospel,
the first chapter, we find that this was
not his first interview with Simon and
Andrew; probably IL was not his first
with James and John. On the banks
Of the Jordan he had been pointed out
to them as the Lamb Of God and they
had attached themselves to him IS dis.
ciples. But he did not then take them
from their secular calling. Now. how
ever, he had need OF them as helpers,
and desired to train them to be fishers
of men. They we're common men,
neither great nor learned but be would
teach them and GIL them with his own
Spirit. Note the promptness of their