The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-08-07

THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR AUG.
8, 1886; LESSON SIXTH.
Explanatory Notes by Rev. John Hall,
ID. d., LII. d., OF New York-From The
Sunday School World-SubJect: "Gen-
tiles Seeking Jesus" John xii, 2O-38.

oul NsSpi, h'-A'J b''"'
truths on which we can only glance rapidly,
has q unity in it, 1t is all suggested by the
Greeks" O., not Greck-spoaking Jews, but
born Greeks, proselytes, no doubt for they
came among the keepers of the feast) coming
TO "see Jesus" This again is connected with
the foregoing passages. A threcfold honor
is done to Jesus First Mary anoints him
Then the people hail him as king. Now
thirdly, the Greeks show their feeling toward
him. All he says-and this is the Close of his
public speaking as John reports it, the rest Of
this gospel is to his disciplcs-follows FROM
the suggestive visit of the Greeks,
V. 20 In one sense Judaism seems mar
row, but it provided for others than Jews
coming into its privileges, See Solomon'S
prayer for the stranger in | Kings viii II,
~ Many did come like these Greeks. They
are spoken Of as worshippcrs. They came 10
Philip of Bethsaida; why, we cannot tell.
He seems To have been slow and hcstatng.
(Sce John vi, 8, and xiv, - He comes and
tells Andrew, with whom he seems connected
also in the report Of the feeding of the five
thousand. Sometimes men in u company
take to- one another. He was Of the city Of
Andrew John i, A. The simple wish of the
Greeks is TO "see Jesus" and Andrew and
Philip tell Jesus. What the Lord did we are
not told But it is not unreasonable TO think
that the words he spake, as the Greeks sug
gested them, may have had a bearing on
them Jesus never made sensation He
did mot cry nor lift up his voice. nor mako
u stir in the street. This request was not
without significance. The wise men from
the east came with their homage at his birth
Here are Greeks from the west coming on the
eve of his death. "Many shall come from the
east and west, etc Matthew viii, H. The
magi, taught from above, honor wisdom
greater than theirs. "The Greeks seek after
wisdom" They arc on the way to it when
they say, 1--WE would see Jesus" All that |
falls short of seeing him is unsatisfying. Oh, |
that all our schools and colleges, where
ancient literature and modern culture are
studied, had this inspiration! This desire Of
the Greeks recalls TO the Savours mind all |
that would follow from his work, and this |
brings with fresh vividncss the work itself
so
(V. go probably to the disciples and the
Greeks he says "The hour is come, that the
Son Of man should be glorifed," |. O., his real
character and work displayed, as in his
dying rising and setting up n kingdom for
Jews and Gentiles He had been rejected,
misunderstood. His truo nature and work
will now be seen.
V. "a. Then the Saviour employs sug
gcstive figure, describing first himself in his
work, and then secondly his people. "Glo-
rifedl yet am to die. This looks strange;
but it is not SO really. II grain of wheat
keeps itself, so to speak, whole, and does not
die, nothing more comes of it; but if it die,
20 into the ground and be dissolved more of
its kind is the result. II | do not die | shall
be the Son of man, but alone II die, u
great multitude that no man can number will
De my seed Isa lii, lU, my Brethren the
children whom God will give me- So it is
with his people. II they think only Of ease,
comfort, self representation, nothing comes Of
them. If they are willing to spend and DO
spent for God, there is fruit What mado
Livingstone, Moirat, Cary, Duff, Brainerd--
what made martyrs and apostlcs-greati
This figure would suit Greeks Paul uses it
10 the Corinthians in another point of view
4 Cor XIV, 3G)
V. Is is a plain statement of the truth so
wildly set forth Guard your life from any
'isks from doing duty and it comes tonothing.
Be- willing if need be, to lay it down for
'hrists sake and it will bo kept safe TO life
ternal Jesus often dwelt ON this Matt X,
%; xvi -; Luke tx, 23-2f II was needed
hen, 1t j, still Il have made money. achieved
ucccss won fame | lived for that and
gained my object Many feel and some say
hat, But they hayo gained nothing else; 7,
hey have lost their real fc-thcr souls.
Hate of course, is q strong word for love |
ess than, rs in the reference 10 mating father !
md mother, etc. luke xiv, 20. This is the
ieep inward truth which early and later SUI
,erstltion twisted into self torment aud vol.
ntary starvation. Monks won fame and
lonors by ostcutatious fasting not the things }
Jesus thought Of
Y. 20. There is Some peculiar fitness in the |
words, amy man. when we think of the !
Tecks. Ii any man, jew or Greek, desires
O serve me, the way is to follow me, do rs {
10, initiate me, deny self, mako sacrifice for q
thers; then where | go ho will come at |
angth. (Sec John xvii p and Thess iv, IN 5
( any man, jew or Greek barbarian.
'cythian, bond or free, viii serve me, him will !
he tsec REVISION "Eather honor" The way |
o have honor ut the hand of tue Father is to l.
'e servant and follower Of his Son,
V. 81 All this recalls wildly the coming I
Now is my soul troubled" He
aw all that was coming as We cannot
What shall say.' This is the expression !
II the human apprehension and bewil,tr. !
nent of the man of sorrows He sets Us an
Example. "Cal upon Me in tho day Of "
rouble," says God. See Ps |, l5.) "Save 1
ne from this hour" so human nature shrinks $
rom the suffering; but then Jesus recalls,
But for this cause came | unto this hour"
some have read, Shall say save me from '
his hOuri No; for this cause came unto |
lbs hour" Our reading is the better He e
lAs before him the great thing thought of c
rom the beginning. He is to bo Christ I
ruciiied.' He is 10 make his soul an offer !
ny for SIM ifshe is 10 see his seed So, I
ising above self and thinking Of the Fathers
lonor, he says
o.. 2S), Father, glorify thy name 1t is .,
lac victory Of trust and fathiulness over
ear and self in every form. 1t Is the highest U
ype of the martyr spirit, and the Father L
lonOrs it, Here comes IA significant fact-a
'oice from heaven loud like thunder which u
Iesus and the disciples heard and understood
i have both glorihed it, in the witnessing a
o the Jews Of our Lords ministry, and viii 5
,lorty it in the witnessing again TO the ;
icntiles, OF whom the Greeks are types. /
'. - is instructive The multitude c
leard the awe-inspring sounds but to them
hey were but thunder So it is now. Gods G
'oices in creation, providence and Scripture !,
BELIEVERS can hear and profit by, but to the ),