The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-12-27
JOHNS MISSION.
international Sunday School Lesson for
January 9, 1852.

January O. 1882.
Especially arranged from 4. 8. ouartoriy.1
LEssoN TExr-Mark 1:1.11.
0oIprx Trxr-'The voice Of one CRYING In
the wilderness. Prcpare We the way of the
Lord d..-Mark la.
CENTRAL, TRtru-Ve should prepare the
wav for tho comm q of Christ into our hearts
and into the world around us.
T1Ms-Thc ministry of John the Baptist
began during the summer of A. ID. %, and
continued about two wears, till he was i'm
prisoned by Herod, March, A. ID. 2S. The
baptism Of Jesus by John, about January,
A. ID. "a.
PLACE-The preaching Of John the Baptist
| was In the wilderness Of Judea, west of tho
Dead Sea and lower Jordan. The baptism
| Of Jesus was probably at the fords Of the
Jordan at Bethabara, five miles northeast
Of Jericho
| PARALLEL AccouyTs-Matt 3.1-17; Luke
3:1.23. Jesus was about thirty years old at
| His baptism. He was born In Bethlehem,
| December, B. Z. 5. His mother was Mary.
| John the Baptist was the COUSIN of Jesus.
| His parents were Zacharias, priest, and
| Elizabeth, q cousin of the Virgin Mary.
| He was born ak months before Jesus, June,
| B. C.5
| PLACE IN SECULAR HISTORY - Tiberius
| Caesar, Emperor of Romc (thirteenth year
as sole rulcr). Pontius PLATE, Governor Of
Judoa first yenr). Herod Antipas, Gov
ernor Of Galilee (thirticth year,; Herod
Philip, Of Perea The Roman Empire ex-
tended over nearly all the known world. It
| was general timc OF peace Greece was
| subject TO Rome, but was still the center OF
intellect and culture. Tho Roman Empire
| had population OF 120OO0OOO The Jews
In Palestine numbered about 1000, the
same as the present number Of Jews
throughout the world.
HELPS OVER HARD PLAcEs--1. The Begin
ming: this verse is u kind of title to the book.
Gospel. shortened from good and spell-story,
news, tidings. 1t 10 tho bcst news ever
brought to man. 9. In the prophets: v. Q Ii
from Malachi, 400 years b. c., and v. from
Isaiah, 700 years b. G. D. Prepare the srdv.
Eastern princes, when proposing to march
with their armies through the countries
where there were no roads, sent messen-
gers before them, requiring the people to
prepare the way-makc roads, fill up ra-
vines, cast out the rough stones. So John
was to prepare the way for Christ. A. In
the iDildcrncss: SEQ place. Preach: proclaim
as herald. Baptism of repentance: that they
should repent, and be baptized as sign and
confession of repentance. Repentance, l.
G, turning from SIN, was the preparation for
the coming Of Christ. For ne remission:
forgiveness, and taking away Of sim God
can not forgive our SINS till we repent Of
them. o. Al hs land: the people from oil
parts of tho land, the great body of the peo-
pic g. Canlci's hair: u rough but warm gar
nent made of tho coarsor hairs Of the
camel Girdlc Of a skin: untanncd leather,
like that worn by the Bcdouin OF tho pres
ont day. Loc,sts: inscctS something like
our grasshoppcrs, three or three aud o half
inches in length Tho Arabs dry and eat
them with salt. They uro the food only Of
the poorest people. IYtld honey: l. O., honey
made by wild boes. It is still gathered
from trees in the wilderness and
from rocks In the wadieS. Z. Ldtchst:
leather strings or thongs for fastening the
shoes, sandals. Worthy to unlooe: this was
the work Of the lowest servants. Christ
yond his lowest menial. s. Dapttzc with The
HOLY Ghost: Matthew adds, and 10Th fire:
cleansing, purifying, powerful, cheering,
lfe-giving influences. One example was on
the day Of Pentccost (Acts %. o In these
days: while John was preaching and bap
tizing. From Nasars'h: His home for twenty.
eight years. 1t was seventy miles north Of
Jerusalem. Spirit lhc a dOre In the form OF
dove, representing His gentle, loving, at,
; tracing iniluenees
CoMMENTs-Just as people living in those
, Gays were nlleu Win eartnly thoughts so as
. to be In danger Of neglocting matters OF
eternal Importance, so we are in danger OF
letting things seen crowd out things un'
seen. We arc always exposed to the tempta
, ton Of valuIng what we can touch and soc
and taste more than the unseen treasure:
, Of character and life. Treasure in this
world seems to us more real than treasure
In Heaven. For this reason VIC nced to be
aroused by warning voice; and though
, God has not sont to US any John the Baptist
He has yet not left us without any warning
!. ~, tno preacher' inc bible, TINS very Sun
oay-scnooi lesson, sickheso' aeath OF FRIENDS
cc', ec. pu' ocs'aes tnese, Eod mas sem
oach oho sore VI ospeolai HiessenRer
Q any man VIII STOP anu hsten ior uod''
. aessase, !" WI, 10 'ruo IN ms case 81
: w"s M 'na. " israe,' Ahihe car'
1 % 1nau near woru ochiha tnec, saying
a anis 70 inc way walk 20 NIL Nsa' W
, ~ IL may Do that Iod WIZ speak IN .
!, sun, smali voice, 80 that we shaii nave Y
nsteh careiuiiy' iest inc noise OF the worio