The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1889-03-08
c TIE ClIILDIIAE SPIRIT.
LESSON X, FIRST QUARTER, INTER.
NATIONAL SERIES, MARCH 10.

NATIONAL SERIES, MARCH 10.
Text Of the Lesson. Mark IL. S3-42-Com.
init to Memory Verses 80, 3s-Golden
Text. Mark (. i5--Commentary by Rev.
d. NJ. stearns.
| Compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by per.
mission OF II S Hoffman, publisher. Philadel
| phia
| The incidents Of this lesson are found In the
other Gospels in Matt xix, 1890; Luke xviii,
1880. In the life Of our Lord Jesus many
miracles have been wrought, many journeys
made and many eternal words spoken since
our last lesson, and He is soon to start on His
last journey to Jerusalem (Mk. K, 1894
there to accomplish His great work of atone
ment; but everywhere and at all times He is
the same meek and lowly Jesus whose one
aim is to glorify God and direct men to tho
kingdom, that kingdom which Is mentioned
five times in our lesson today. first as to who
may enter it, and then the hindrances to en-
tering it,
IL. "And they brought young children to
Him, that He should touch them" Matthew
says that He should put His hands on them
and pray" Israel was taught to give great
heed to the children, and many were their
instructions to teach them concerning the
wonders which God had wrought for their
fathers and the laws which He had given
them lex. xii, 20; Deut. iv, 10; vi, z; XII, g.;
Josh. iv, 81, 90; Ps. xvii. 40, and now
that the fulillment of the law and the very
wonder working God of Israel was in their
midst, was it not beautiful to bring the chill
dren to Him.
"His disciples rebuked those that brought
them" The generation who speak thus have
not died out; they are selfish and cannot be
bothered with the children; they are blind
and know not the spirit of Christ, though
protesting to be His people. Where the
spirit of Christ is there will be not only love
for the children, but they will be brought to
Jesus.
IA. "When Jesus saw it He was much dis
pleased" | think this is the only time that
it is written that He was displeased with the
disciples, though they did often grieve Him
by their unbelief and hardness of heart
15 whatsoever shall not receive the king
dom of God as little child he shall not
enter therein "A little child such as these
Uuke calls them infants) has nothing, needs
everything, is entirely helpless and depend
ent, and believes what it is told, and when
we come in this spirit Of utter helplessness,
emptiness and simple faith, protesting not to
bring anything with us, but ready to receive
the salvation which God is ready to give as
free and unmerited favor, then shall we be
born again, foretaste of the kingdom come
in our hearts, and in due time we shall enter
the kingdom.
16. HE took them up in His arms, put His
hands upon them and blessed them" Oh,
happy children and happy parents! they
would never forget that day. We do not
know who they were, nor anything of the
after life of those children, but surely we
shall meet in the kingdom the children whom
Jesus took in His arms and blessed. 1t is not
possible that this Interchangeable Jesus can be
Indifferent to the welfare of any one of
the multitudes of infants which are
constantly passing out from this earth.
Let every mother who has lost
a babe find comfort here, and also read care
fully Deut. i, 49, If the streets of the re-
stored Jerusalem in Palestine are yet to be
full of boys and girls playing in the streets
thereof (Zech. viii, 81, what must be the pres
ent joy of the hosts of children in the pres
ence of the King while they wait for the
greater joys of the New Jerusalem But
above all things, let us lay to heart and i'm
press upon the scholars from this portion of
our lesson, that to enter the kingdom of God
we must be born again, we must be con-
verified and become as little children. John
iii, 81; Matt. xviii, 81 We must say sim
cerely
Nothing in my hands bring,
Simply to Thy cross cling
II. Good Master, what shall | do that /
may inherit eternal life" Here is young |
man, ruler among the people, and very |
rich Matt xix, %; Luke xviii, Is. 23); and
according to this verse in our lesson, he
comes running and kneels right down in the
street before Jesus, and in the presence of
the people, and utters these words.
49, "None good but one, that is God" AS
if to say, ''God is the only one who is good,
do you acknowledge Me as Godr "He that
cometh to God must believe that He is, and
that He is a rewarder of them that diligently
seek Him" Heb. XII, g.
10. "Thou knowest the commandments.
Matthew says: eff thou wilt enter into life
keep the commandments" So also in reply
10 the lawyer who asked similar question
20 that of this young ruler, Jesus referred
1im to the law, saying, "This do and thou
shalt live" luke X. Now we know that by
;he deeds of the law there shall no flesh be
justified in His sight, and that the law can
lot give life, but can only make us out sim
lers and shut our mouths rom. iii, 10, 20;
5al iii, 81, go; why, then, did Jesus direct
his man to the lava Surely that he might
20 convinced of sin and thus led to receive
,ternal life as free gift from God.
20. master, all these have observed from
ny youth" He was no sinner in his own
yes. but righteous man, having always
;ept the law as he thought, and was now
eady to do something more if he could thus
,btain eternal life. He was ignorant of
4ods righteousness and going about to es-
ablish his own. Rom x, l4.l
81. Zone thing thou lackest." But that one
hing was everything.
90 'He was sad at that saying and went
way grieved" He made his choice, and
referred present things to things unseen, his
wealth rather than Christ, his ease rather
han a cross How unlike Moses, who
steemed the reproach of Christ greater
iches than the treasures in Egypt, for he had
aspect unto the recompense of the reward;
r Paul, who suffered the loss of all things
hat he might win Christ.
1926. How hard is it for them that trust
n riches to enter into the kingdom of God"
he heart can only have one supreme ruler,