Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-03-14
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON FOR MARCH SEVENTEEN
CHRIsT's LOVE To THE YOUNG-MARk Y

.CHRIST'S LOVE TO THE YOUNG-MARK y,
1872.
NoTEs.-ThiS touching scene occurs
during Christ's Perean ministry. The
title of the lesson is rather misleading
as only the first four verses deal with
his sweetness with little children
Little children" xviii, Is, calls
them babes. They were carried in their
mothers arms to be blessed. 1t was a
spiritual baptism they craved for their
little ones. It was contrary to Jewish
notions and the supposed dignity of a
Rabbi to have anything to do with the
insignificant infants; hence his disciples
rebuked their desire, which amounted to
a rebuke to their Master. ale aCaS
moCed 1cith Indignation" This is the
only time this strong expression is used
of Christ. He would exercise his office
in blessing and prayer as a revelation
of love upon the youngest children rath-
er than make it ceremony that was
empty and merely ritual as the elders
were wont to do.-"AS little child" ="
The test of reception into the king
dom of God was not intellectual power
as the Rabbis thought, but receptiveness
and childIike trust.-"And blessed
them Tie request was answered. The
embrace was given. The praeyr was
breathed upon their unconscious heads.
lis he 1CGs going forth."-From the
house on the way to Jerusalem.-
"KneeIcd to him."-Mark of deepest rev.
erence to a Trustworthy spiritual guide
-''GOOd MGSter."-A very strange
method of address from Jewish lips,
which accounts for Christ taking it up
Immediately in reply.-"NOne is good
SAGE one, eceR GOd."-The designation
of God as the only good one can be illus
trated b. one of the titles given to him
in Rabbinical writings, The Good One
of the world "-"SeU aChGtecer thou
hast. This was startling command,
and in direct opposition to Rabbinic law,
which declared it unlawfulto to give away
all of ones possessions, while one-tifth
at most might be dedicated to God.-
"ARd come, .foIIo1o me."-Take up the
cross is omitted in the Revised Version.
Jesus asked him to be personal at
tendant. 1t was the same summons
that called his disciples. Unless we are
mistaken he is the first one mentioned
who disregarded the direct appeal fol
low me-"
Instruction. Child-life has been for
ever cOnsecrated since Christ folded the
little ones in his arms and blessed them
and prayed for them. Yet even from
the earliest dawn of intelligence children
must be brought to him through the pa
rents love and faith. Tenderness of
character, sweetness of sympathy be-
tween the heart and Christ are never
better shown than in the act of literally
bringing children up to Christ.
Children are far from holy, as we all
know. The ineXorable law of heredity
that operates on mind and disposition
as well as in the body, precludes any
such hope. Their virtue lies in their
teachableness, in their starting out with
a clean slate of external impressions.
They are ready to take with trust the
highest spirituality, and to make it part
of their moral griStle and bone. 1t is
the ready, childlike spirit, that doesn't
stop to argue and distrust, but which
accepts with tender feeling the love and
life of Christ; this spirit the teaching of
this lesson demands.
Running and kneeling are admirable
ways of starting the Christian career.
Enthusiasm and humility are never out
of place when joined together. Eternal
life is the greatest issue that is opened
before us. Too much earnestness can
not be used in preparing the way
Christ by the breadth of his personality,
that staggers approach, has created the
necessity of reverence.
As soon as man makes up his mind
to go anywhere he finds out the way
As soon as man makes up his mind to
become a Christian-th is, not merely
a church goer, or moraliZer, but thor
ough disciple of Christine naturally
asks, How? Unfortunately we are too
apt to inquire of agents rather than at
the first source. These have been known
to give conflicting directions. The surest
way is to read Christ's own words on the
subject in the four Gospels, and then
follow them out. The spiritual traveller
cannot stumble as to the path then.
Eternal life is no myth, but reality.
Many want to have the eternal existence
argued out of their heads. Relief has
never come to tortured consciences in
that way. The immortal within shows
its nature by too many signs. Christ's
method of acquiring eternal life is the
surest and best. Why not accept it?
The conventional observance of the
codes of upright living is by no means
enough. To try honestly to fashion
ones self into perfect specimen of the
highest type of humanity is not enough.
To trench ones self from the world and
temptation, these are not sufficient. To
be follower of Christ one must emerge
from the culture of self to the care of
others.
An honest self-respect is what each
should have-a dishonest appreciation
of self is one of the deadliest sources of
spiritual contagion. When one knows he
is right, or, to a certain extent, is good,
it may be admitted on rare occasions
and in a modest way. God loves an
honest man.
That young man lacked the ability to
make the most of his wealth in the right
way. The majority of the rich have the
same lack. but not all As the most of
us are poor, our one thing may be some
thing else. Our highest usefulness is
We shall not have to look
far for the reason.
1t is enough to make man sad for all
eternity to refuse to follow at Christ'S
personal appeal. He calls you.