The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-05-22
THE WIDOW OF MAIN.
international sunday y-school Lesson for |
April 1S, 1890.

April 1S, 1890.
LESSON TExr-Luko 17:11-18
GOLDEN TExT-They glorifcd God, saying,
That great prophet Is risen up among U.S.
Luke 7:lo.
TIME-Summer Of A. d. %, very soon after
the sermon on the mount.
PLACE-Nain, q small town In Calilee, near
the borders ofSamaria, about twenty five miles
southwest of Capernaum and seven from Naza-
reth. 1T was not far from Endor," near the
source OF the brook Kishon," ION the northern
slope Of the rugged and barren ridge OF Little
Hermon," 'two miles south Of Mount Tabor"
The name means lovely. The modern nameb
Nein, now miserable village. Jesus between
thirty.one and thirty.two years old. John tho
Baptist, thirtytwo years old, in prison at Castle
Macherus since March.
INTERVENING EvENTS-After the sermon on
the mount Jesus returned to Capernaum, where
He healed the centurion's servant; very soon
after left that city, and went through Galileo
toward Main.
OTHERS RAISED FROM THE DEAD-L In the
New Testament, the daughter Of Jairus (Matt
9:is.2s); Lazarus John 1ia.4D; Dorcas (Acts
9:2e-49; perhaps Eutychus (Acts eo:e.ic1. H.
In the Old Testament, o widows son q Kings
17l72D the Shunammits'a sTa 70 Kings AIS.
Exp1ANAToRY-I. The faneral pro-
cession .-Vers. IL, 10. 2. Ind Il came
topass Ito day after. According to Rev.
Yer, soon afterwards. Tho difference in
the original Is simply that Of one letter.
Probably the Rev. Yer. is correct Tho
dan after. Or soon after the healing of
the centurions son in Capernaum
e: 1-10). THCt He arent into a city called
Main. See Place, above. And many of
His disciples. Those who followed His
teaching, those who went to school to
Him as Master and Teacher. Those who
continue to be His scholars arc Chris
tians John s:3D. And much people.
Who were attracted to Jesus from va
rious motives and with various degrees
of attachment. Jesus was in the height
of His popularity, and the opposition to
Him had not yet developed in full
strength. IL. Here was one great pro-
cession, with Jesus at its head, slowly
climbing up the hill toward the gate OF
the city. Nearly all towns and villages
were surrounded by walls as defense
against marauders. "One entrance alone
could it have had-that which opens
on the rough hillside in its down.
ward slope to the plain. STANLEY.
Behold, there uds dead man carried ont.
This funeral procession, with its great
crowd, was just issuing from the gate
toward the cemetery sleeping place.,
on the west side Of the city, whore the
rocks are full of sepulchral caves. With
the exception of Kings, bur!als were al
ways outside Of the city walls, either in
rock tombs or in graves dug in the
ground. The only son Of lis mother.
The Greek implies that no was the only
son she ever had. This fact added
greatly to the mothers grief. And she
was q sctdow. The second grief had fol-
| lowed tho first. She was alone in the
world. The condition of widows in the
East, especially childless ones, was so sad
and dependcntas to give added poignancy
to this widows sorrow.
II. The Dead Restored to Life.-Vers.
1915. 13. And schen the Lord. The Lord
of life and death, the ruler and con
troller of all things. Sac her, He hdc
commission on her. He did not wait fol
her to ask for help, for she probably die
not know who it was that met her, no
would she have expected that He coult
help her in this trouble. Her needs
her sorrows, were her silent prayers
such prayers as Jesus always heeds.
IA. And lie came and touched her bier
To arrest the procession. There was n,
need for it to 60 farther. And lie said
Ydung man, sag unto Nee, arise. Th'
interruption of the connection between
the soul and body in death, as in sleep
Is only relative; and as mans voice SUI
fees to re-establish this connection IL
any one who is rapt in slumber, SO tn
word of tho Lord has pt wer 10 restor
this interrupted connection even in tn
dead.-Godet.
III. The Effect on the Pcople.-Ver
l6. And there came a fear on al A rever
ential awe, not terror, but sense O
solemnity in the presence of one VIII
was q messenger from God, and ha
such power to enforce His words. 1
oreat prophet Is risen up among us. The
did not say that He was the Messiah
but certainly He came from God, ant
. what He should say about Himself mus
. be true. God hath risited His people
: Come near to teach, to help, to delive
, them. Only Gods hand could work sucl
/ b mlrdClcs AIM ihAAuSAO
, Gods compassion toward men, showe'
, them His nature as the giver Of life, an
indorsed the words His prophet spoke.
Nv. Proofs OF Jesus Mission. Vers
, ! II, 1s. II. And this rumor Tor report
Of Him cent forth throughout all Judco
? Because the miracle was so marvellous
! This is mentioned to show how tn
: story reached the ears Of John the Bal
I tist, imprisoned at Castle Macherus. Il
I; And tho disciples Of John sho,ced him a
: these things. 1t was only few montf
8 since John was imprisoned, and many
, his converts still adhered to him
love. John, discouraged by his depresl
ing circumstances, cut off from h
!, life's work, with communication wit
9 Jesus in person, and yet with hor
awakened by this miracle, sent messel
gers to Jesus "to inquire whether II
was indeed the Messiah or not. jest
sends hack for answer the Messiah