Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-07-23
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
THOUGHTS WORTHY or CALM
REFLECTION.

found In John 3: LII.
INTRODUCTORY.
This Is one OF the incidents OF Christ's
life for whose narration we are indebted 10
John. Coming last with his account OF the
Christ life. he brought In many things
omitted by the synoptIsts. and this is one
OF them 10 10 snch an addendum as We
might we'll expect from the Dvie~ad ais
ciple. Hts theme is the more spiritual
aspects OF Chrisl's ministry, and In the
conversation with Nicodemus, one OF the
profoundest OF the doctrines OF the now
kingdom is uttered and enforced. May IL
have RS reverent hearing In our schools
to-day as IL had on that night In old Judea.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS
OF the Pharisees. Or, from the Pharisees.
Intimatlng his connection with the Pbar-
isaic party, but not that he represented
them In this INTERVIEW ruler OF the
Jews. Or member of the Sanhedrim. as we
learn from John z: 90.
To Jesus, Greek, 20 him. (Revision.) BY
night. Not necessarily symptom OF weak
ness. though 1t may indicate Caution
Rabbi itself large concession. The rabbis
were the acknowledged and accredited
teachers.-We know. limiting at the gem
eral. though II may be, withheld conviction
OF his class Come from God 4. e.. pro-
phet.-These miracles. We see here the
immediate utility of the miraculous
Except God be with him. There were
other kinds OF miracles. betraying the pit:
but these, performed by Christ spoke OF
God. The word with (meta) has for Its first
meanings, with, together with. on the same
side or party with. In aid OF. etc.
Verify, verify. Frequently Introducing
a great and solemn declaration. Matt s: 10;
10; Is, etc.--I say unto thee. Nicodemus
had spoken, now Christ-Except. Taking
up the same word just now somewhat
lightly dropped by Nicodemus. born
again. First meaning, from above Christ
as true teacher goes right TO the core OF
matter. 1t is a changed heart that Is
needed He cannot see. Another appar-
ent balancing Of phrases more manifest In
the Greek. Nicodemus had just said "no
man can do" Jesus says. no man cnn see;
and the condition Is essentially the same.
l. O., the divine life In the one that sees and
the one that does.
How? The natural question OF the car
nal mind. and as suchA Christ treats It.
When he Is old. The word (geron) fire.
quently applied TO elders or senators. i'm
plying possibly some degrees OF age on
the part OF Nicodemus. he enter?
Reductio ad absurdunl
Born of water. Either baptism or sym
Dol OF purity; perhaps both. We have in
Peloubet the strange spectacle of a Pado-
baptist CDR. Abbott) defending the former
view. and Baptist dr. Broadus) advo-
cute dfss Baptstess F spfs sesSs Is
The Spirit, 4. O., from above, from God.
Enter. Suggestive of formal espousaI.
Flesh is flesh. Like producing like
OF the Spirit is spirit. Flesh cannot as
cend to spirit; but Spirit can descend TO
flesh.
psychological principle just statod-Ye
must be born again. A truth of science as
well as OF revelation.
The wind bloweth. An open secret OF
nature also. The word for wind and spirit
are the same (pneuma) in the original and
NI.~u. 1~.A L.. t...N.
ness In the language on this account
So is every one; e.. So In impotence and
mystery;. $50; ar apsent- mindedly re-
peating his query, 80 startled and at a loss
is he.
A teacher OF Israel Or, The teacher.
Hence, the doctrine of the new birth is.
presumably, to be learned also from tho
Old Testament.
We do know. Not the same word as
"know" in the verse preceding. There IL is
rather recognize, here IL refers TO inde-
pendent and accurate knowledge. -Have
seen. See " 13.-Our witness. Same
word translated testify In the line above.
Earthly things. Including the new birth
already revealed, and referring to the
divine life as lived on earth Heavenly
things. Abiding probably TO the things of
the Spirit not yet at the time revealed, and
limited at by Paul Cor. 2: 0, 10 (aGod
hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit'').
But he that came down. Hence the only
one whose "witnessn can be taken. -
Which is in heaven. Even when on earth.
As Moses lifted up the serpent. He Is
still further explaining the new birth, using
an illustration familiar to Nicodemus.-
Son of man. Just spoken OF as In heaven,
but now voluntarily and self-abasingly on
earth and subject to earth's indlgnity.
WHAT THE LESSON rEACHEs.
The same came to Jesus by night. 1 am
glad he came. even though IL was at night.
That night visit was the provocation OF one
of the greatest sermons the world ever
heard, and It has given TO the church one OF
its strongest texts OF appeal. How bereft
we should feel without IL. @God so loved
the world!n There are other good verses,
many has IL swung open the very gates OF
directly the means Of tie 5ss hAen t8 81
vast multitudes of souls Very well. let me
como to Jesus, too. There is something like
electric power In tho contact Not only
ones own soul but all the world is helped
when we draw nigh to the Redeemer OF
men. The world is the better to-day for
that midnight colloquy. Tho more OF
Christian experience, individual though IL
be, the more the world is drawn toward
God
Except man be born again. This was
Christ's @except,n and IL slew Nicodemus.
The ruler OF Israel had come with his aex-
one: Except God be with him.n But Jesus
wants no honeyed words. he needs none
and he hero let's fly arrow that gets be-
tween the joints of the harness aud finishes
all OF the fellcitous discourse of the lordly
Jew. aye must be bern again. Nicode-
mus has been called a representative of
those churchmen who know the written
creed without knowing the work OF grace in
the heart. Whether this be so or not. Nico-
(cmus hears at this time some new and
wholesome truth, truth we believe that
renovates and rcconstructs Mayor How
land. OF Toronto. uses strong language re-
garding this rcident from Johns gospel:
~ believe In doctrine but an unsaved soul
built up and fenced in with doctrine is
nearer hell than the most miserable drunk
ard. Doctrine is safe food for the sons of
Ye receive not our witness. What is faith
but this? We take Christ at his word. sNo
man hath assembled up to heaven but he
that came down from heaven Then only
| Christ can testify from sight OF the heaven
! ly mystery. He speaks of that which he
knows and testifes of that which he has
| seen. There are many guesses at truth
| abroad, many clever conjectures nnd sur
| misses Only One can toll US with assurance
| OF the things OF God VIII, is IL but no
| (which is in the bosom of the Father2n
| Lord Jesus. may we receive thy witness,
| and In thy light snail We sec light
God so loved the world that he gave. We
| shall not forget the picture formed upon
| the mental vision as the monk ignatius,
| intense. fiery, stood before us and, throw
| ing forth his hands In passionate cntreaty,
pronounced these woros. How great and
| gracious the truth they convey No further
| syllables need be uttered: @Gtd 80 loved
| that he gave. How truly did he love? He
gave. How far did he love? H. gave! He
gave! The self-giving OF Gcd Is the over
wbelming argument both OF his infinite
na