The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1891-08-27
CHRIST AT The FEAST,

/ LESSON TEXT. John 7:3lH
GOLDEN TExr.-If any man thirst let him
como unto he and drink-John 1881
| CENTRAL Truth. Jesus Is the Christ, our
Saviour aad King.
TIME.-Octobor II, A. D. 60 Siz months after
our last lesson, at the feast of Tabernacles.
! PLACE - Jerusalem, in the court Of the
temple.
JEsuS-Ncarly thirty.thrce years old. six
! months before Ills crlclixou.
| INTERVENING HisToRY.-Matt.. chs. 1918;
| Mark chs. 30; Luke, 9:i3-5o record the events
between the last lesson aud this.
| THE FEAST OF TABERNR NRCLEs.- 7IBas. This
feast was held from the 18th to the aist OF Tisri
| (Septembar to October); that year, October II
| toll. t2) Oject. 1t was thanksgiving, with
| Gpecial rcfereuc5 to the abode in tabernaces
| during the forty years In the Wilderness.
| (3) HoU c,!ejrIt,d. Booths were erected every
| where IN court and on housetop in street and
| square. These ncbcrs or booths were made of
! branches CT tTees-ra'ms, sycamorcs, olives,
! pines, willows etc. Nooody was living at home;
everybody in these booths.
| HELPS Own HARD PLAcEs-31. when
| Christ cometh," etc, this was their argument
| that Jesus was the Messiah. So 'A.little while
am with you" and you can repent and accept
your Messiah. 81 "Ye shall seek me- for aid
and comfort. "Thithor yc cannot comet" you
do not belong with God or to Heaven. Your
whole character is opposed to them. 81. Unto
| the dispersed" Jews scattered among the
| heather. 81. TN the last day." the seventh.
| One Of the ceremonies at this feast was tho
drawing water in golden pitcher from the
| pool OF Sloan, aad pouring it on the altar. 1t
| was done with great procession 1t was just
| after this, in a-pause Of the ceremonies, that
| Jesus probably spoke. "1hirst" in his soul.
Men thirst for God, for life, for pardon, for
| goodness, for comfort. for n better life, for
noble object OF living, for love, for friendship,
| for eternal life. Come unto Mes" oil these
thirsts are satisfied In Jesus. SO. "Cut OF his
| belly" his heart. "Shall flow" the good is for
others, and not for self alone. "I,vers:" denot-
ing abundance froencss, Continued supply, In
contrast with the small golden pitcher used in
tho ceremony OF the pouring Of water. "Of living
water:" pure, running water, ovcrfowing
| streams; the opposite of stagnaat malarious,
poisonous water; also liegiving water. The
G )spel Of Christ which is tho truth Of God re-
ceived into tho heart By the Spirit brings life,
health and Joy. 80. Holy Ghost not given" in
the abundance which characterized the new
dispensation. See Day OF Pontecost. "Jesus
glorGcd:" by his atonement, resurrection and
ascension to the right hand of God 40. ''The
prophets" Deut. 1915. Al. 'The Christi" the
Anointed, the Messiah. 20. 'Hath not the
for believing that Jesus being Gal
ilean, in their opinion could not be the
Messiah. "That Christ coneth Of the seed (or
oisprng) Of David" See Ps s0:19-29; 1851;
Isa. 9:e,7; HIS; Jer. s3S, g. "And out Of the
town OF Bethlehem" (.ee Mic 5:2; Luke 2:4)
| they did not care to ascertain the facts Their
quotations Of Scripture were an argument in
favor Of Jesus being the Messiah, for He ful.
filed the Scriptures.
LESSON COMMENTS.
At the time Of this lesson, Jesus had
been before the public for nearly three
years. In Galilee, in Samsria and in
Judea he had taught and wrought many
miracles. Lepers had been healed,
devils had been cast out and the dead
had been raised. He was no newcomer
among the people; nor was he man
like Elijah, appearing for u short while,
and then for months or years remain
| ing concealed. He was all the time
among the people, ningling with them
.. in their joys and their sorrows, and
continually teaching them the things
pertaining to the kingdom. The scene
of this lesson is laid in Jerusalem, in
the very court of the temple. We need
to remember all this. for it has marked
bearing on the dispute which forms the
substance of to-day's lesson.
Now call attention to the two parties
into which those who listened to Jesus
as He spake in the temple were divided.
Some claimed that He was the Messiah,
or at least His forerunner (the prophet).
Others cried that this could not be, be-
cause the Messiah was to come in
David's line, and be born in the town Of
Bethlehem. (These persons wrongly
thought that Jesus was a Nazarene by
birth.) So they disputed among them
selves, and some even wanted violently
to lay hands on him as blasphemer
!, and false prophet.
} "What think ye of Christi" We're
this question put to everyone in Amer
lea, would all answer in the same way?
I Would there not be divisions of opinion
like these in our lesson? Some would
say: "He is the Divine Saviour Of the
world;" while others would answer:
HE is a fanatic and an i1upostor. I"
Some would acknowledge Him to be the
Son of God, while others would only
grant that He was good man, better
than Moses or Socrates, but still only q
man. < How strange that for nearly
two thousand years men have not
agreed yet on that one question! This
J question about Jesus has been the GEN.
trail question for centuries, and will be
Q for many years to come. In which way
has the division been tending for eight
cen centuries? Do more people or
, fewer eople to-day think that Christ is
the Son of God than thought so in the
time Of this lesson? Incomparably
more. To-day millions have accepted
Him as Divine Saviour, while hun
dreds Of millions intellectually ackowl-
edge Him as the Son of God. The trend
of the centuries is in that direction
Rev. A. +. Schaufher, ID. d.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
q. Miracles are the signature Of God
to His message.
2..Life is full Of opportunities that
pass away forever.
8. Everyone must 60 to his own place.
4. All have thirsts of the soul which
, this world cannot satisfy.
8. Among these thirsts are the long
: ing for life, love, comfort, pardon, good
| e. -.