The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-08-26
CHRIST AT TIE FEAST.
International Sunday-school Lesson for
l,ff August 80, 1891


LESSON TEXT. John 7.3ii4
GOLDEN TEXT. If any man thirst, let him !
core unto Nc and drink-John 1851.
CENTRAL Truth. Jesus Is the Christ. our |
Saviour and King,
TME,-October II, A. D, %. Six months after
our last lesson, at the feast of Tabernacles.
PLACE. = Jerusalem, in the court Of the
temple.
JEsus.-Ncarly thrty'three years old. six
months before His cruchxion.
INTERVENING HISTORY. Matt. chs. ISIS; |
Mark. chs. 20; Luke, 9:lS,50 record the events
between the last lesson and this.
THE FEAST OF TABERNACLEs IN Time. This
feast was held from the 18th to the 2lst OF Tisri
(September to October; that year, October II
toll. ts) q ject. 1t was u thanksgiving, with
rpecial reference to the abode In tabernacles
during the forty years in the wilderness.
90 HoD c'leJrat.d. Booths were erected every
Where, in court and on housetop in street and
square. These arbors or booths were made OF
branches of trees-palms, sycamores olives,
pines willows, etc Nobody was living at home;
everybody in these booths.
HELPS OVER HARD PLAcEs.-3l. when
Christ cometh," etc, this was their argument
that Jesus was the Messiah. 80 "A little while
am with you" and you can repent and accent
your Messiah. 81. "Ye shall seek me" for aid
and comfort. "Thither ye cannot GOMEZ" you
DO not belong with God or to Heaven Your
whole character is opposed to them. 35 Unto
the dispersed" Jews scattered among the
heathen 81 I'm the last day." the seventh
One OF the ceremonies at this feast was the
drawing water In golden pitcher from the
pool Of Sloan, and pouring it on the altar. 1t
was done with great procession. 1t was Just
after this in pause Of the ceremonies, that
Jesus probably spoke. Thirst in his soul.
Man fnr N4l Sa~ o. Sn~
goodness, for comfort, for better life, for
noble object Of living for love, for friendship,
for eternal life. Come unto Me-" all these
thirsts are satisfied in Jesus. 3S. "Out OF his
belly" his heart. Shall fow:" the good is for
others, and not for self alone. "Rivers" denot
Ing abundance, freeness, continued supply, in
contrast with the small golden pitcher used in
the ceremony OF the pouring of water. "Of living
water:" pure, running water, overlooking
streams; the opposite OF stagnant. malarious
poisonous water; also life-giving water. The
Gospel OF Christ, which is the truth Of God re.
ceived into the 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 Pentecost. "Jesus
glorified:" by his atonement, resurrection and
ascension to the right hand of God 40 THE
prophet:" Deut 1915. A. "The Christi" the
Amounted, the Messiah. ~. Hath not the
Scripture said:" this Is their argument
for believing that Jesus being Gal
ilean, in their opinion could not be the
Messiah. THAT Christ cometh Of the seed Tor
ofspring) Of David" See Ps. S9:1929: 1851;
lisa. S:6,7; 11:l5; Jer 1856, 8. "And out Of the
town Of Bethlehem" (see Mic. 5:2; Luke 2:4.)
All the trouble with their argument was that
they did not care to ascertain the facts. Their
quotations of Scripture were an argument in
favor of Jesus being the Messiah, for He full
filled the Scriptures.
LESSON COMMENTS.
At the time of this lesson, Jesus had
been before the public for nearly three
years. In Galilee, in Samaria 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 short while,
and then for months or years remain
| ing concealed. He was all the time
among the people, mingling 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 a blasphemel
and false prophet.
"What think We of Christi" Were
this question put to everyone in Amer
lea, would all answer in the same way?
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 fanatic and an irupostor.' -
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
| oh L,c %A,
trail question for centuries, and will be
for many years to come. In which way
has the. division been tending for eight
cen centuries? Do more people OF
fewer people 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. F. Schaufller, d. d.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
/. Miracles are the signature of GOD
to His message. ...-
2. Life is full of opportunities that
pass away forever.
3. Everyone must 60 to his own place
4. All have thirsts of the soul which
this world cannot satisfy.
5. Among these thirsts are the long
ing for life, love, comfort, pardon, good
ness, life worth living, happiness
Heaven, God. ..--
8. Jesus Christ alone can satisfy these