The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-07-08
cHRisT's FIRST DISCIPLES.
International Sunday-school Lesson for
July l2, 1891.


International sunday-school Lesson for
July IL, 1891.
LESSON TExT-John :2a-42
GOLDEN TExT-Bchoh the Lamb OF God,
which taiscth away the sin Of the world John
j:?l.
TIME-February, A. D. 81. On the return Of
Jesus to Bcthabara after the temptation in the
wilderness
PLAcE-Bethabara beyond, l. g. enst OF
Jordan or Bethany, rs In Rev. Yer. mot the
Bethany on the Mount Of Olives. Both names
nave nearly the same meaning Bethany some
times signifying boat house." and Bethabara
ford house" or ferry house" Probably these
were the names Of two villages or districts near
together, OF which the name Bethany the
smaller Of the two villages, faded out Or John
may have been baptizing in u place between
the two villages. and hence sometimes called
by one name and sometimes by the other
RuLERs-Tiberius Caesar emperor of Rome
fifteenth year from his association with Au.
gustus luke SD but thirteenth year as sole
emperor Pontius PLATE, governor Of Judea
second year.. Herod Antipas, tetrarch OF Cali
lee (thirty-first year..
INTERVENING HIsroRY-Previous TO the
time when the lesson begins must be placed all
the carrier history Of John ana of Jesus-John's
ministry in the wilderness and the baptism and
temptation OF Jesus--rccorded in Matthew,
chaps. to All; Mark l:l-l3 Luke / Il to S:l8;
S2i to 4:l3. The account in to-day s lesson be-
gins in the midst of the ministry Of John.
HELPS OVER HARD PIAcEs--?0 "The next
day." After the testimony OF John to the depu.
tatlon from jerusalem "Seeth Jesus coming
unto him" He draws near to link His work to
that OF His forerunner. And saith" to the
group Of serious men about him: behold the
Lamb Of God, which taketh away the sin Of
the world" For he recognized Jesus, and
knew that He wus the Son Of God. 1.-THE sin
OF the world" Not sins from the world, which
would be very different matter. The sin IL
represented as one burden, which Christ as
whole lifts up and carries away. 80. "This IL
He." (See last lesson, yer. 49, There John do
clared that such person was to come. After
! me-" In time. rs preferred before me-" In
| dignity and honor For He was before me"
| Referring to Christ's eternal preexistence with
the Father. 81. And knew Him not:" l, like
| you, did not at first know Him to be the Mes
siah. But that He should be made manifest
to Israel therefore am come baptizing with
water" While John did not know Jesus as
| the Messiah until tho hour of His bap.
tism he did know that his own work of bap
tizing in water was ordained for the purpose
among others, OF manifesting the Messiah tc
Israel SO. And John bare record" Their
| and there, to the multitudes, as he behelt
Christ approaching. Saying, l saw" Johr
affirmed that lie was still wildly conscious o.
the sight. 1.-THE Spirit descending from
Heaven" Upon Jesus as soon as h,
had come upon the bank Of thu
river after His baptism. Like dove.'
The Baptist beheld not 1.-THE sudden downward
flight Of bird" but an external figure SHAPED
Pointing him out, and expressing tn,
permanence Of the presence Of tn,
Holy Spirit 49, "And knew Him not" Di,
not recognize fully that he was the Messiah til
this promising sign was given HE that sen
me-" John was conscious OF his divine mis-
sion. 81 This is the Son Of God" Gods owl
peculiar only. begotten Son. IS. 1.-THE next day,
after the previous testimony Of John the Bap
tist TO Jesus. 1.-TWO OF his disciples" On,
was Andrew, the other was probably the apos
tie John himself So Looking upon" tn
word expresses fixed, earnest gaze. Jesus q
he walked" or was taking walk "Behol
the Lamb OF God" The words he had used tn
day before. 81. 1.-THE two disciples heard hir
speak" What John had said was really hi
implied permission for his disciples to leav
him and become followers Of the Master. IAN
they followed Jesus" Literally followed Hin
in HIS walk. But 1t was the beginning OF
spiritual following. SO. Then Jesus turned:
He met them half way in their search. He di
not wait for them to come up to Him, bu
stopped and waited for them to come, shown
them that He wanted to,see them. And salt
unto them, What seek yc!" II was ev!der
that they sought Him. 'They said unto Hin
Rabbi. Master" Rabbi strictly meant m
master or lord, but in the time 9
Jesus it had already come to be apple
to teachers. Where dwellest thou!" BY thi
response they recognize Him as . teacher, IN
intimate their desire to speak with Him 9
some convenient time In private 49, Com
and see." HIS answer to their suggestion wa
prompt and cordial. ''rhey came and sa
where He dwelt." 1t must have been som
temporary lodging place; for his home was "
in Galilec, and He left this region for Galile
, the next day. And abode with him that day.
The remainder Of the day, from ten o'clock ii
evening. For 1t was about the tenth hour
, Ten o'clock am, according to the Roman reel
oning. 40. zone of the two" The other VIZ
probably John himself, who reirains from mel
) tioning his own name. Andrew" over. ~.
disciple Of John the Baptist. d. He fir
. fndeth." The first thing he did after he 10
Jesus was to find his brother. I'VE have four
the Messias." The Greek spelling OF the H
brew word Messiah. A. And he brought hil
to Jesus" With him, as with all who fir
: Jesus, the first desire was TO mako known
; those he loved his ncw.found treasure. "Thc
urt Slinon' Inal IL your present namc. sc
OF iona" Tho true reading is John. "Thc
shalt be called Ccphas." Cephas is Aranai
(which is by Interpretation. stone" tt
, sense would perhaps be given better by kee
1 ing the equivalent proper name.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
{ /. Vers. 1884. 1t is the business {
| all teachers and ministers to point me
e to the Saviour.
4 .. Jesus was the Lamb of God, NAL
e ing an atoning sacrifice for the sins {
: the world.
e 8. Jesus takes away sin by forgivir
= it; by taking away the love of sin; /
9 cleansing and purifying the life.
e 4. The teacher, like John, must TO
I get himself in Christ.
t 5. 1t is the work of the teacher {
testify to Christ; from his experience
Christ; from his experience of the VOL
of God.
q 6. The presence and power of Il
L Holy Spirit is proof of the presence
, Christ.
o {. Note the simple, natural, quiet w;
l, in which these first disciples were IL