Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-07-09
cHRIsT's FIRST DISCIPLES.
International Sunday-SchoOI Lesson 70
July I2, 1891.

International Sunday-School Lesson for
July IL, 1891.
LESSON TExr-John :So-43
| GOLDEN TExr-Behold the Lamb Of God
which taketh away the sin Of the world--John
l:29.
TDE-February, A D. "a. On the return OF
Jesus 70 Bethabara after the temptation in the
wilderness.
PLACE-Bethabara, beyond, e. cast OF
Jordan, or Bethany, as in Rev. Yer. (not the
Bethany on the Mount OF Olives. Both names
have nearly the same meaning, Bethany some
times signiiying 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, tho
smaller OF the two villages, faded out Or John
may have been baptizing in q place between
the two villages, and hence sometimes called
/ by one name and sometimes by the other.
RULERs-Tiberius Cesar. emperor OF Rome
fifteenth year from his association with Au
gustus luke SD, but thirteenth year as sole
emperor. Pontius PLATE, governor OF Judea
| (seeond year,. Herod Antipas, tetrarch Of Gall
lee (shirty-first year..
| INTERVENING HIsToRy-PreviouS 70 the
time when the lesson begins must be placed all
! the earlier history Of John and Of Jesus-John's
ministry in the wilderness and the baptism and
| temptation OF Jesus-recorded in Matthew,
chaps. TO All; Mark ILLS; Luke III to 3:1s;
321 to Ala The account in to-day lesson be-
\ gins in the midst Of the ministry OF John
| HELPS OVER HARD PLACES-2o. THE next
day." After the testimony OF John to the depu
| tation 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 hint Behold the
| Lamb OF God, which taketh away the sin Of
the worldr' For he recognized Jesus, and
knew that He was the Son OF God. 1.-THE sin
| OF the world" Not sins from the world which
would be a very different matter. The sin IS
represented as one burden which Christ as q
whole lifts up and carries away. 80 This is
He" (See last lesson, yer. I5.) There John de-
J clared that such person was to come. AFTER
me-" Intime. us 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 the hour OF His bap-
tism, he did know that his own work OF bap-
thing In water was ordained for the purpose,
among others, OF manifesting the Messiah 10
Israel So "And John bare record" Then
and there, to the multitudcs, as no beheld
Christ approaching. Saying, I saw" John
affirmed that he was still wildly conscious OF
l inc sight ne OplIlb utsCGuu4uB AEOm
Heaven" Upon Jesus as soon as he
had come upon the bank OF the
river after His baptism. Like q dove
The Baptist beheld not tho sudden downward
flight Of a bird" but an external figure shaped
like o dove. And It abode upon Him"
Pointing him out, and expressing the
permanence Of tho presence Of the
Holy Spirit. 80. "And knew Him not" Did
not recognize fully that he was the Messiah till
this promising sign was given. HE that sent
me-" John was conscious OF his divine mis-
sion. 81 This is the Son Of God" Gods owr
peculiar ly-begotten Son. IS. Tho next day,
after tho previous testimony OF John the Bap
tist to Jesus. 1.-TWO Of his disciples" One
was Andrew, the other was probably the apOs
tie John himself S.. Looking upOn;' the
word expresses a fixed, earnest gaze. Jesus as
he walked" or was taking a walk. "BeholC
the Lamb Of GOdl' The words he had used The
day before. 81. 1.-THE two disciples heard hin
speak" What John had said was really his
implied permission for his disciples to leave
him and become followers Of the Master. "AnC
they followed Jesus" Literally followed Hin
in HIS walk But II was tho beginning Of 0
spiritual following. IS Then Jesus turned
He met them half way IN their search. He diC
not wait for them to como up to Him, bu
stopped and waited for them to come, showing
them that He wanted to-see them And sattl
unto them, What seek YER 1t was eviden
that they sought Him They said unto Him
Rabbi . . Master" Rabbi strictly meant m
master or lord, but in the time o
Jesus It had already como to be applies
TO teachers Where dwcllest thou?' By thi
response they recognize Him as q teacher, an
intimate their desire to speak with aim 2