The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-11-22
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.



his own received Him not.-John I'LL.
yefous works ii Christ Just after The Sermon
On the Mount-the healing Of the centurion's
servant ct Capernaum Qluke 7i-i0D. A second
tour Of Galilee, In which the widows son ct
FIRST miracle Of that kind CLuke 7:11.
~; the visit of the messengers from
John the Baptist, Imprisoned in Castle
Macherus Luke 7:ls-S5). A third tour Of Cali
lee with His disciples and certain women who
ministered to Him Uuke s:l-s). This view
will show US the great progress Jesus was
making in His work-His many glorious mira
cles, the vast crowds that were attracted to
Him, making His tour perpetual fete," His
popularity and success, which were the occa-
sion Of the awakening opposition. The address
In connection with verses 22-30 is reported more
fully In Matt. 12:33-45, and Luke II :29-3e.
THE EPOCH is tho awakening Of opposition
on account of success.
THE TIME is the autumn Of A. d. 20, some
weeks after the Sermon on the Mount
PLACE.-Capernaum, on the sea OF Galilee.
LESSON NOTES.
1. The Situation. Jesus had been
preaching now for year and half.
From small beginnings He was attract
ing attention over all the country.
Great crowds assembled wherever He
was He was continually unfolding
new truth, and working more and more
wonderful miracles He had chosen
twelve personal helpers. From His
central station in Capernaum He made
tours into the surrounding country.
OF necessity, His character, His works
and His teaching were in marked con-
trast with those of the Jewish leaders.
His character drew away the people
from them to Him. His treatment of
all classes, and especially the sinful
and needy, His miracles of love and
mercy, which were impossible to them,
attracted the multltudes to Him, and
lessened the influence and authority of
the scribes and Pharisces. His won
derful teaching, SO loving, SC righteous,
so simple, SO devout, so comforting and
uplifting, was undermining their teach.
ing, and seemed likely to leave them rs
leaders without followers and teachers
without pupils.
Contrast the action of John the Bap-
tist, who wished Jesus to succeed, even
at his own loss. He rejoiced as the
friend of the bridegroom rejoices in his
marriage, when Jesus drew the crowds
that formerly came to himself John
3:26-3D.
Increasing Opposition Of the Scribcs
and Pharisees.-This was one of the
natural results of the state of affairs.
1t is well to turn back and trace the
growth of this opposition. 1. They re-
sented His reform in cleansing the tenn
pie courts from money-changers and
dealers in sacrifices, and the dishonest
practices which made the temple den
of thieves. This touched their pockets,
and reduced their income John 2:13-25.
Lessons X, Third Quarter.) 9. He
taught contrary to their ideas OF the
Sabbath, exposed and denied their false
traditions Uesson w., Fourth Quartcr)
3. His treatment of publicans and sim
purity Uuke 7:36-5O) 4. His popular
ity drew away the people from their in
fuence. s. His miracles gave Him SUI
periority over them. 6. He was Cali
lean, and especially He was from tho
despised city Of Nazareth. 2. He
claimed to be the Messiah, and yet He
was not doing what they expected the
Messiah would do, and was leaving
them out not only from official posi-
ton, but even from the Kingdom itself.
At this time one noted miracle gave
the scribes and Pharisees an opportun-
ity to make a malignant and wholly
unfounded charge against Jesus. One
possessed of demon, and also blind
and dumb, had been delivered by Jesus
by triple miracle that made him sane,
and gave him sight and hearing, to the
wonderment of all the people (Matt.
12:22-23)
Opposition from Friends and Rela-
tives.-"There came then" This verso
apparently records the arrival at Cap
ernaum of His friends who some hours
before had left Nazereth to lay hold Of
Him ". 2U). "His Brethren" Their
names, James, Joses, Simon, Judas,
are given in Matt. 1855 and Mark 6:3.
Some understand them to have been
His literal 'brethren," others think
they were the sons of Cleophas and
Mary, His sister and namesake of the
Virgin. In the latter case they were
COUSINS Of Jesus, and probably adopted
into the family. Commentators nre
about equally and earnestly divided
between the two opinions, Joseph was
not mentioned, and was probably dead.
ARa Rs sa IL se9 gSssaR' Es EsaaaaS sga
biobaby Bsyond sSe g sreie eef y Ell
hearers in the open air. ''Sent unto
Him" No doubt by passing the mes
sage from man to man until 1t reached
Him, which they could not do them
selves from the extent and pressure of
the crowd.
The reason seems to have been that
He appeared to them to be out Of His
mind ". 2D. "It was only an honest
fear that He was going crazy and
needed to be taken care Of" For (D He
was making the religious leaders His
! enemies; (2) He was preaching strange,
almost revolutionary doctrines; (3) the
great crowds and the consequent ex-
citement might render Him fanatical;
| (1l Ha not 10 xlo ,,1a oa xrrh aI.