The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-08-29
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
SEPTENBER 9.
Lesson Text: "Jesus Cleansing the
Temple" John H., 13-2o-
Golden Text: John H.,
documentary.


f3. "And the Jews passover was Mt hand.
dnd Jesus went up to Jerusalem" After the
miracle at Cana He. with His mother and
brethren and disciples. spent some days ut
Capernaum (verse 12), hut We have no further
record of that visit. This is, az far as we
know, His second visit to Jerusalem. ard the
first since. at the age uf twelve. He went up
with Joseph and Mary to the passover (Luke
H.. Al, 42). In view Of the fact that His
brethren did not believe in Him John vii
s. we wonder that they went to Capernaum
with Him. 1t is not likely that they went &c
jerusalem. The proper name Of this feast
was THE Lords Passover" (Ex. xii, 1D
but like other feasts had degenerated into
mere feasts Of the Jews John v, ~.
H. "And found in the temple those that
sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the
changers of money sitting" SO He found il
again at the close Of His ministry (Math xxi.
12). According to the law the people were
to bring to the Lord to Jerusalem the tithe
of corn. wine oil and the flrstlirgs OF herds
and focks, but if they were living too far
from Jerusalem to do this they were per
mitted to turn the tthe into money and pur'
chase at Jerusalem what they wanted (Dsut.
xiv, 22-26). This arrangement, however.
did not necessitate making market OF the
temple.
Is. And when He had made scourse OF
small cords He drove them all out Of tho
temple, and the sheep. and the oxen. and
poured out the changers money and over
threw the tables" Ii He wero to-day to
drive thus out Of an ordinary place of wor.
ship on His holy day all in whose hearts He
sees business or pleasure instead OF thoughts
of Himself, what q thinning out OF many
congregation there would be
16. "And said unto them that sold doves,
Take these things hence; make not My
Fathers house an house of merchandise
When He again cleansed the temple at tho
close Of His ministry, He told them that in.
stead Of its being house Of prayer, as God
intended, they had made it den of thieves
(Ma,h. xxi, 13). At the age OF twelve Jesus
had said in this very temple that He must be
about His Fathers business Guke H.. 49) or
(R. w. in His Fathers house, and now one
of the first acts of His public ministry is to
cleanse that house.
II. "And His disciples remembered that it
was written, the zeal of Thine house hath
eaten me up." This is written In that psalm
(Ixix.) 30 full Of His sufferings, which, II we
laid to heart more, we would be more full OF
zeal for His house, His church, instead OF
possessing so much misguided and wasted
zeal for our own houses or churches or So
cieties.
18. Then answered the Jews and said
unto Him, What sign showest Thou unto US,
seeing that Thou doest these things?
similar question is asked in John w., 30. and
Math. XII, 49, and In the latter place Jesus
told them thar the sign would be the typical
death and resurrection Of Jonah illustrated
In His own case, and now He will tell them
the same thing under another figure. Death
and resurrection Is the great secret OF
power on earth for God.
10. "Jesus answered and said unto them,
Destroy this temple, and in three days will
raise 1t up." This is the earliest intimation
from His own lips OF His death and resurrec-
ton. He was the anti-type of tabernacle and
temple, buildings erected that God might
dwell on earth among men, and in Him God
was manifest in the flesh. It is interesting
10 notice that the temple OF Solomon was
plundered by Shishak in the thirty-tourth
wear OF it's existence. See Kings w., %, and
II Chron. Kill, 2,9.
90. "Then said the Jews, Forty and six
years was this temple In building, and wilt
Thou rear 1t up In three days?" Being only
natural men. they understood nothing OF
spiritual things q Cor. H.. 14).
81. "But He spake OF the temple OF His
boiy." See how they perverted His words
and flung them at Him in His agony on the
become temples of rhe Holy Spirit, in whom
Father, Son and Spirit have come to dwell
q Cor. W., 19, 20; John xiv. II, 29), we
must not think it strange to have our words
perverted and thrown at us in our trials.
This Is fellowship with Christ which should
make US greatly rejoice.
%. "When, therefore. He was risen from
the dead, His disciples remembered that He
had said this unto them. and they believed
the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had
said" The whole OF this gospel was written
with the special object OF proving that Jesus
is the Son of God (chapter Xxx, 81. and as 1t
was by the resurrection that He was with
power declared to be the Son OF God (Rom.
J., A., this may account for its carly mention
and emphasis in this gospel. 1t is only when
we are risen from the dead or translated to
meet our Lord that II shall fully appear that
we are sons of God U John ill.,. o.
%. NOW when He was in Jerusalem at
the passover, in the feast day. many believed
in His name when they saw the miracles
which He did," This is the great gospel of
believing 1t is found moro times in this
gospel than in the other three and In the
Acts all put together. The true meaning OF
believing is seen in chapter l., -. to be the
receiving of Him as our own Saviour. 10
believe about Him is OF no aTail unless we
become fully i, intifled with Hin in His
death and resurrection lone with Him at
Gods right hand and one with Him il pres
ent service mere.
q. but Jesus did not commit Himself
unto them. because He knew all men," The
word commit" is the same word which is
translated believe in the preceding verse.
The r. Y. has it ''trust. Jesus. knowing
all men. knew whom He could trust or be-
lieve and was never deceived in any. He
treated them upon their profession Us If they
meant all they said and gave them every
possible opportunity and help to prove them
Selves sincere, but He thoroughly knew them
all the tmr.
%. "And needed not that any snould tes-
tiiy of man. for He knew what was in man.
He, being God. could read peoples thoughts.
He is the Lord who searches heart and reins
(Jer. svli. 10 : Rev. H.. 23). Forinteresting
instances of HIS mind renting sea Luke V.
% VI. 8 iy.. 47 Xi.. II: TXiT.. IS. and re-
member Ezak. XII. s. "for l know tho things
that come into your mind. every one OF
them.' / have oitcn been glat that He
knew all that was in me before He ever let
Inc know thnt He loved me- tor if He ha'in't
known nil my possibilities for evil before He
started with me He might have been tempted
10 give me up many i time. Bat whom He
loves He loves TO the end (John xiii, D.
Lesson Helper.
Green Corn Dance.