The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-02
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOE
JANUARY 6.
Lesson Text: "John the Baptist Be
headed" Mark vi, 1929
Golden Text: Matt. K,
2S-Commentary.

II. "For Herod himself had sent fortl
and laid hold upon John and bound him ir
Philips wife, for he had married her.
This statement is made in explanation o
the fact that when Herod heard Of the
mighty works OF Jesus he, with the fears o.
a guilty conscience, thought it might be
John risen from the dead. The whole story
of the lasson today is that Of the apparent
victory ofan ungodly woman over righteous
man.
18. "For John had said unto Herod, It
Is not lawful for thee to have thy brothers
wife," John lived before God, he was great
In the sight OF the Lord, he feared no man.
frown and coveted no mans favor; hence
he fearlessly removed Herod for his sin in
this matter. With like courage Daniel
urged Nebuchadnez:ar TO break off his sins
by righteousness and his iniquities by show
ing mercy to the poor (Dan. iv., 27.) Tho
man who stands for God before men is ex-
pected to have the courage OF Daniels
friends. who, knowing the right thing to do,
did it and left the consequences with God.
10. "There'ore Herodias had quarrel
against him and would have killed him, but
she could not" Both Hero1 and Herodias
stand for the world, which will be good
friends with those who say nothing against
it or its ways, but such fellowship means en-
nifty with God (Jas. iv., 4; IJohn H.. 15-17).
If we are faithful to Christ, we must stand
against the world and its ways AMI expect
to be hated by 1t even M He was and warned
Us that we should be John xv., 18, 19). It
is ofttimes more easy and peaceful not to
testify against the world. but it is dearly
bought peace, which robs US OF His peaca
which He bequeathed to us (John xiv, 27).
20. ''For Herod feared John, knowing that
be was a just man and IN holy aud observed
aim, and when he heard him he did many
things and heard him gladly" OF the two,
Herod and Herodias, many would say that
he was the best, but both were guilty before
God and enemies of righteousness. All who
are not saved are lost, but the lost shall suf-
fer according to desert.
81. "And when q convenient day was
come, that Herod on his birthdhy made q
supper to his lords, high captains and chief
estates of Galiee." The world can find con-
venient days tor pretty much everything
they desire, and the man who has the power
10 make great suppers for his friends will
generally have plenty friends glad to come.
%. "And when the daughter Of the said
Herodias came In and danced and pleased
Herod, and then sat with him, the king said
unto the damse, Ask Of me whatsoever thou
wilt, and I will give it thee. =" One OF
earth's great ones makes this offer to a
giddy, sinful girl and doubtless made her
glad. The world is saying about the same
TO its friends all the time, but her promises
are vain, for the world passeth away andthe
lust thereof, and the end of all her joys is
oot life, but death.
%. ':And he sware unto her, Whatsoever
thou shalt ask of me 1 will give 1t thee, unto
the half of my kingdom" Satan, whose 3e-
votees perhaps unconscioIsly these people
we're, offered the Lord Jesus all the kingdoms
of this world, with their power and glory, If
He would only please him bY worshipinS
him (Luke w., 5, 6). 1t is written that SOL
omon gave to the queen Of Sheba all her de-
sire, whatsoever she asked QI Chron. tx,
12).
"a. "And she went forth and said unto
her mother, What shall ask? And she said,
The head of John the Baptist" She had
murder In heart continually, and now 1t was
her hour and the power of darkness, and she
was quick to seize her opportunity. 1t Is
written OF Ahaziah that his mother was his
counselor to do wickedly (II Chron. xii,
81. and this mother is of that pattern, a true
and faithful child OF the destroyer.
25. "And she came in strlightway with
haste unto the king and asked, saying, will
thai thou give me by and by in charger the
head Of John the Baptist" Satan is very
prompt. Immediately and with haste she
obeys her mothers wishes. John Is a true
child of God, great in the sight of the Lord,
filled with the spirit from his birth Guke j.,
15), the special herald OF the Son OF God,
greatly honored by God, and yet he has
been allowed to languish in a prison, and
now Satan will be permitted to reach him
with his last and worst weapon-1eath.
26. "And the king was exceedingly sorry,
l,;- hnir cnl-
which sat with him he would not reject her"
Mark it we'll, he would not reject her. though
she came seeking the death OF IN innocent
man. And can any poor sinner believe that
the Lord jesus will reject MIN when he comes
asking for lie from Him who is the Prince
OF Life. and who has said. Him that coneth
to Me will in nowiSs cast out" (John vi,
37), who has also said, II, even l. am He
that blotteth out thy transSr2ssions fer My
names sake and will not remember thysins?"
81. "And Immediately the king sent an
e1ecutioner and commanded his head to be
brought, and he went and beheaded him in
the prison." So John was instantlyin glory,
"absent from the body, present with the
Lord" And it was his gain to die, ye. it did
seem so hard thus to suffer to crafty 6
wicked woman, but God permitted it, and
His ways are just and true, and He says,
"Be still and know that am God" 1t was
Herod's birthday, but 1t was good day for
John, too-his first day in heaven.
23. And brought his head in charger
and gave it to the damsel, and the damseI
gave it to her mother" What could she do
with 1t? Did ever Il daughter give such
grewsome gift to her mother? Yet doubt
less the mother was glad TO have the assur.
ance of her enemy's death. Satan was glad
to have got so good man off the earth, and
no doubt John was glad to be at home and
at rest, for he had finished his work which
God had given him 10 do, and no power
could touch him till he had finished it,
%. "And when his disciples heard OF ii
they came and took up his corpse and laid
it In Il tomb" The body sleeps, but John
was more alive than when in the boiy. He
may have been one Of those whose bodies
rose after the resurrection OF Christ. If not,
his body will surely rise after the coming OIL
Christ for His saints q Thess. w.. 1919
and he will have a place Of honor awarded
to him. In Nath. xiv. ~, it is said that his
disciples, after they buried his body, went
and told Jesus. He can rest and comfort nj
who are in trouble. and He only can. lie,
all weary ones come 10 Him (A1ath. xi., 80
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