The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-30

BY REV. JAMES e. GILBERT, d. D.,
Secretary of the American Society of Re-
ligious Education.
(Students of these lessons are requested
their names, denomination and postoffice
address for enrolment in the office OF the
society, mentioning this paper, that docu-
ments on Bible study may be mailed TO
theEn.)
PERIOD.-The lessons studied during the
past three months began with the story OF
the beheading of John the Baptist, and
ended, if the lesson in Romans is omitted,
with the account of Zaccheus. Detached
passages pertaining to the life of Christ
were presented taken from the remnant of
His Galilean ministry, and from His later
Judean and Perean ministry. Three of
those passages pertained TO events prior to
His third passover. three after His third
passover and before the feast of taber-
nacies, and five of them between that feast
and His fourth passover. The entire time
from first to last was probably thirteen or
fourteen months, about one-third of His en-
tire ministry. We suspended our studies,
leaving Jesus in Jericho in the house of a
publican, from which He viii emerge to
begin His last journey to Jerusalem, the
theme of our first lesson in next quarter.
TTINERARY.-The student should take
a map and point out the journeys of Jesus
during the quarter, as follows: Beginning
at Bethsaida he travelled by way Of the Sea
of Galilee to Capernaum. Proceeding
thence westerly and northwesterly through
Galilee into the region of Tyre and Sidon,
afterward eastward to Decapolis and along
the shore of Gamee to the vicinity of
Caesarea Philippi, He climbed Hermon and
descended, returning through northeast
Gallee to Capernaum. Going forth again
Gov, at-d
borders of Perea and passed on to Jerusa-
lem. Thence describing a circuit northeast
erly in Judea, stopping awhile at Bethany,
He crossed the Jordan into Perea. Return
ing hastily to Bethany and withdrawing as
hastily He went forth again via Ephraim
to Perea. Afterward as the passover drew
near He again set out for Jerusalem, hav-
ing gone far Zaccheus's home. These
journeys, all performed foot, were with
the little band who had accepted His
call. Matt w. 49, They were centered in
Capernaum and Jerusalem-the former His
home Matt. iv. 49,, me theater of His activ-
tiles, the latter the capital of the nation
where His illustrious earthly career was
destined to end.
GROUPINGS.-In these two centers may
be found the keys of the quarters lesson.
The one represents His apostles whom He
sought to train for service. The other rep
resents the hierarchy that was arrayed
against Him. Here was the old church sink
ing to decay and the new church rising to
take its place These two points would
more fully appear had we taken the whole
biography, rather than scattered parts of
it, And yet what we had bears forcefuIIy
upon Judaism or Christianity, in one phase
or another. In the first lesson the tragic
death of John left Jesus as the sole living
reformer, fulfilling the prediction John Iii,
30.) The third, fourth and fifth lessons, by
three methods present Him, the great lead
err in three aspects of His character and
Office. The sixth, seventh and eighth les
sons display His kingdom. The ninth,
tenth and eleventh lessons show His rela-
ton and attitude toward the dead, the rich
and the honored. But all of these themes
must be reviewed in the light of closing
and an opening dispensation. John " I'D
MIRACLES.-Four times during the quar-
ters lesson the deeds of Christ touched
the mysterious side of nature. Scientists
declare that all things are under law, by
which they mean that there is an observed
uniformity in the process of the material
world. They frequently forget that there
must be reason for this uniformity and a
cause for the causes of phenomena. Now,
Jesus worked in that realm which is not
revealed by microscopy, or telescope, or
crucible. The reality of His miracles cam
not be questioned But, being admitted, He
is proved to be natures Lord. Col. j, 1e,
I'D No method of criticism can set aside
or eliminate the four accounts which we
have studied. They cannot be ascribed to
the love of the marvellous, the superstitious
veneration of the apostles, for in each case
they were surprised at what they witnessed
a a bad bpar Tor ictc
The results could not have been achieved
by sleight of hand or divining arts practiced
in those times. for everything was openly
done in the presence of wondering wit
nesses, no device or deception being pos
sfble. Moreover, the multiplied food the
glorified form, the restored eyes and the
revived dead-entered into three depart
ments, SO that trickery in one could
have been available in another. There can
be but one honest verdict-Iesus wrought
miracles as proof of His divinity. John
X, 49,
TEACHINGS.-Th miracles of Christ
prove that there is a superSensuous realm,
and that the spiritual is mightier than the
physical. But what are the facts princi-
realm which overlies and dominates the ma
teachings Of Jesus John iii, l299; which.
(John viii. 81, 32) The teachings were not
given formally and categorically. except
on rare occasions, but incidentally and illus
tratively. They are left yet Embedded in
narratives, veins of gold run through
quartz rock. The part of all men in all
centuries has been, and in all coming time
Will SO continue, to dig and bring forth that
truth for the souls nourishment. Matt iv
~ In the quarters lessons the main truths
pertain TO himself and His kingdom with
lesser correlated truths to give these their
rightful setting. He is the Son of God a. es-
son iv), the bread of life Lesson iiD, unit
ing the dispensations 0esson W. by fulfill
ing and opening the other. His king
dom was proclaimed by John the Baptist
G4esson ID, who, as forerunner became the
greatest of prophets. The subjects of that
kingdom children and childlke adults
04esson VII, and its officers are servants
The law of the kingdom was an expansion
and confirmation of the Mosaic code, vital
lied by the principle of love Qesson wiz
They who enter the kingdom must surrerl-
der wealth, if Is is obstacle Q4esson X,
and restore what has been obtained fraud
ulently 0esson KID All, without dstinc-
ton of race. are welcome in that kingdom.
OPPOSITION.-During the quarter we
have studied but little of the srowng tide
of hostility and enmity, which was even
more bitter than at any former time. At
every step in His journey from Bethsa.da to
Jericho there followed Him priestly class
bent on His destruction. 1t appeared be-
fore and after the curing of the man born
blind. At the grave of Lazarus there were
those who would gladly have raised a tu-
multi, who did consort with the Pharisees to
ensnare Him, who even proposed to put
Lazarus to death. John xii, 10) And at
Jericho it appeared in the murmuring of