Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1895-03-16

orr verses Stu - NoAueu AcAts 1WA~
Xix, iO-commensary by the Rev. u. N.
stearns.
land Jesus entered and passed through
Jericho" We have now come to the last
week before the cruoiflxion, and the next
lesson In order in the series chat for April
- will be the triumphal entry, which
seems also 10 be the next in tho order OF
events. In reference to the blind men
healed about this time, Matthew speaks of
two who were healed as he left Jericho;
Mark mentions only one and gives his
name as Bartim@us, while Luke speaks OF
one who was healed as be entered Jericho
without any attempt to reconcile these &C
counts Why not take the three ms we find
them and simply believe that He healed
one as He entered Jericho and two as He
left Jericho, one Of whom was Barti-
mmuss The simplest and least learned ex-
PLANTATION Is often the nearest TO the truth
AS Jesus was continually opening the eyes
OF the blind, IL Is not strange that He
should do SO for three different ones at
this time.
2. And, behold. there was man
named Zaccheus, which was tho chief
among the publicans, and he was rich. :"
We are now introduced to one who was
blind spiritually, but not physically. He
needed Jesus as much as Bartim@us, but
perhaps was not as conscious of that need,
not being poor nor hysically-helpless. OF
the class to which he belonged he was at
the head, and as to this worlds goods he
needed nothing. He is one OF the most in
teresting rich men OF the gospels. The rich
young ruler saddened us by his going
away; the rich man who thought only of
4 A.. L. tl<s. he.
would have was suddenly called away
from 1t all, and the rich man at whose
gate Lazarus lay had a terrible reverse.
8. And he sought to see Jesus, who He
was, and could not for the press. because
he was little of stature" The opening
words make us think of those Greeks who
said TO Philip, "S,ir, we would see Jesus"
John xii, 21), and they suggest to us that
the only one worth seeing is Jesus, for
when we see Him we see God the Father
John xiv, %. We are not told the motive
of those Greeks In desiring to see Jesus,
and, as to Zaccheus, 1t may have been mere
curiosity, but the result would lead us to
suppose something moro. The hindranoes
were twofold-personal and circumstan-
tial, his little stature and the great crowd.
A. And he ran before and climbed up
into a sycamore tree TO see Him, for lie
was to pass that way" This was about as
undignified proceeding as that of the rich
young ruler who kneeled down in the
street, but it indicated real desire. If
we would see Jesus, we must go where
Jesus is to be found, and we viii be sure
to find Him in His word. The Scriptures
testify OF Him duke xiv, 27)
8. And when Jesus came to the place
He looked up and saw him and said unto
him, Zaccheus, make haste and come
down, for today / must abide at thy
house." He knew what was in man, and
He knew the heart of this man up among
the branches OF this sycamore. 1.-The eyes
of the Lord run to and fro throughout the
whole earth to show Himself strong on be-
half OF them whose hearts are perfect to-
ward Him" (I Chron. xvi, 81, and IL
there is in your heart going out to Him,
hungering for Him, be sure that He sees
1t there, and remember that it is written
'Ye shall seek Me and find Me when We
search for Me with all your heart" (Jer.
xxx, 1877. Rejoice also that II there is a
real desire toward Him, belt ever so faint.
1t is the Spirits work, and He will regard
It,
g. "And he made haste and came down
and received him joyfully." How quickly
he responds to the Saviours invitation.
It Is the Spirits work, but Zaocheus was
willing to have IL so. The Spirit Is seek
ing to bring all who hear the gospel down
from their pride of intellect and social
standing and moral standing and self in
every form, righteous or unrighteous that
they may receive Jesus and stand truly
complete in Him. There must be a real
coming down to real sense of our moth
ingness and an honest reception of Christ
Then we become children of God and ac-
cepted in the Beloved (John /, ~; Eph. !,
6, y. Consider how every high thing shall
some day be brought down and Jesus
alone exalted lisa. ii, IL, 12).
T. And when they saw 1t they all muir
INJURED, saying that He was gone to be
guest with man that Is sinner" Satan
Is always angry when any one receives
Jesus or even looks toward Him and will
surely have something to say about it, as
when he spoke through Simon the Phari-
see of the woman who washed Jesus feet
with her tears, or when he stood at Joshua
the high priests right hand, seemingly
pointing to the filthy garments. Let not
the enemy hinder you by pointing to your
sinfulness, but rejoice that Christ Jesus
came into the world to save sinners"
g. And Zaccheus stood and said unto
the Lord, Behold, Lord the half Of my
goods give to the poor. and IL / have
taken anything from any man by false ac-
cusation restore him fourfold" Not
that he had been doing this, but he would
do IL as an evidence Of his sincerity and
begin now. We give nothing to God for
our redemption. 1t Is a free gift from.
vi, 90; Eph. II, 81. But being saved we
must give evidence of 1t, for faith that
does not show itself In good works is not q
faith that saves See James II, IA, II;
Eph. Il, 10. Unless there is a cheerful
and ample restitution to all whom we may
have wronged ms far as we have ability
and opportunity and a liberal giving to
the Lord, constrained by His love, our
faith Is questionable.
8. And Jesus said unto him, This day
Is salvation comet this house, for so much
as he also is a SON OF Abraham. ~ Not
simply q descendant Of Abraham, but a
true believer like Abraham, and thus and
therefore a true child of Abraham and
child of God, by faith in Christ Jesus For
II ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham =
seed and heirs according to the promise
fGal. i'll, 20). Salvation Is In the Lord.
Jesus Christ Himself Is the salvation OF
the Lord, 50 when we have received Him
salvation has come TO as, ana we can mako
1srnel's millennial song onr own and sing
Behold, God Is my salvation tJonah II,
.; Luke iis30l isa. xii, -.
TO- "Fur the Son u Man Is come TO
seek and to save that which was lost 2 All
4.~.M< l2.n~ I.t..t.