The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-28
FOOTPRINTS OF JESUS.
LEFT US Az LxAMPLE THAT WE
SHOULD FOLLOW ms STEPS,
Interesting Review ofthe Past Twelve In
ternational sunday-sehooi Lesso"'"'
Rev. Edward L. Pen'
March 29.-Review


p, AHA review our task shall he 10
search each lesson for the ioo'p
Iesus. We want to know where ne "'"'
and what lie did, for He hath iei' 10 ."
- ,,o, Wa "shouId follow his
steps" ,,-o -
The first lesson gives US p'c'ui0 ,',.
the messenger who was sent peio's
face TO prepare the way for the ioo'S'eP'
we are to study.
+ In tho second lesson we come upo'
,hosa footnrnts for the first time anu
souowine them we find the boy JESUS ~
II,s FATHERS house. so engrosseu w.
heavenly thoughts as TO be app"ienuy,
los. tn all sense Of time. ms pVy -.
MS yvay TO a Bible class rather .na' "
a Mace of doubtful amusement, oecauSo
n was natural for Him 10 90 H.
modern boy (and the modern boy 10
ther) finds it natural Wheh nc 49,,
cItv IN steer clear of the Bible class anu
30 90 into forbidden paths under the IN
nression that it IS his religious du'y 10
know what Is going on in the world ING
wise man after the flesh does not loon
with favor upon this scene IN 'he .einpio
area. I'm his eyes this boy was feisiouS
too early: he should have first sown ms
wild oats and then settled down.
In the third lesson we trace the foo'-
stems of Jesus from His home 10 the Jo'
dan. where He went TO be papuIeu' NJ
because he had sins TO be washed away.
hut because IL was becoming IN INN 10
f,lGu All righteousness. 1t was not III
Him To stay at home while great enofO
was being made for the glory OF Goa say
ing all the while TO himself, II Is
good work. and I endorse IL. and the
masses will be greatly benen,ed by H.
but l have no need Of 1t myself.
In tho fourth lesson we trace THESE
footprints TO Nazareth, where We hhu
| Jesus In the synagogue trying 10 save
| His own rsope. This preacher Is Dot
cor.ent IN nreach 10 strangers and ne
Iect those of His own household. Nor
| Is Vo content TO via Tho admiration OF
| His home people by speaking pleasant
words when duty requires hifl 70 speak
| the words which may raise u MOD against
/ Him. 80 s,,,..s
The firth lesson pictures Him siuting
| in a private house preaching 10 i'S
ceIlaneous crowd and pausng in HIS scr
mons to offer forgiveness and comfort
and healing 10 a poor paralytc. NO
rmployment Is so important and no oc-
| casion so great but we can afford to pause
when. i'm the feeblest way, we can initiate
Jesus i'm His conduct toward the help
| less man at His feet.
! In the sixth lesson we trace His foot
| steps to "A mountain-top, where he SPENDS
| a whole night In prayer, and thence part
OF the way down the mountain TO
| level place where lie breaches such a
| sermon as we could expect only from one
| who loved to spend whole nights In
| prayer As we hear the gracious words
] which fall from His lips We ere remind
| ed that they are no greater than HIS
| deeds. and that when the sermon Is end
| ed He will not have to descend single
step to reach the ordinary level OF his
daily life.
In the seventh lesson we find Him on
| the way 10 use His power in behalf OF
one who was not Of Israel, and who had
| no claim upon Him but the claim OF
| humanity. But that claim Is always pow
| erful with Him who, having taken upon
| Himself our nature is touched with the
feeling OF our inhrmities." If one in
trouble sends to you. and you alone can
render the needed help. it is not a ques-
ton who he is; the claim he has upon you
is the claim OF humanity. Again we see
Jesus stopping a funeral procession and
using His power In behalf OF one who
had no thought Of asking IL. We can fol-
low His steps in this also: we should be
ASHAMED to wait TO be asked; we should
| hasten TO offer our services TO the be-
| reayed.
In the eighth lesson we see Him going
| 10 help a Tu,er, and We remember that
| the rulers. as a class. were his greatest
| enemies. He pauses by the way TO
help poor woma1-probably heath an
whose faith in him was of pitifIlly
imperfect SOFT; but was the best she had
| In this lesson we see how true II Is that
He will not break the bruised reed nor
| h.. Inc H.v Il IA
| patient with a poor and imperfect faith
how dare We say or do n thing that Will
discourage those OF little faith2
In the ninth lesson We trace his foot
prints to a lonely place where we find
Him praying. In a few moments we see
Him turn away from the temptation TO
save His own life and joyfully embrace
ing the cross, exhorts His disciples to do
like Him.
In the tenth lesson we trace the foot
steps Of Jesus in His parable Of the
Good Samaritan He who Is despised and
rejected of men comes to us when we
are stripped and wounded and left half
dead, and tenderly binds up our wounds.
pouring I'm oil and wine, Go thou and do
likewise"
In the eleventh lesson we find Him
teaching His disciples how to pray. Do
we ever think Of putting our feet in these
footprints? Does IL ever occur 10 US 10
teach another how to pray? Do we not
know that there are multitudes around
us who have 10 more idea OF prayer than
heather? "Why do you not pray about
it?' said a good woman 10 a patient in
a hospital in this city the other day.
well, 10 tell the truth" SAID the man.
'I don't know how" But you know
the Lords Prayer" NO: / don't know
that" he said And the good woman
went 10 work then and there TO teach
him "Our Father" And that man had his
name on a church registcri
In the twelfth lesson we find Jesus
manifestng a tender concern for His dis
cples future. lie knows what will be-
fall them, and He knows their weak
ness, and like as a Gather pitieth
his children so the Lord piteth them
that love Him and carefully points out
the way for them. and warns them OF
the dangers ahead. DO we exhibit this
concern for the future welfare Of those
who are near TO US? When We foresee the
dangers which beset them do we warn
them? When a neighbor is falling into
sinful habits do we go TO him lovingly,
tenderly. TO point ont the danger? DO we
not prefer TO leave him 10 himself and
so to others to talke about Him?
| EDWARD l.. PELL.