The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1896-01-23

International Lesson for January 70, 10o0
EARLY Ministry Of Jesus-Luke A,1.AA.
Specially Arranged from Peloubet's Notes.
GOLDEN TExr.-dis word was with pow.
er.-Luke Asa
TINE Of the rejection Of Nasareth, April,
A. D. q. more than . year after our last
lesson.
PIAcD.-Nasarsth. in aalilee. the homo
Of Jesus youth and early manhood.
JESUS, 81 years old. in the second year Of
His public ministry.
EXPLANATORY.
OF the first year, known as the Judean
ministry, we have no record but that
of John, who records the slow and diff
cult processes by which Jesus entered
upon His work. Here we have the be-
ginning of His ministry. 1t was f1t-
ting that He should offer Himself first
at the capital city of the nation, the
central point of Jewish worship, the
city of His royal ancestor David, and
of the temple where the sacrifices had
for centuries been prefguring His
atonement. This year comes between
verses 13 and IA of Luke 4.
II. "And Jesus returned:" from Ju-
dea, where He had spent nearly year,
| to His own country. On His way He
held conversation with the woman Of
Samaria at Jacobs well John ~. "In
the power of the Spirit:" fully under
the influence of the Spirit which de-
scended upon Him after His baptism.
'There went fame:" report of His
doings. "IIe taught" He had a
double work. He taught the truth, and
He illustrated His teachings by miracles
of healing and help. One example is
given in the verses which follow.
I'm their synagogues:" their places
of religious meeting and instruction,
something like combination of our
churches and schools.
16. "And He came to Nazareth" aft
er He had been brief time in other
parts of Galilee. "Where He had been
brought ups" He had lived among the
people for 20 years, and had worked
with them, and for many of them, as a
carpenter. "As His custom was:"
Jesus regularly attended Sabbath wor-
ship, even though it was far from per-
feet, and the teaching not always what
He approved. "Stood up to read:"
They always read standing, out of rev.
erence to the sacred book.
1s. THE spirit of the Lord is upon
Me:" Therefore, He spoke the truth of
God, His message, with the authority
Of God, in the way God directed, and
with vivifying, life-giving power. "Be-
cause He hath annointed Me:" set Me
apart for this work, as priests and kings
were set apart to their office by anoint-
ing. "To preach to heal:" Here
we have the two-fold method of the
Gospel; it is spoken, and it is acted; it
teaches the soul, it helps and heals the
body. "To the poor:" The Gospel is for
those who need it most. Often those
who think themselves rich and pros
porous are in reality very poor indeed.
And sorrow, and care, and trouble come
to all. Heal the broken-hearted:"
overwhelmed with sorrow, for their
sins, or their losses and sufferings.
These Christ came to heal. For them
He worked many miracles. "To preach:"
To sound as with trumpet (not the
same word as the first preach in this
verse;. There is an allusion to the GUS
tom of proclaiming the year of jubilee
by the blowing of trumpets. Deliver
ance to the captives:" to all captives.
whether in material or in spiritual cap
tivity. Witness what the Gospel is do
ing for prison reform, for the abolition
of slavery and the slave trade. for the
Indian races. But especially to the cap
tives of sin and Satan, the slaves of evil
habits, of intemperance, of fashion. of
worldliness, does Jesus sound the trum-
pet of deliverance. ''To set at liberty
them that are bruised" lisa. So: 81:
to deliver from their sad estate 1.-The
bruised" the oppressed, those crushed
under sin, the wounded in spirit, the
cufferers from guilty conscience, smit-
ten by calamity.
10. "To preach (herald, the same as
the second preach in verse 1s) the ac-
ceptable year of the Lord:" Gods
chosen opportunity had come.
81. This day is this Scripture full
filed" This prophecy was originally
spoken to the exiles in Babylon. Now,
Jesus says, those prophecies, fulfilled
in measure to your fathers, are to have
a larger and more glorious fulfiIlment,
The time has come. | myself am the
Messiah through whom these promises
shall be realized. Believe on me-"
%. "And all bare Him witness:" by
the expression of the countenance, by
the attitude of listening; perhaps by
favoring words, and, doubtless, after
wards in conversation about the mar
velous preacher. "And wondered at
the gracious words:" gracious both in
what was said and in the manner OF
saying it. His words were full of grace
and truth. rs not this Joseph's son?"
To some this made Ills gracious words
more wonderful. To others, and to the
majority, it seemed impossible and abb
surd that the son of this obscure family,
a carpenter who has made furniture
for their houses, a man brought up in
a common way, without education,
without rank, without wealth or Office
l..