The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-01-16
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
A Study of the International Sunday
School Lesson Appointed for Jan.
&c, 1896.
Subject: Chrisrs First Discourse. st. Luke
4:162O. Its Explanation. Verses FL, 80.

Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
Indicted above.i
We may consider, first, the reading; secondly,
the explanation.
]. THE READING.
We have account of Christ reading in the
synagog at Nazareth. 1t is written in st.
Luke's Gospel, a: 1920. This is the only re-
| port we have of the incident The writer was
not present. He had probably heard of the
incident about which he wrote. We must keep
in mind that the writers of the Bible books
wrote by the direction of God, and under the
influence of the Holy Spirit Their produc-
tions therefore correct and reliable. st.
Luke wrote in probably the year A. d. 81, or
about 30 years after the events in the synagog-
He wrote in Achaia, Greece. far off from Naza-
reth. When we recall the great interval of
time and the vast separateness of the places we
are pleased to read ! Pet, 81.
Time.
Harmonists Of the Gospel are wont to put
this paragraph in January OF the year 81 some
| II months after the baptism of Jesus The
Jewish calendar shows that 1sa., chapter 81,
| was the Heptaroth or prophetic section, APP
pointed TO be read on the Day of Atonement;
| to wit, Tisri 10th. Tisri corresponds with our
October
| There would be beautiful fitness in Christ
reading Mt, so far as we know, his first public
| appearance n reader in the syuagog, that
paragraph which points so directly to his work
| as the Messiah Some, hence, locate the para
| graph in October Jesus was a few months
| over 81 years of age. He was in the second
year of his ministry. The Prophet Isaiah
wrote in the year go Il. C., or 7S7 years before
our lesson. And we study an incident which
occurred 1867 years ago.
| Place
We find ourselves at Nazareth. That place
was the home of Christ from tho time he was
| two years old until he was 80 years of age. it
was quite an obscure town. We do not find it
mentioned in the Old Testament 1t was SO
miles north of Jerusalem, six miles northwest
| of Mt. Tabor, IL miles southwest of the Sea of
! Galilee. Our Savior WAS known as Jesus of
| Nazareth. Said city was in the province of
! Galilec. 1t is now called En-. Nasireh There
are at present about 5000 inhabitants.
! The Annunciation to the Virgin Mary took
place there. Many traditions as to Christ, the
| Virgin Mary, and St. Joseph are told to trav-
| elers; as to which, however, some discretion
must be exercised on the part of listeners
| Nazareth was for some reason in disrepute dur
ing the early days of the Christian era. st. john
| !: 46. The Roman Catholic Church has fine
/ place of worship in Nazareth. The Emperor
| of Austria greatly enriched it. There is
chapel in the care of the Church of England,
dedicated October, 1871 by Bishop Cobalt The
rector has two schools, one for young men. and
| the other for young women. The aim is to
prepare native teachers. The German colonists
| have constructed a pleasant carriagoway from
| Nazareth to Mt. Carmel. 1t is we'll there be
| facilities for preaching Christ in the very place
where he beganlhist publc work, explaining
| the prophecies of the Old Testament.
Jesus was brought up ". 16l at Nazareth.
| There he spent Is years, passing through in
fancy. childhood. youth. early manhood.
| There he studied, and possibly there he learned
trade. 8 bus
The scene of the lesson was synagog The
Jews had but one Temple. That was at Jeru-
salem. But every town had al least one syna-
cog. Synagogs extraordinarily plain. There
were in them no affairs for sacrifice seeing that
only at the Temple could sacrifices be offered
/ in accordance with the Jewish ritual. Much
freedom was granted3in the synagog services.
Any citizen not in bad repute could read the
Holy Scriptures therein.
The Reader.
Children were required when IL years old
to attend the Sabbath services in the synagog.
Jesus had complied with the law in this re-
spect. Indeed. attendance was his custom"
V. 16. But persons could not publicly read and
expound tho Holy Scriptures until reaching
the age of 30 years. Jesus had passed beyond
that period. lie went early in his ministry to
his home (Nazareth). and began to labor with
his neighbors and acquaintances. Attending
the synagog he at the proper time in the serv-
ice probably arose and intimated his willing
ness to act Maphtir. or reader. The min
lister in charge of the rolls Literature was then
in rolls not on pages) handed it to him 10 read.
Jesus according to the custom, stood up to read.
The Jews forbade one leaning against anything
while the Holy Scriptures were pronounced.
In some Churches now, all the congregation
stand during the reading of the Gospel. We
observe that so soon as the paragraph had been
read Christ sat down. st. Matt, ST..
Jesus was well known to the worshipers of
the synagog. They had probably heard some
thing of the strange incidents attending his
infancy; something of the baptism, and prob
ably Of the temptation; something Of his mir
acles, for he had changed the water to wine
only nine miles from Nazareth Ito wit. at CANA
and healed the noblemans son at Capernaum.
The Paragraph Read.
We find Jesus read Isaiah 81: 1-3 or
course, he used the Hebrew Bible. and was
therefore able to render that language st.
Luke gave the account in Greek, and that in
turn has been translated into English. Since
the Bible was not then in modern book FORM
but instead a scroll, the word Opened" (V. III |
means nnroled, and "closed" ". 20) means
rolled up. 1t is supposed the paragraph read
was the portion of Scripture appointed ritually
to be read that day in public worship. The
Jews read their Bible in a systematic way
having a particular section appointed for each
day of the year. 1t was singular coincidence
that Christ happened to read just when the
selection appointed was so plainly applicable
to himself
1t is evident the said verses written in
1saiah's prophecy had relation primarily to
! Isaiah. He was conscious Of tire sad plight of
his people. He saw them downhearted, in |
captivity, blind as to their best interests, sick |
in sin, bruised and manged by the fall" He |
was prophet, and felt the obligation resting |
on himself to rescue his people. He was i'm |
PEELED to preach the Gospel TO the poor. He |
could not decline. The Spirit of God urged
him. In great measure the condition of !
things was similar when Christ the Amounted |
came to preach. Jesus felt the movings of the |
Spirit and was drawn to eyclaim: :" / must be |
about my Fathers business" The language of |
the Prophet Isaiah is realized in the case of
every minister of the Gospel. The needs are |
great-the Spirit impels-the man is anointed |
(ordained)-he must preach the Gospel.
Suggestions.
]. Begin as Christians to work at home |
among your neighbbrs.
2. Let it become your custom to attend re-
lieious services.
g. The minister may learn many lesson;
C. g..
a. Be sure you called to the minis
try called of God.
b. Seek the influence of the Holy Spirit |
in preparation and prosecution of |
your work.
n a Ill l..