The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-25
THE MINISTRY OF JESUS
TINE INTERNATIONAL sUsD1t g
SCHOOL LESSON ron T0-MORkOw.
Highly Interesting Account Of the kss'S
works OF Christ by Rev. Edward -
PeII- Lesson to be Learned.

Luke VI, N-22.
Jesus was thirty years OF ago WREN ne
left Nazsreth and came TO be ospt'.'~
Il John In Jordan. Concerning me- oap-
tism IL is sufficient Tor our present puf-
DC SC TO note that h. had no SINS :"
forgiven, that he regarded baptism -
eminertly right and proper, ana tnat ~
felt IL incumbent upon him TO fu'nh ~
righteousness. Concerning the .emytsuou
in the v sldei ness which Immediately ios-
lowed IL Is enough to note that ne WAS
led into the wilderness by the SPIRIT tnst
he gained the victory, and that ahse's'
came and ministered unto him.
Luke passes over the first year OF our
Sayiour's ministry. and begins with ms
appearance at Nazareth on his return
from the second Passover. Jesus had
wisely refralned from returning TO hfo
own home until he had I'm some measure
established himself abroad. for he knew
It would be hard for his own people to be-
iieve in him. Not that he had a record he
was ashamed OF: he had never sown any
wild oats as a boy and there was abb
solutely nothing In his past life he de-
sired to hide; but he had been guilty OF
being a boy. and that Is something great
mans own people are slow to forgive or
forget Even now he knew that they
would not receive him. but his heart
ycarned toward them. and he would not
longer postpone their day OF opportunity.
our lesson gives an account of service
held In the synagogue of Nazareth at
which Jesus was invited TO read pas
sage from the Scriptures and to comment
thereon. Our interest centers In the Sc
lection which he read. II being a general
view of his entire ministry. Seven facts
are here given concerning tho Messiah
and mission
The Spirit OF the Lord was upon him.
If that is true all his words and deees
were OF the Lord. No wonder he taughf
with authority. and not as the scribes-
No wonder his words were fun OF life
giving power. II the Spirit Of the Lord
was upon him. all his words were trues
he not only meant 10 tell the truth; he
told the truth. When he said. II and my
Father are one he spoke not merely
what he felt. but what he knew
He was anointed-set apart-by the Fa-
Their for the work he came To DO No
wonder he was full OF peace. No wonder
he did not strive nor cry. No wonder he
was never dlsheartened. n you and 4
were conscious that the work we are do
ing is the work God has set us apart to
do. what peace would be I'm our hearts.
how easily We could walk amid the STORM
how Indifferent we would he TO the lions
roar
He came 10 preach the Gospel TO the
poor. The world IL full OF poor--poor frB
mind and body and pocket and soul-poor
beggers, poor millionaircs. Jesus came
with glad tidings for every one OF them.
He came to make the poor rich. There
are pious folk. poor In purse who monop-
Ollie the Gospel, and hold II IN before the
rich as children hold up a stick OF candy
before other children. and cry trium-
phantlv. See what we've got You
haven't any" But the Gospel ia not the
exclusive privilege of the poor in purse.
II is for all who are in need. and marv
a millionaire is as needy as a heggar. II
IS for all whs can be made rich hv tho
Gospel. Let a millionaire find Christ. and
he will say that at last he is rich. Let the
poor man find Christ. and instead ~
grumbling over his crust he viii oNclairr.
what, all this and Christ. too2" u -
time for us 10 wake IN TO the fact mat
here is need az the upper end or society
as truly as at the lower end. We do not
neglect society at It's upper end. nut Ne
do neglect the souls that make up that
society We are brave enough 10 Try 10
lead poor man TO Christ We need the
courage TO face rich man and show him
his sins and lead him TO the Saviour.
He came 10 heal the brokcd.- carried
those who are overwhelmed with sorrow
from whatever cause. lie was not only
"A preacher: he was healer lie was
mighty both in word and In deed. lie not
only brought good news 10 the needy. but
he supplied their immediate wants, ana
made them feel that his message was
with authority lie not only said. Let
not your heart be troubled" hut he
raised the young man from the dead be-
cause he was the only son or
his mother and she widow.
His speech was not greater than
his acts II We are followers OF
Christ. we will combine word and deed.
The church that cxccls I'm prayor-mee;ings
and neglects It's poor and suffering Ia a
sounding brass and a Changing cvmbai-
He came to proclaim deliverlnce TO the
captive. In the broadcast sense Jesus h.
the emancipation OF the race. The Gospel
breaks all chains Jesus IL conqueror,
not TO enslave men. but 10 free them
Where the Spirit OF the Lord Is there Is
Iiberty-"the glorious liberty OF the chill
dren of God
He came to restore sight 10 the Hind.
The East Is fun ~ blind mem II has been
80 from the earliest ages. When Jesus
came the blind followed him IN crowds.
That he should heal them was only hint
OF what he came 10 do: he would heal
those who were mentally and morally
blind also. Tn imitation Of him We have
our asvlums for the blind: they are but a
hint OF what the Gospel IL doing for men
to-day. Sin IL binding. II blinds men
mentally. and makes them inndels. IL
blinds them morally. and they walk over
the preclpice without seeing II The Cos
pei orens the sinners eyes. More Christ.
more light
when Jesus ceased 10 read and sat
down to speak, the eyes Of the whole con-
pregatlon were fixed upon him. He had
already made a favorable impression. and
as ne continued 10 speak the people who
had known him from boyhood wondered
more and more al the gracious words
which proceeded out OF his mouth. Won
dered and admired until he began 10 speak
plainly 10 them, and then they grew an
crv and tried 10 kill the minister, as N
they could thereby destroy the truth.
There are few such congregations LETT
in the world yet.
EDWARD l.. PEI.L.
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