The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-01
lay School Lesson for JamuaryR.
JESUS AND JOHN.
Matt. iii; 7-17.
BY j. E. GILBERT, d. d., LII. d.,
Secretary of American Society OF Religious Education.
Matt. I'LL; 7-17.

must no longer regard their descent
Verse 81, for God was able to raise up
new people, an admonition repeated by
the Saviour Himself. Matt. xxi, Az.
JUDGMENT.-John saw what the pub
lie men of his time could not see because
of their spiritual blindness, that the di-
vine patience toward the Jewish nation
was well-ngh exhausted. All through the
centuries, even from the time of the Ex-
odus, they had been a stiff-necked rebel
lious people (EX. Xxxii -. He had sent
unto them prophets who had taught and
cntreated and warned der. vii, 30. but
they had disregarded the voice of these
holy men. Now the judgments of God
wdfe impending. The axe was laid at the
root of the trees, ready to be used when
the proper moment came. Verse 1O).
Every person and institution that does
not bring forth righteousness shall be
hewn down and cast into the fire. The
figure is of Lord who delivers his vine
yard of worthless bushes. The same mode
of illustration was employed by the Saw
iour Uuke Kill y, more than once. Uohn
XIV O.. There Is undoubted reference to
that terrible day when the army of Titus
destroyed Jerusalem and broke up the
Jewish state, A. D., 20.
PREDICTION Having thus rebuked
and warned his hearers the great preach
CT opens to them a vision of one who
would succeed him Oversees II and 1O,
whom he came to introduce. John t. y.
Concerning that coming one John makes
three remarks, designed to give exalted
conceptions Of Him. First. in power dig
nifty and authority he was so much supe-
rlor to the Reformer that the latter was
not worthy to perform the lowest menial
service for Him. (John i. 30). Second He
would render a more important service,
not like John baptizing with water as q
symbol of forgiveness or cleansing after
repentance. but with the Holy Ghost. the
symbol and agent of new life impaired
to the soul (Acts l. 81, not an outward ap-
plcatiOn. but an inward energy. Third
the method of his administration would
be new and eXacting. As the husGandman
puriies the threshing-floor, saves the
wheat and burns the chaff, so this great
Person would cleanse the church and re-
quire holiness Of it's members. Matt. xxi
lD 1t is plain to us, and must have been
to those who heard that John referred to
the Messiah and to the better day to be
ushered in under Him.
IIUMILITY.--The foregoing is a sum-
mary of what the Baptist said, probably
many times to those who gathered at the
dealing with the sins of the people seek
ing to lead them to repentance. and as
faithful lifting up OF the thought and the
awakening of hope that He whom the
nation had long expected was about to
appear. Six months of such ministry
passed. one day Jesus came, probably
afoot and alone, from Galilee, seeking to
be baptized as other mon had been.
Verse 49,. The two cousins stood face
to face, probably strangers. John ii. ~.
But by some mysterious influence, per-
| haps by intuition. possibly 10y the Spirit 8
| influence John recognized for the mo-
| ment his il!Lstrious visitor. and hesitated
| to administer the ordinance. (NerSc 1N.
"COmcst thou to me-" he said, deeply
! humhled by sense of lnWOrthiness
| which never foIsOok him. John l. 2V.
| Rejecting unOn his own need of spiritual
! strength and of the ability of Jesus to
| mpart that strength. he said, 81 have
need to be baptized of Thee" For once