The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1898-03-19
THE BAPTIST eEHEADED.
Sunday school Lesson
for March 20. 1898.
BIASED Upon Peloubet's Select


all diligence; for out of 1t are the issues OF
life.-ProV. 4:23
TIME-John was imprisoned n March or
April, A D. %. He was beheaded year
later, in March or April, A. d. 90
PLACE-Jesus was in Galilee With HIS
twelve disciples. John was imprisoned ana
put to death at Macherus, strong 1or-
tress and castle on the borders of Arabia,
nine miles east of the northern end of the
Dead Sea. The feast held by Herod at
which Herodas demanded the head OF john
the Baptist was probably held IN TINS CASTLE
LESSON COMMENT.
Collect together al the Scripture no
tees of the life of John. The parallel
accounts should be kept before us as we
study. They are found in Mark 6:14-29;
Luke 9:7-9.
Temperance can be taught incident
ally but effectively, from the fact that
the crime was probably committed I'M
der the influence of strong drink.
The martyrdom of John is the main
subject of the lesson. His life was sue
cessful, although short, and crowned
with martyrs crown.
/. A Troubled Conscience.-Vs. /, 2.
Jesus, in chapter 10, had sent the twelve
disciples on their Galilean mission,
which continued al winter. About
this time they returned to report to
Jesus, and Jesus own marvellous works
and teachings had so penetrated and
stirred the whole people that the news
reached King Herod. Herod said: 'This
is John the Baptist, risen from the
dead" He thought that John had
brought back with him those larger
powers, those diviner gifts, which the
spirit receives when it enters upon the
Heavenly life, and the prophet could
arg too har
his former terrible reproofs.
II. John Imprisoned for His Courage
and Faithfulness.--Ns. 3-5. For" and
the account goes back to tell of Her
DDS having been brought face to face
with his sins by prophet of God, of the
imprisonment of this prophet, and the
subsequent execution pleaded for by
his partner in sin, Herodias. He i'm
prisoned John that he might have peace
in his crime unreproved, and because
Herodias wanted John put out of the
way. For John said probably many
times) unto him: at is not lawful for
thee to have her" 1t was not lawful
ID because he had put away his lawful
ssYife (2) He had persuaded Herodlas
TO forsake her husband, Herod's broth
er Philip, for the sake of his rank and
wealth 90 He had married Herodias,
his niece and sister-iu-law, contrary to
| the law Oev. 1s:12-14). The only way
to stop the reproof was to repent or to
destroy the reprover. But there Is
| nothing so cowardly as a guilty con-
science, or so to be feared by evil doors
| as a holy man who voices the truth of
God. Besides the people believed John
to be a prophet, and Herod feared an
uprising, so John was kept in the dun
geon for year.
III. The Birthday Banquet and Its
Outcome-Vs. 6-12. Herod's birthday
was kept with great banquet, to which
the mobiles and military officers were
invited Salome, the daughter Of He
rodias, by her former husband, danced
| in their midst. She had been sent by
her mother to gain an opportunity for
killing John. 1t was shrewd scheme
| to take advantage of Herod's ha1f-in-
| toxicated condition, and the scheme
succeeded. Herod was pleased and
| promised "to give her whatsoever she
| would ask" On such occasions men
vie with each other in the value of their