The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-01-09

Al 1G-Beginning of tina Ministry OF
Jesus.
The section Includes the general view
or chrisfs ministry in Galilee. as given
I'm Matt A.: 1925. and the parallels. and g.
glance al Christ,s few earlier works there.
/ CD John 2: Ill: e0 John 4: 1854; Cd Luke
A: lG-sI. Read fun text OF to-day's lesson.
Suggestions to teachers.-A bird s-eye
view or the first year of Jesus ministry.
The 1ndean ministry. recorded chiefly in
John, should be taken first, so as to
understand how Jesus work grew into
that which we study to-day. The map
win beno little aid We gain from this
lesson less of details, but more of broad
outlook upon Jesus preaching and meth-
eds I'm founding his kingdom; what he
preached; how he chose his disciples;
what kind of works he did, and how the
crowds were beginning to gather around
him, I'm contrast with the slow beginning
shown in the last part of the first chap
ter of John.
Place In the life OF Christ-The second.
year OF his ministry, the earlier part of
hlg great Galilean ministry. He was just
beginning the rapid development of his
work.
The first year of Jesus ministry.-A.
.. ~ The Judean ministry. The year of
beginnings. Recorded chiefly by John,
chaps. IA. The chief events were the
first Disciples, the first Miracle, the first
Reform, the first Discourse, the first
Tour the first Converts in Samaria-
Note. John the Baptist was still preach
fng and preparing the way. Opening of
the great Galilean ministry. which ex-
tended from December, A. d. q. to Oc-
toiber, A. d. ga year and nine months.
This first part OF this is The Second Year
Of Jesus Ministry, A. d. q, which may
best be called The Year of Development
the first year into a great work, with
marked results. A General View of His
Galflean Ministry.-Vs. 1925 First. The
Field. The country and it's people. Cali
lee contained about 1000 square miles, or
about one-third of Palestine proper. with
that it included 204 cities and villages, the
smallest of which had 1900 inhabitants.
The soil was very fertile, the vineyards
and orchards were very fruitful. There
were prosperous manufactures. and
great trade between Egypt and Damascus
passed through the region. The Sea of
Galflee was covered with vessels en-
gagged in traffic and fisheries. and its
shores were dotted with cities and viii
lagos" The people were industrious, in
telligent and active. Many were rich. 1t
was common saying, according to Eder-
shesm, "If person wishes to be rich,
let him 60 north Ito Galilee); If he vans
to be wise, let him come south Ito Jeru-
salem). Moreover, being so far away from
Jerusalem, the religious center, and in
such frequent contact with other peoples
they were more tolerant and less bound
by tradition than the people of Judea.
Thus in many ways this was the most
hopeful field in all Palestine for gaining
fOotllold and reception for the new
Kingdom of God.
Practical Suggestions and Illustrations.
~. We are not to be discouraged at small
{ |. l. -
small To all reformerS the first year
and half of Christ's ministry is an en-
c0uragement. e Illustration. Repent
ance and forsaking Of sin are necessary
before God can give the blessings of sal
walton and the fruits of the Spirit: as the
warm spring sun must come and thaw
the ground and melt the SHOWS before the
flowers and fruits can bless the earth. 1t
is useless to SOW even the best of seed
on sn0w-banks and frozen SOL. 3. The
Kingdom of heaven is at hand 1t lies
all around us, as the sunlight around
darkened building, waiting for the blinds
10 be thrown back and the windows TO be
opened. It has already begun in the
world, and ID coming faster and faster
illustration. The ordinary great seal of
the United States is commonly seen; but
the design for the reverse side I have
never seen. except on the loutside Of some
OF the postal cars and in the encyclopedia
The design Is an unfinished pyramid: ov-
er if In an eye symbolizing Gods provi-
ae1ce and the motto, sAnnuit coepds."
'He favors what has been begun" and,
underneath the motto. .'Novus ordo sec-
ulpruFn = "a new order of the ages
Much more may Christ's coming and the
gospel OF his kingdom be called ga new
order OF the ages and with him not only
the individual man, but the world will be
completed 4. Fishers of Men. First.
no be fishers of men Is the duty and priv
le@e OF the disciples of Jesus. Second.
The sea Ia the evil world. In the oldest
Ehrtstfan hymn extant Cby Clement OF
Anstrfa) Christ Is addressed. Out of this
restless sea we are to bring men to the
rest and peace and holiness OF Christ.
Third The line and the net are the gos-
pei with all it's attractions and means of
gaining souls Fourth. The net Is of no
iaae without the fishermen. 1t is personal
work by those who are anxious to save
men that brings them TO Jesus. A lead
ting Baptist clergyman said not long since
that the experience of their miss-o had
taught them that little success was gain
ed by the printed word. without the liv-
Ing presence OF the missionary. The per-
e@nal element Is very important factor
sn aa gospel work. Fifth. The object Is
10 bring men 20 the shore of eternal life
The very word catch implies. as we have
Been ADORE, TO take alive. to bring liv>
ing men into the kingdom of God. xth
Again. the work OF the fisher Is rather a
Neork oe art and skill than of force and
violence. Trench. The fisherman attracts
rather than drives. Great skill patient
tell watehfnlness. and care are neces-
sarE. The use Of the right bait. and es-
penARllR Ia much fishing. the keeping OF
ones self out Of sight.
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E0ampnlsory Edaention In Mexico.
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