The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-11
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON
Feb. IL, 1s9o-John v, 1927.


The clash between Christ and the Pharisees
was inevitable They stood for venerable &C.
clesasticaI establishment, buttressed by tradi-
ton and authority. It sheltered them and by its
craft they had their living Not that all had
sordid motives, but the situation was one to stunt
the mind and spirit. They We're naturally alert
against innovations. suspicious and bigoted. They
could not understand, they were afraid Of the
young reforming Rabbi of Nazareth And in their
judgment it would be far better that he should
be put to death than that the whole fabric of
eccesiasticism should be brought down about
their ears.
The incident of carrying a bed on the Sabbath
provoked the impending clash The dalectical
skill OF the Pharisees had been especially busy
in framing the casuistry Of the Sabbath 1t had
reached such a refinement this: to rib
bon mot sewed upon the dress) would be to carry
a burden and therefore unlawful. man
actually carrying his mat through the street on
the Sabbath the bravest innovation ever
witnessed That it was done at Jesus command
was equivalent to His having raised flag of
revolt against ecclesiasticism. 1t impossible
To ignore IL.
In the deadly assault which followed Jesus
bore himself with superb dignity and calmness
lie did not enter into defense
upon former occasions. He did not jus
tfy His action on the ground of humanity.
not from differences which might be drawn
from the exceptional provisions allowed by
the LeviticaI law Instead of this He lifted the
curtain upon His true character and mission He
lifted the curtain fully. and forever. He
stood out before these hostile and carping &C.
clesiastcs as the Son of God. The source. extent
and nature of His authority were cast in high and
clear-cut relief
1t is as if He had said: In the seventh day.
the long period stretching from creation to the
present, my Father has not ceased working; His
UNFOLDING Of nature is a continuous creation. But
/ and my Father one His exemption from
the law of the Sabbath is mine, too. That He
was not misunderstood is evident from the fact
that His enemies attempted to put Him to death
Jesus in a sense takes himself out of the cate
cory of men when He says: My Father work
eth, ana ! work. But He confesses to the linn
itatons of His human life when He saws: The
Son can do nothing of himself Yet these lin
ltatlonS are in turn offset by the intimate rela-
tons between the Father and the Son ''The
Father loveth and showeth the Son"
Jesus now outlines the most important Of His
functions as the Son of God 1t is as it He had
said: You marvel at the healing of an impotent
man. But greater marveIs will soon greet your
eyes You shall witness the great spiritual
quckening of the day of Pentecost. And in the
last day shall be the physical quckenng, the
resurrection of the dead Then shall be the GEN
eral judgment. Each of these it is the function of
the Son of God to perform. lie quickens the soul
dead III sin. The dead physically shall hear the
voice of the Son of God He has authority also
to execute the judgments of the great assze"
The tables turned. Instead of Jesus being
the defendant the Pharisees must shrive them
selves OF guilt. In dishonoring the Son they have
dishonored the Father
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
rTSl-lHlS Is declared TO De the most remark
able passage of the New Testament fr-rn a
Chrstological point of view 1t contains
the Chrstology of Jesus Christ in His own words
A discourse the theme of which lie the
character, mission, authority, credentials of the
Son of God.
Second-Jesus demanded of the Pharisees He
demands of all men, right attitude toward him
self Such attitude toward Him is the essence
of religion. To hear and love the Son is to honor
the Father also.
Third-There is a working which is not incon-
sstent with rest God rested from creative work
that he might be active in benefcence and love.
There is no warrant for secular work in
the example of Jesus. = The Sabbath is not
day of sanctified soth.
-Four th-"Heareth my word: the child may
hear the parent perfectly, but If the heart does
not throb with love- and the will resolve to do the
thing requested, the child has not heard at all in
tie best sense of the word How solicitous Jesus
was that people should have ears to heart
F1fth-How opposite are the effects Of Jesus
disclosure of His Sonship He revealed 1t to the
woman of Samaria, and she said persuasively to
her townspeople: us not this the Christi He
declared it to the Pharisees. and they prosecuted
and sought the more to kill Him.