The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-01-05
rHR SUNDAY SCHOOL.


TIME.-February. A. d. q. directly after
the temptation In the wilderness.
THE LESSON.
l. John Prepares the Way Before
Him.-John 1:19-34; Mark 1:l-S; Luke
3:1-1s. John was the voice Of one cry
ing in the wilderness: "Prepare ye the
way of the Lord" He prepared the
way u) by preaching repentance and
reformation as the one condition of the
coming of the kingdom of Heaven to
themselves or their nation. (2) John
prepared the way by announcing that
the Kingdom Of Heaven was at hand.
(3) BY baptism, symbolizing and con-
firming men in the new life and prep
aration for the new kingdom. az He
pointed to Jesus as 1.-The Lamb OF God
which taketh away the sin Of the
world"
II. The Baptism Of Jesus.-Vs. 80,
80; Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1911; Luke
1921. 90. This was Jesus public en-
trance upon His work, public declara-
tion Of His position as opposed TO all sin
and on the side OF true religion.
III. The Temptation of Jesus.-Matt.
'4:1-1l: Mark 1:l2. 10; Luke Alb. jan
uary A. d. 81. Jesus was tempted like
as we are. yet without SIM"
~. Jesus Gains His First Two Dis
ciples Through John the Baptist.-Vs.
3S-40. After His 40 days experience Of
temptation in the wilderness. and His
| victory, Jesus returned to Bethabara
I (Bethany), where John was baptizing.
John recognized Him as the one whom
he had baptized, and upon whom the
Spirit had descended like a dove. and
he pointed him out to his disciples as
the Messiah.
35. THE next day." After the first
testimony and recognition OF Jesus on
His return from the scene of His temp
tation. Two Of His dsciples:" One
was Andrew ". 4o). The other was
probably the Apostle John himself.
SO. Hooking upon (the word ex-
presses a fixed. earnest gaze) Jesus as
He walked" or was taking a walk. "Be-
hold the Lamb Of God!" The words He
had used the day before.
81. "And they followed Jesus:" The
Greek means originally, "they walked
in the same road:" hence to attend on,
to follow 4. disciple, in the same
spiritual path
80. "Saw them" The original means
'looked steadfastly on them as il study
ing them" Then Jesus turned He
met them half way in their search.
what seek YEP" This is the first word
of Jesus ministry, so far as recorded;
and with His second sentence. "Come
and see" expresses the attitude OF
Christ toward men, His welcome, and
the way they are TO find the blessings
He has TO give.
". How Jesus Gained His Third Dis
ciple.--by Invitation Of Another Dis.
ciple.-Vs. Al, AZ. Al. "He first find
eth:" Either (D the first thing he did
after he left Jesus was TO hnd his broth
er; or. (2) (as Godet), the two disciples
set themselves to seek each "his own
brother" that is. the one Peter, the
other James. OF the two, Andrew was
the first who succeeded in finding his.
42. And he brought him to Jesus"
With him, as with all who find Jesus.
the first desire was to max known to
those they loved their new-found treas
ure. Thou art Simon:" That Is your
present name. Thou shalt be called
Cephas:" Cephas is Aramaic. This
language would not be familiar at
Ephcsus. where John wrote, therefore
he translates it for them into Greek.
(Which is by Interpretation, stone:"
The sense would perhaps be given bet
ter by keeping the equivalent proper
namely Interpretation Peter. that is
stone, or rather mass Of rock de-
tachsd from the living rock.
V. How Jesus Gained His Fourth Dis
ciple-by His Direct Invitation.-Vs. 43,
A. IS. Jesus would 60" was minded,
had a purpose, to go forth into Gall
lee:. There had been His homo and
there were the friends and acqudnt-
ances OF years. "Findeth Philip"
Jesus seeks him out.
VI. How Jesus Gained His Fifth Dis
ciple-Through Another Disciple.-vs.
As. 4G. As. "Philip findcth Nathaniel"
Observe that the young disciple does
not wait, but as soon a. he has found
Christ begins to declare his discovery
TO others. So with Andrew above (4l),
with the woman Of Samaria (chap. 4:2S
29). with Paul after his conversion
(Acts 9:20). 1--WE have found Him, OF
whom Moses in the law:" The Penta-
teuch. the fiv. books Of Moses, thus dis
,inguished from the other books Of the
Old Testament (see Gen. 10; Mum,
24:17-19; Deut. 1919. "And the
prophets, did write (lst. 7:l4; s:6, 7;
52:13-l5; 53:1-12: Ez. 34:23-sl; Dan.
o:14-2O.
46. Can there any good thing" Any
eminent, great parsonage and grand
and worldwide movement. "Come out
of Nazareth" Because Nazareth was
a small town, near to Cana, Nathanaels
home, with probably not the best repu-
tation in the neighboring town. but not
necessarily rude, degraded, vicious, or
disreputable place. Nathanaels sur
prise NAV have arisen from his expecta-