Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-04-20
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
SERIOUS SUBJECTS CAREFULLY
CONSIDERED.
a scholarly Exposition Of the Lesson
-Thoughts worthy Of Calm Renec.
ti0n-Half an Hour's study Of the
Scriptures-Time Well Spent.


tion-Half an Hours study Of the
scriptures-Time Well spsnt.
"Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the
Life" is the subject of the lesson for
April %. 1t Is found in John IA: LA.
After the washing of the disciples feet by
Jesus there occurred the incident by
which Judas was pointed out to John as
the betrayer. The traitor abruptly left
the table. Then came the institution of
the Lords SUPPER" as we have come to
call 1t. Strangely enough John omits even
to mention this. 1t would seem to be just
such scene as he would have chosen to
record. However, he passes Immediately
to Jesus comforting words to his disciples
They are called ordinarily farewell dis
courses" But 'discourses" seems toe
formal a word to apply to these familiar
and intimate counsels. His purpose earlier
in the evening had been TO warn his dis
ciples against dangers without and with
in. But now his only thought is of COM
forting and strengthening them in prepar-
alton for the hours OF trial and sorrow
that were so near, and the years of wait
ing that were to follow. From the rebuke
which he had administered an hour or two
earlier he turns completely about, and
speaks to them as plying father to his
children, whom he is compelled to send out
into the world before they seem ready for
its struggles and dangers.
No translation can quite reproduce the
tender simplicity of this chapter. Jesus
uses, perhaps even more than usual, the
short words of everyday speech, the Ian
guage of the home, the heart-words that
come to the lips in times of trouble. This
is to some extent echoed in the English
version, but the effect is somewhat OBJ
scured by such phrases as "many man.
sions" and it ''sufiiceth u.s." No one would
wish to modify our beautiful English YER
sion, as improved by the revisers, to give
colloquial effect; and yet we may get
nearer the heart Of the speaker if we real
ize the extreme LONELINESS of his speech.
With apologies for so hazardous an under
taking, and asking the reader to remember
that we do not offer the following as an
alternative version for ordinary use, but
only to illustrate one phase Of the CONVEX
sation, the lesson may be rendered thus:
Don't let your hearts be troubled
Trust God-yes, trust me. in my Faith
er's house are many living rooms. Why,
If that weren't so, of course would have
told you-for the very reason l am going
away is to make ready a place for YEN.
And IL am going TO make ready for you,
then of course l will come back and take
you home with me, SO that we may be to.
gether again. And you know where / am
going, and the road that leads there
Thomas said to him, Lord, we don't
know where you are going, and how can
we know the road?" Jesus answered, 81
am the road-and also Truth and Life
No one comes to the Father except
through me. If you had really recognized
me, you would have known my Father
too. From this time, at any rate, you dc
know him, and have seen him." Philip
said to him, Lord, show us the Father
and that will be enough for u.s." Jesus
answered him, Philip have 1 been sc
long time with you all and you haven't
known who am? He that has seen me
has seen the Father. Why should you
say, Show us the Father? Don't you
believe that am in the Father, and the
Father in me? When am talking to you
the things l say aren't my own words
The Father, living within me-he is the
one who does the works that you have
seen me perform). Believe me when
say that l am in the Father and the Faith.
er is in me. Or, for that matter, il you
can't believe that, why trust me merely
on the strength of the works have done
tell you solemnly that one who trusts me
shall not only do what have done, but
he shall actually do greater things; for ]
am going to my Father, and whatever
you ask of me as my friends and helpers
will do it, so that my Fathers will may
be gloriousy carried out through me.
say it again, il you ask anything on my
account, will do it,"
MANY mansions: the Greek wore
rcans an abiding place, place to stay in
Etymologically, the word mansions
from the Latin nance, to remain, is ar
exact equivalent. But in English, IMAM
sion," has a very different sense-a hand
some and costly residence, suggesting the
idea of distinctions of wealth and socia
classes.
"The way We know: of course way
had a more concrete meaning in this con.
versation than il has now; indeed in the
time Of our English version it still fire.
quently meant "a path, a road" rather
than merely "a manner" as in such colo
quail expressions "the way to catch O
fish" The older English writer's speak
of path as a way. Jesus is the path by
which men may reach the Father.
Verse Z Is perhaps the most emphatic
assertion in the gospel of the identity OF
thought and purpose between the Father
and the Son. 1t assures us that from the
character of Jesus we may rightly infer
the character of God. If we find him in
capable of feeling vindictive wrath to-
wards sinners, though indignant at sin
we may be sure that his Father is also in
capable of such a feeling. If we find him
not only willing but eager that all mer
should repent and turn to him, we may
know that the Father is likewise merciful
If language means anything, these words
of Jesus warrant us in constructing ouI
theology with reference to the character
| and purposes of God by study of the
character and work of his Son. There
can be no better source of knowledge con
corning the Father than this. Other in
spired writer's may add to the knowledge
SO obtained; they cannot contradict it.
Greater works than these shall he dc
because go unto my Father" 1t seems
likely that this verse should be connected
! with the next. Place a comma after
Father, instead Of period. Jesus prom
Uses that the disciples. shall do greater
things than he has done. This astonish
ing assertion he Immediately explains by
| saying that they will be enabled to dc
these greater things through prayer. He
Is going to the Father, and will be there