The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-01-21
The International Sunday School Lesson.
january %, 1890. John III: ITO.
Christ AMI Nichodcmus.

January %, 1890. John III: ITO.
Christ AMI Nichodcmus.
The visit of Nlchodemus to Jesus
ought TO be viewed in the light OF
events then transpiring. He has been
criticised for the clandestine character
Of his visit. The widening breach be-
tween the officials OF the church and
Jesus had begun. Nlchodemus rose SUI
perior to the prejudice OF his clique
when he visited the offending teacher.
The wonder is not that he came at
night. but that he came at all. Con-
sidering the perverslty OF the human
heart, this action was admirable.
Jesus had signalized the opening OF
His ministry by a series Of miracles.
| Nlchodemus was one of many upon
whom these signs had had their design
ed effect. He refers at once In his po-
lite address to the miracles as sufficient
seals TO the supernatural origin Of Je-
sus' mission.
Jesus knew what was in" His wish
tor, his status. Here was man super
Tor to his class, but not free from their
prejudlccs, interested in the kingdom Of
God, but not experimenting It's spiritual
character The tenor Of Jesus word
fits the mortise Of Nichodemus'
thought.
The metaphor of the new birth was
| familiar to the Hebrews. They cons,d-
| cred proselytcs TO their faith as having
been born again. What non-plused
Nichodemus was to be told that he
could only come-into the kingdom of
| God as the proselyte came into the
| Hebrew church. He considered him
| self a charter member OF that kingdom.
| Now to find that 1t was not question
OF higher or n lower seat, but Of any
seat at all--that dumbfounded him.
Confusion led to the silliest rejoipder.
| He attempted to take literally what he
knew to be iigurative. His question
dies upon his lips.
See the Eentleness of Jesus. He
does not break the bending, reed. He
ampliies expression. born again" into
born of water and the Spirit" De-
| pravity only can beget deprarity, but
| the Spirit can begct the spiritual. HUI
manity's need Is to be Spirit-born. This
is the only way into the kingdom OF
God.
| l. MS III
But this Is no insuperable objection to
1t. for there are so many earthly things
that cannot be understood. The invls-
ible, imponderable breath Of nature
who knows it exhaustively? But who
doubts its existence? Who would re-
fuse to avail himself of 1t for either his
lungs or his sails because he cannot
know all about It?
mr. Pndpiph Stiar I'm r6 fir-
urc ahd humblcd to the position of
learner master In Israel"
An old proverb says: Go to the
Jordan and thou shalt see the Trinity"
This reference Is to the simultaneous
manifestation of the three persons at
the baptism of Christ. So we may say:
GO to the Gospel of John. third chap
ter. and you will find the three persons
of the Trinity" They are engaged in
the ineffabe work of human redemp-
ton. The Father loves lost world
and gives His Son. The Son Is lifted
up to His eXplatory death. The Holy
Spirit infuses principle Of new life in
the soul. Stier describes this para
graph as "the most sublime and simple
expression OF the eternal mystery OF
redemption which the Scriptures con-
TAIN"
The Teachers Lantern.
Q.) Nichodcmuses abound to-day.
They are defcrcntlal and compliment
tary to Jesus. But they find in Him
only teaching Messiah. His word
and example are the ladder to Heaven,
not His cross.
(2.) Be born again; first sentence Of
the divine catechism. The very term
inspires hope. 1t is an effect which we
cannot produce upon ourselves. 1t Is a
Sift.
(3.) Sum and substance of the
Christian religion is n principle of life
in the human soul. 1t is not doctrine,
but life.
a. II we only awaited ourselves of
what we knew we could not live day
longer in this world.
(5.) The effects OF the new birth are
apparent, incontestablc. glorious. eter-
nal. This tree is known by its fruits.
I've may never know just how this tree
lgrows, but may its fruits be in us.
They never will. IL VIC stop to cipher it
all out. Faith is the only means of
demonstration.
g. Water and Spirit. The nation
had just gone to Johns laver. N:cho-
demus would understand Jesus allus-
ion to water 1t was to baptism. Not
Christian baptism. for that had not yet
been instituted. The reference was TO
the baptism of John. Water therefore
in this connection signifies the hu-
man element in the new birth, viz, re-
pentance. The other term. Spirit. sig
niiles the Guickening Person by whom
VIC are beSotten again.