The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-06-21
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
rA FOR JUNE rs.
Quarterly Review-Golden Text: "Fhis is
Faithful Saying, and Worthy of All Ac'
cep,ation, That Christ Jesus Came Into
,ba World IN Save Sfpners''-I Tim. 1. .,15

CeDtatiOn, I08L CnrlSC ebub thIe Abso
the World to Save sinners"-I Tim.i i.'1e
Lesson I. Here We meet the mourning
sisters OF Lazarus, grlering because OF Die
death, and sorrowing because Jesus had
not been present to prevent death. Ine
tender sympathy OF Jesus is portrayed IGl
He wept. Yet to the bereaved sisters He
declared, 81 am the resurrection and the
life: be that believeth in Nc though be
we're dead yet shall he live" In the COM
pany Of Jews, who we're mourning friends,
were those who mocked Jesus because OF
His human sympathy, and there were
others who were only impressed with HIS
humanity Yet these were permitted TO
see His divine power displayed in the
resurrection Of Lazarus.
Lesson II. Though the raising or
Lazarus was great blessing and divine
miracle, Jesus sought retirement TO escape
the malice Of the Jews. At.the END OF TWO
or three months He returned to the nome
of Lazarus. Here His friends honored
Him by making feast. On either SIDE ae
the table sat a living witness to the power
of Christ: one was Simon, oealed OF leprosY,
and Lazarus, the man who hnu peen aeaa
four days The grateful Mary poured forth
the emblem OF her love In the precious
ointment. The gilt ut once seemed eS-
travagant and wasteful to the covetous
Judas. He could not withhold his re-
buke, 20 which Jesus responded, giving
Mary the approval which placed her name
upon the record which We pursue Will
reverent delight.
Lesson III. At the table prepared to cot
the Passover supper on Thursday evening,
Jesus sat with tue twelve. The company
had iourneyed from Bethany to Jerusalem,
where they assembled In the upper room
prepared for Jesus and His disciples. NO
servant was present. The usual duty Oh
l>ae he
been performed. Their time was saken up
in dispute. All wanted to be greatest, yet
mono was ready to take the way leading to
that conl. There was One only IN the
midst that was truly great; He arose and
laid aside His mantle, and girding Himself
with a towel, in full costume OF slave,
stopped and washed His disciples feet;
Then followed the earnest exhortatlon OF
Jesus, showing how impossible 1t was 10 be
truly great and able to lead when aestltule
Of true humility.
Lesson ". Troubled and distressed on
account Of their own shortcoming gs, and the
utter failure Of Judas and the warning OF
Peters future failure, the disciples were IN
danger OF q complete defeat. Knowing oil
their thoughts, and seeing their iutuIe
trials, Jesus urged the disciples to fortiiy
their hearts against trouble. Faith was
was the key into this secret OF success.
in heaven we're conditional to them upon
the exercise OF true faith.
Lesson V. AS faith would be protection
against trouble OF heart, SO love wou!o
prove the test Of obedience. To those truly
devoted to Christ, whose loving obedlence
made them the sincere disciples OF Cnrlst,
was given the promise OF the 1ndweHn8
presence OF Christ in the person OF the HOLY
Ghost, who should be to them Comforter,
Guide and Teacher. To oil who put love
in lively action, seen in obedience, the love
of the Father and Son was vouchsafed.
Lesson vi. Before leaving tho upper
room where JESUS had eaten with HIS disci-
Piles, and after He had encouraged their
faith and promised them the Comforter,
Jesus illustrated the union between Him
self and His disciples by the beautiful figure
OF the vine and 1.-THE branches; here he
emphasized the importance OF abiding faith
and love.
Lesson VII. In the quiet hours OF the
night, in the garden of Gethsenane, alter
the supper and the various lessons and the
last prayer for His disciples, Jesus drank
the bitter cup Of His agony. Alone, whlie
His disciples slept, he drank the cup which
the Father had given Him. His soul was
calmed and strengthened. Here JUDAS met
his Master face to face. He knew the place
where He would be, for He had often re-
sorted nltueE luz prayer ouu ;.
with Him. 1t was late, yet Judas wae at
hand with aniarmed force to betray Jesus
into the custody Of His enemies.
Lesson VIII. Only few hours before.
Peter had been full OF eagerness to defend
his Lord. Not even the Roman Goldiers or
officers daunted bis courage. His sword
was put into use without single order lor
1t. Yet in the palace OF the high priest
Peter was q coward. Seeing his Master
,x,nd baPoro tho hIOh priaet IN an illegal
trial seemed to awaken no heroism In Him.
He three times declared he knew not Jesus.
Now he beholds bis Master struck by nm
officer, and He has no testimony to oner
in His favor. This surely was time Oh
Chr SITS humiliation.
Lesson TX. Bound In chains and led
forth as condemned criminal, Jesus was
ushered into the presence OF the Roman
governor, where His death sentence was
to be pronounced .sFalse witnesses and gov
eruors failed to prove Jesus guilty, yet be-
cause the chief priests stirred up the peo-
pie and the clamor arose so high, fllnte
scourged Jesus and delivered Him to the
Jews. Him they most needed they most
cruelty hated.
Lesson Y. Since sunrise Jesus had been
before the Sanheurin, PLATE, Herod, ana
again before Plate and it was but nine
O'Clock when he was crucihed. Every ar-
rangement was made, and the journey from
the hall OF judgment to GolGotha was be-
gun, Guarded by four soldiers and bear
ing His cross, Jesus vas led forth to His
death. Among tho jeering crowds were the
, chief priests and officers, but there were
also few friends who followed the Master
weeping as they weat. Unable to bear the
weight of His cross all the way, Simon OF
Cyrene was seized and pressed into service.
The first utterance from the cross was a
PRAYER for His murderers. Jeered by the
| thief on one side Jesus nude no response,
but quickly answered in promise to the
| penitent thief on the other side. SO de-,
voted was He to the interests OF nome and
family that He spoke to His mother and
| John concerning their future comfort. he
was the Sacrifice offered, and His atone
ment was made. Then He said: II thirst, ="
! and lit is finished" and, last OF all, He
said: Father, into Thy hands commend
NY spirit" and Gied.
Lesson &l. Faithful women were first at
the sepulchre, prepared to anoint the pody
| OF their Lord. But the scene had changed.
! There was O vacant tomb. Angels were
present to say Christ was risen. Mary was
constant In her love but bewildered In her
faith. She became the first messenger j Jesus
sent to declare the glad news OF living
! Christ.
Lesson XII. The story Of & risen Christ
continued to BIZ told, until there were dis.
ciples throughout the land. In Colosse,
where heatheDism had thrived. the Gospel
was planted and souls were made alive In
Christ Jesus. Change of time does not
change the standard OF Christian living.
| Paul, in writing to the church OF Colosse,
| maintained the same standard that was
held up on the day of Pentecost.
WALKED AND BEAT A TRAIN.
A Cat;leman Wins n Wager IN very