Middletown transcript., 1900-02-24
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON vIuY FIRST QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, FEB. 25.

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Memory Verses, 17-10-GOlden Text,
John 1, 11--Commentary Prepared
by the Rev. ID. n. Stearns.
Copyright, 1900. by D. N. stearnsl
16. "And He came to Nazareth, where
He had been brought up" After the
two days at Samaria He returned in the
power of the Spirit into Galilee and was
well received, for the Galileans had
seen the things He did at Jerusalem
(verses ii, 10 with John iV, 43-45). He
came first to Cana, where He had made
the water wine, and from thence. with
out going to see him, healed the noble
mans son who was sick at Capernaum,
and the man and his whole house believ-
ed John iv, 1864. Now we find Him
on the Sabbath day in the synagogue in
the town where he had spent His first
30 years.
17-19. He read what is in our Bibles,
lisa. Xxi, 1, and the first clause Of verse 2.
When He opened the book, He found
the place, and no doubt found it easily.
I have seen many experience great diff
Guilty in finding the place if the text an
nounced was not very familiar. Every
clause here is SO suggestive that to dwell
upon each would occupy all our space.
The first clause of verse 18 shows us the
Blessed Trinity, the Spirit, the Father
and the Son, while the rest of the pas
sage shows us each and all in the Son
working for the poor, the broken hearted,
the captives, the blind and the bruised.
About the same thing is differently stated
In Acts <, 38, where we have also the
Trinity and the beautiful life of our Lord
summed up in these words: "Who went
about doing good and healing all that
were oppressed Of the devil, for God was
with Him."
20. 81. This day is this Scripture full
filed in your ears" Having closed the
book and given it to the minister and
taken His seat, with the eyes of all in
the synagogue fastened on Him, this is
what He began to say: They probably
knew that these words referred to their
Messiah, Of whom Moses and the proph-
cts had so much to say, and when their
fellow townsman, whom they all thought
they knew, read these words about their
Messiah, and then said unhesitatingly,
am He, what must have been their
thoughts? Was it something in the way
He read the passage or was it His clos
ing the book abruptly in the middle of a
sentence that fastened all eyes upon Him
before He began to speak? Perhaps
both, but think the former, for He who
spake as never man spake John vii, 46)
probably also read as never man read. If
He had read the next sentence about the
day Of vengeance, He could not have
said as He did about the words which
He read, for the day Of vengeance and
of Israers redemption will be at His
coming again in glory Qsa. xxxiv, g.;
xxxv, 4; xiii, 4; III Thess. !, 7-10). Full
filed Scripture gives US the key to that
which Is yet unfulflled. In due time all
must be fulfilled that has ever been writ
ten, and 1t surely will, for He has said it
luke xiv, A; Rev. xvii, ID.
%. Gracious words proceeded out Of
His mouth. 1t could not be otherwise,
for He was full of grace and truth John
!, 14), but they were not accustomed to
such words, and they wondered at them
and at Him who uttered them, whom
they knew only as the son Of Joseph and
Mary Mark vi, 81. When they heard
Him speak. they heard God speak, for
the Father told Him just what to say
John xii, 40; xiv, 10). When God spoke
to Israel from Mount Sinai out Of the
fire and smoke and from the top of the
quaking mount, the people could not bear
it and asked that Moses might speak to
them lex. xix, 18; xx, 19l, but when God
spoke from the mercy seat in the holy of
holies it was different.
%, "a. He knew them; He knew what
was in them; He read their thoughts; He
anticipated what they would say; He
knows the things that come into our
minds, every one of them, and there is
It altogether (Ezek. II, B; Ps. cxxxix, 4).
He knew they would not understand Him
because they would not receive His
words, but He would give them the op-
portunity. Results are with God. 1t is
for US to be His faithful messengers
whether men will hear or forbear (Ezek.
Iii, 10, III.
25-27. Our Blessed Lord never talked
about the two Isaiahs nor doubted the
stories of Elijah and Elisha, and the
widows meal and oil, and the ravens,
and the healing Of Naaman. He never
cast a doubt or the shadow of a doubt
upon any record in Scripture, but indors.
ed it ali. 1t is the wisdom of this world,
which is foolishness In the sight of God,
which talks of two Isaiahs and many
writer's of the FIRST FIVE books and dis
counts Daniel and Revelation and Ruth
and Esther, etc. All who do so, what
ever be their standing among men, are
not following the Lord Jesus. Be con-
tented. dear fellow believer, to stand with
your Lord and with the apostle Paul in
holding fast to all that is written in the
book. for it is all copyrighted in heaven.
Forever, o Lord, Thy word is settled in
heaven" (Ps. cxix, S9). Let the wisdom
Of this world count you a fool and ig-
norant and only worthy to be despised
IL they sec fit; they treated your Lord
that way. Let them count you guilty Of
heresy If they please because you believe
all that is written in the law and in the
prophets; they said the same of Paul
(Acts xiv, 1D.
1881. They met in their synagogue ap-
parently to worship God. God came into
their midst and spoke to them gracious
words. They became filled with anger
and cast Him out and desired to kill
Him. Such is to this day the character
of much that goes by the name Of re-
ligion. Processing to worship God, they
murder Him in their hearts, for the car
nal mind, however religious, is enmity
against God. The people of Nazareth
had Him for about 80 years and never
knew Him. His own disciples were with
Him nearly three years and did not know
Him. II you are unknown on earth.
coYet earnestly to be well known in heav-
en- and rejoice that '"The Lord knoweth
them that are His" QI Tim. ii, 19). II,
as the Lords messenger, you are not
wanted in a particular city or town or
church, take it all meekly. The Lord has
open doors for you and will get you
where He wants you. Take comfort
from Rev. iii. 8. and if you do not yet see
the open door. rest in the Lord and wait
patiently for Him Cps. xxxvii, y. lie
went down to Capernaum and taught
them there, and they were astonished at
His doctrine, for His word was with
power iv$rse 32).
Peculiar to Boiler Makers,
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