The Jackson headlight., 1900-01-27
THE SABBATH SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JANUARY 20.


1s. "From Galilee." This was the frsi
public act since He was twelve years ot
age. ITO be baptized" Any confession
of sin was Of course out Of the question.
There was only profession on the part OF
Jesus that as an Israelite He became sub.
iect to the law, and that He was connected
with humanity by the ties OF blood, Of SUI.
fering and OF love. e
IA. Forbade" Earnestly and pressing.
ly opposed Him. II have need, etc." ALI
.hough John was filled with the Holy Ghost
rom his birth CL1ke 1: 15), yet he needed
che baptism OF the Holy Ghost and fire.
"ae needed to receive larger measure Of
the gifts and graces OF the Holy Spirit"
Is. Suffer it to be 50 noW." These were
the first words Of Christ'5 public ministry.
In this Jesus humbled Himself at the very
outset. "FulaI all righteousness" To
leave nothing undone which would be hon.
orlng to the ordinances Of God. He suf-
fered Him." The same modesty which led
him at first to decline the honor Christ Of
fered him now caused him to perform the
service Christ enioined upon him.
16. "The heavens were opened" Luke
says that Jesus prayed rs soon as He was
baptized. Luke s. 2t. Here is the first re-
corded prayer OF CArist and its answer. It
was sent down upon Hin, aud in all prob
ability 1t was this that He was praying for.
A threefold sign was given: l. The heavens
opened. 2. The dove descended. 8. Tue
Father spoke "He saw" Christ saw it
MARK /: 10), and John saw 1t (John !: SO,
34), and 1t is probable that all who were
present saw it; for this was intended to be-
His public Inauguration. "Like a dove
There has been difference OF opinion az
20 whether this was "a real, literal dove.
Luke says 1t was In q bodily shape like
love (Luke 8: 22), and tnat ought to end
all discussion. A symbol this OF perfect
gentlsness, purity, fulness ot life, and OF
:he power OF communicating 1t.
II. "My beloved Son." Jesus Christ IL
The Son Of God from eternity. He never be-
gan to be His Son. He was always His Son
because OF His supernatural birth, AMI He
was His Son "5y special designation to the
work and office OF the worlds Rodesmer."
/. "Then." Immediately after his bap-
ism. Such are the violent alterations OF
human experience; baptized and tempted;
approved OF God aud handed over to the
levll. Our foe is most malignant when
Dur spiritual elevation Is ut its highest.
Lied up" Our lives are so ordered that
We are carried into places where the metal
ot our religion is tried. TEMPTATION Is
part OF tho divine scheme. The devil is
1nder the control OF God. "Into the will
ierness." Tradition has fixed upon high
| dge called Quarantania, near Jericho.
II
TO be tempted" Christ begins His work
With personal encounter with SATAN To
:empt is, literally, to stretch out, to try
The strength OF. But the word is generally
lsed In bad sense, meaning to entice, So
| icit, or provoke to sin. Open the page OF
| history where you will, and you can hardly
| ind the story OF any great, noble soul,
| chat has not had its hour OF battle with
| tho powers of darkness. The tempter
came to Him and said three things. The
| :emp.er has only three things to say; his
| programme Is short and shallow.
2. "Forty days" Moses, Elijah and our
| Lord could fast forty days because they
| we're In communion with God and living a
| heavenly life. Luke says he was tempted
Turing the whole forty days. "Atterward
IN huugered." After the forty days were
| ended.
3. ''If thou be-" Beware OF the tempta-
ion that comes with an if in its mouth.
| stones bread" 1t was an appeal to
| ais immediate necessity. The meaning OF
his temptation is, distrust the divine prov
| .dence and support, and make use OF illicit
means to supply thy necessity.
| 4. ''It Is written" Deut. s: 8. Jesus
answered the devil by using the sword OF
| The Spirit. "Not live by bread alone"
| Human support depends not on bread, but
| 1pon Goods unfailing word OF promise
and pledge OF all neeiful proVldential
| sare."
| 5. 'Pinnacle OF the temple" The scene
changes from the wilderness to Jerusalem
| Some we'll known pinnacle must have been
| Intended, probably the royal porch, on the
| southern side OF the temple, which looked
| iown into the valley OF the Ktdron below
t, from height so dizzy that, according
| 20 Josephus, IL any one ventured to look
Down his head would swim at the immeas'
| lrable depth.
| 6. ''Cast thyself down" In His first re-
| oly to the devil Jesus had shown His un'
| bounded confidence In God. Now Satan
| lakes Him at that very point. II thou be
| he Son of God cast thysef from this pin
| nacIe. This was temptation to presump
| ion, or as Farrar says, to spirltull pride
| 'For It is written" Tho deVIl mas btnie
| out he misquotes anil mjsappiies. "Givt
| his angels cnarge." A mutilateI quotation
If Psa. 81: IL. Satan would havo Christ
| needIessly thrust Himself into danger, pre-
| Juming on safety.
| 7. "Written. tempt" Deut 8: 16 TX
| !empt Goi is to put Him to the proof-t(
demand evidence OF His power and OF HI:
| will to fulfil His promises, Instead OF walt
| ing patiently and trusting IN Him. 70 cas-
| himself into danger needlesly, AMI then t.
| trust God to get him out, was to temp
! God. 1t is always wrong to expose our
| selves to any danger expecting that God l.
| going to preserve u.
| 8. Exceeding high mountain. 0om'
| high mountain in Judea where genera
| view could be had OF the country. SHOW
eth him." The idea of any magical IN
auence of Satan upon the vision OF Jesu
| seems inappropriate. The prospect from
| n high mountain was suff ;tent as basl
for a rhetorical description OF the worl
| It's Kingdoms and their glory. Luke adds
| ''in n moment OF time" "The kinSdom
of the world" "Fle root OF the thir
temptation lay in tho suppostiou that tn
| Kingdoms OF tue world were tho devil
| kingdoms and that he coull dispose 0
| them. 49,,
| Q. "Worship me-" Hero the devil ap
nears in his true character. the mask
| thrown off. Jesus parleys with him Il
longer but speaks with authority.
| 10. s'Get thee hence" Jesus commanue
the tempter to returl to his own place:
II. "fhe devil leaveth Him" The dey
| had made the strongest effort o. whicl Il
was canalIe AMI ha been b tfls NJ ever
| noint "Augel5 came aud lninistered.
| Brouyht that foo that WAS necessary. l
| sunnort nature. They came to stren? ?t"e
| him. for Satan hal only de?ArteI TOE
| season" Luke 4: 13.
| TEACHINGS. TO sinless nature DO tenn!
+a1ion Gan arise from within, bat mus |
n-esenteI from without. NJ man, no.
evs- holy. l., exempted from temp-atio
| n, he tenvtel j. not sin. Ilrro Is .
| ia,nntafIon that cannot be r97iste !. \
uretense OF humility must cause IL u