The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-04-27

copyright, 1900, by D. M. stearns.J
IL. "And the disciples Of John showed
him of all these things" The harmonies
think that the order of events in this
chapter is the historical order; that after
the healing of the centurion's servant
the widows son was raised, and then the
lesson of today tMath. XII, q says that
John heard in the prison the works of
Christ. This first verse of our lesson
tells how he heard and suggests to all
disciples Of Christ to be ever telling His
wondrous works. Are you so glad that
you have heard that you, with all your
heart, want others to hear--those in the
prisons, those in heather darkness?
10, 20, art Thou He that should
come. or look we for another?" John
had baptized Him, had seen the Spirit
descend upon Him, had pointed Him out
as the Lamb of God, and now this cues
ton. What does it meang Is it for him
self or for his disciples sake that he
asks it? Would he have these disciples of
his made sure that Jesus was the Christ,
that they might follow Him? For it
would seem that up TO this time they
continued as Johns disciples or in his
imprisonment and seeming neglect, for
we do not know that Jesus ever visited
him in the prison Did the devil present
doubts to Johns mind concerning Him
whom he had pointed out as the Lamb
of God?
p. %. Go your way and tell John
what things We have seen and heard"
Thus said Jesus to Johns disciples after
He had done many works before them
which only God could do and preached
the gospel to the poor as only He who
spake as never man spake could preach
it. He said on another occasion: 1.-THE
works that do, bear witness of Me, that
the Father hath sent Me- The Father
Himself which hath sent Me, hath borne
witness of Me. The Scriptures testify
of Me- John V, 36. 81, 39). John had
heard the Father testify at the baptism;
he knew the Scriptures, and if he had
never seen many mighty works wrought
through Him he now heard of them
through his disciples.
%. "And blessed is he whosoever shall
not be offended in Me-" Does not this
seem like very special word for John
and indicate that John was somewhat
offended? If you wonder at it, try and
put yourself in his place or imagine a
very common occurrence: Mr.. or Mrs. B.
is sick; they do not send the pastor any
word. for he is supposed to know every
thing; week, or two, or three have
passed, and the pastor has not called If
you know what they are apt to say, l
need not tell you. If, meantime, they
should hear that the pastor had actually
called three doors from them, the case
would seem worse still. If the pastor
knew of a case of distress among his peo-
pie and did not call for a MONTH or even
two, would it not seem a cause to leave
that church? If you were in real trouble
and your dearest friend knew it and did
not come to see you. would you not be
offended? Do not condemn John even If
he really was offended unless you never
under any circumstances become offended
with God or man.
"a. What went We out into the wilder
ness for to see? A reed shaken with the
wind" Thus began Jesus to speak of
John after his messengers were departed
Some light upon this figure may be found
in ! Kings xiv. Is; lisa. xxxvi, 6; xiii, g.
1t may be suggestive of weakness easily
influenced, which John certainly was not.
In lisa. vii, 2 trees moved with the wind
is a symbol of fear in the heart. but
John had no fears, In Eph. iv, IA, we
read of those moved with every wind of
doctrine. but John. like Elijah. was we'll
established. John was a tree of right
eousness. the planting of the Lord, that
He might be glorifed lisa. XII 81.
20. But what went We out for to see
A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold,
they which are gorgeously appareled and
live delicately are in kings courts" John
was not rich in this worlds goods, his
raiment being camel's hair and eath-
ern girdle, and his meat. locusts and
wild honey tMath. iii. A. He sought no
favor from earth's great ones, nor did he
covet their food or raiment He was
great in the sight of the Lord and sought
only His approval filled with His Spirit
luke l. 80. He sought the hearts Of
men for God. that they might learn to
welcome the Son of God when He came
26 But what went We out for to
see? A prophet? Yea, say unto you,
and much more than a prophet" His
Father, filed with the Spirit said. "And
thou, child. shalt be called the prophet
Of the highest, for thou shalt go before
the face of the Lord to prepare His
ways" luke i. 7Gl BY comparing Ex
iv, 16; vii. /. we get one meaning of the
term ''prophet"-one who becomes the
mouth or spokesman of another. The
great business of every prophet was not
so much to predict future events, but
just to be mouth for God and say what
God told him. just to be the Lords mes
senger. with the Lords message unto the
people tHag. i. 13l.
q. This is he of whom it is written.
Behold. | send My messenger before thy
face, which shall prepare thy way before
thee" While all the prophets spake of
Him facts Y, 43). it was given to John
only of all the prophets to be His imme-
date forerunner and to see Him in the
flesh and to point Him out as the Lamb
of God and IsraePs Messiah. To John
only of all the prophets was it given to
publicly set Him apart to His public min.
istry in baptism. to see the Spirit come
as dove upon Him and to hear the
voice from heaven.
%. For say unto you, Among those
that are born of women there is not a
greater prophet than John the Baptist
But he that is least in the kingdom of
God is greater than he" Math. ri. IL.
uses the term Kingdom of heaven" in
this same statement 1t is the kingdom
of God, for God is the author of it, and
the kingdom of heaven, for heaven is the
character of it, But to my mind the
terms are Synonymous. | think the orr
gin of both is found in Dan. ii. A. AS
to the last clause of this verse of our
lesson. there are two explanations. either
of which is simple, and both are true
When the kingdom comes. the least in ii
will be greater than John then was. and
John himself in his gloritied body at the
resurrection of the just shall be greater
than he ever was before. The other ex-
nIa M tim 10 that Iauue JimcaIe uvos fo.