The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1904-04-01
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON I, SECOND QUARTER. INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, APRIL 3.
Text of the Lesson. Mark vii, 24-37.
Memory Verses. 2I-29-GOiden Text
Heb. Nj, q. or, Easter Lesson. John
IN, II-IS-Memory Verses. i5. 40.
Golden Text, John xx. 2O-Commen-
tary by Rev. ID. M. Stearns.

IN, II-Is-Memory Verses. 10. 40.
Golden Text, John xx, 2O-COmmen-
tary by Rev. ID. Nj. stearns.
copyright, 1904 by American Press Association. ]
AS each of the lessons assigned for
today has, next to our blessed Lord, a
woman as the central figure. and the
topic in each is faith or the necessity
and power Of faith, we will do well TO
consider both lessons. In each we see
a woman in trouble. the Syrophenician
because of her daughters afliiction and
Mary Magdalene because of her own
hearts sorrow, but in each case the
Lord Jesus by His word gives rest and
JOY and peace. reminding us of that
great word, Come unto Me, all We that
labor and are heavy laden, and | will
give you rest" Matt. Xi, 2S). Woman
is n notable type of the church, the
body of Christ and throughout this
age of the Bridegroom absence sor-
row is her portion, but He will come
again, and she will then be glad for
ever more Mark ii, 10, 20; John xvi, %.
33; Rev. xix, y. TO the people OF
Nazareth Jesus was only the Son OF
Joseph and Mary; to His own kindred
He was as one beside himself; to the
religious leaders among the Jews He
was Samaritan and had a devil
duke iv, %; Mark iii, 81; John vii, 20;
viii. 49, but there were some who had
eyes opened TO see Him as the Son of
David, the Lord of Israel. His own re-
ceived Him not.
The woman OF Tyre and Sidon had
real trouble and was in great need Of
a deliverer She had somehow heard
of the Great Physician, so full of CON-
passion. but probably could not go TO
Him. Now that He has come near to
her she at once hastens to Him, and,
having implicit confidence in Him,
she will take no denial from Him.
What reward for her in His final
word, 20 woman, great is thy faith;
be ii unto thee even as thou wilt
Matt XIV, 2S). She who was willing
to take the dogs portion received the
childrens bread. Consider our Lords
commentator OF the centurion's faith
and that of the four who brought their
pasied friend and contrast His re-
buke of the disciples for their lack OF
faith Matt. viii, 10; xiv, 81; xvi, s;
Mark ii. -. Then remember His COM
mand Have faith in God" Mark xi,
%; John xiv. u. Turning for the rest
or our meditation to the Easter lesson
and keeping the necessity Of faith az
the central thought. we note that our
risen Lord upbraded the disciples for
their unbelief and hardness of heart
because they believed not them which
had seen Him after He was risen
Mark xvi, lilo. Right here in our
lesson il is written that even Peter and
John as yet knew not the Scripture
that He must rise again from the dead
John Xxx, -, and, although He had so
often said plainly that He was TO be
crucified and that He would rise again
the third day Matt. xvi. 81; xvii, %;
Xxx. 19). they had not received it,
What shall we say of the women
who so loved Him. followed Him and
ministered unto Him when we see
them buying spices that they might
anoint His dead body when the Sab
bath was past? That would be on the
third day duke xiii, -. 56; xiv, II.
Although they loved Him much, they
did not believe what He said concern
ing His death and resurrection. The
love of God is the greatest thing we
ever heard OF. but on our part the
ntng 10 in
faith, for without faith il is impossi-
BILE TO please God" QHeb. ri, 81. Faith
in God is also the only way TO be filed
with JOY and peace and have an un-
troubled heart CRom XIV, Is; John xiv,
!. 27l.
Mary Magdalene was so occupied
with her own sorrow and with the
body of a dead Christ. for which she
was seeking. that she had neither eyes
nor ears for angels nor even for Christ
Himself till she was startled out Of her
stupor 10y hearing her own name from
His lips. What "A binding, Supplying
thing unbelief is! And ii is just the
trouble with many believers today.
There are so many who accept Him
truly and put all their trust in His pre-
cious blood. but by considering them
selves and not taking Him at His word
they lack assurance of salvation. at
least continuous assurance. Then there
are many assured believers. constrain-
ed by His love to serve Him gladly,
whose service is like buying spices TO
anoint a dead Saviour-love. but not
faith. 1t is plainly written that He is
coming back again to establish a king
dom OF righteousness on this earth. yet
few comparatively are serving the liv-
ing and true God and waiting for His
Son from heaven (Acts /. II; iii. 20. 81;
| Thess, /. 8, 10). and therefore their
service is not the Joyous. victorious
kind that glorfies Him and wins 9th
ers To Him.
He is saying TO us as He said to
Mary. MY Father is your Father, and
my God is your God; therefore go tell
Others" Not self occupied, but Christ
occupied. and running errands for Him.
with His peace filling our souls Then,
since God is our Father. how con we be
anxious for food or raiment or any
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