Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-01-16
The SABBATH SCHOOL,
International Lesson Comments For
January IL.
Sst,set: The Baptism and Temptation OF
jssus. Matt III Is to w.. IL o!den Text,
Matt. ILL.,. l7-xemorv Verses. w..
). i-Commeniary on the
Ds.'s Lesson.

!. The baptism KS. Ei7l l3 Com.
eth Jesus So far as we know this was
His first pubic ac. since lie was twelve
wears old. TO Jorfan.' Probably al
Acnon near 10 Salim t,lohn .: .. 81, days
journey from Nazareth. Into John"
Although John was His cousin we are told
t.iohn ]: 3S) that he knew Him not;
: Jesus 10 be the Messiah. TO he hap.
tIzed ANY confession OF sin was nf course
out OF the question. There was only a
profession on the part OF Jesus that as
IN i:raelite ". became subject to the
law. and that He was connected with hui
manitv hy the ties Of blood. of suffering
and OF love. This act was an end ,rsemrnt
OF John and solemn Inauguration of his
ministry
"a. "Forhad." Earnestly and pressing.
" opposed Him. Il have need" etc. Al
though John was filed with the How
Ghost from his birth Luke !: lJl yet
he needed the baptism OF the Holy Ghost
and fire. He NEEDED TO receive ,arger
measure CT the gifts and eraces ri the
Holy Spirit. L. Suffer il to bc 81 now .
These were the first words If Chr;St's
: rnblc ministry. In this .'esns humb,cd
Himself at the very outset Fulfil all
righteousness" To leave nothing umIone
which would he nonor"g 10 to require.
inents of God. "Hr suffered Him" The
sainc mnicS.v which led him at first tn
decline The honor Christ offered him now
caused him 10 "rr;ovm the service Christ
cn'oincd unon him.
IL. The Heavens were oncncc" luke
GAYS that .'esrs prGved rs soon 4; VI was
hant'7ed luke >: ?ll Hero Is the first
recorded rraver os Christ and II 1"sn."r.
II was when VI. was prayin: that the
Snirit was sent down unnn Him, and in
all nro5ahi!itv it was this that IL was
:rav,Hg inr. thrccio.d sign v,rs given:
fescHldcf. = The Fa'hrr s-,ak". III"
saw Christ saw it Marx /: la, and
.Ichn saw i: fiohn !: %. 81 and il j.
nrohrh'c that al who were nrcsort s.w t.
Tor this was Intended 10 ho u public
inausura';ca. Like dove" There has
teen n difference ri onininn ~ 10 whether
his was real. literal dove. ukc says
LAKE :: oHl. y. nv he'ovcd Son"
.Ics',s Christ is ihc Son nf God ON eirr.
nitv. lie "cve~ begun 10 hc Ills son. He
was asa His Son because ~ His srrrr
natural birth and He was lis Son ''hv
social DESIGNATION. to the work OF The
words Eedccmer"
H. The first tcmntat;on t~s ~ L.
"Thcn" In.rcdiatcy after Iii, hanti>m.
Such arr the violent oterrp;ons OF human
cyuerienc"; hrotizoh aud tempted: an
rro"ed of Cod and handed over Ga tho
irvil. "0f the snir't " Luke saws II" was
drivc'h Hin. \ divine iriir"rcr 'cl Him
On. Into the wilderness. Tradition has
fixed upon h~', ridge ca''od Qrara"'an'n.
near .Iericho. Mark says He with the
wild beasts. To he tempted" Christ
begins His wor.; with personal crroun-
te" with Satan. To tcmnt is. literally IN
stretch out. to try the Sircngth Of.
rcmpi,iion !. IT,. ."s.ing of = pc.son.
>. Forty days" Moses. Elijah and our
Lord could fast FORTY days hecGasc fey
were in coI~",union with God and living
heavenly lie. Luke saws He was tcr'Ht-
struggle WIS powerful. personal and in
tensely real Christ for orr saics met
aud conquered the temptcrs utmost
strength. "Afierward IN hurgercd.' After
The for;y DAYS were ended. :. 'TcnDter
anne" How Satan appeared 10 Christ
n bodily form it must have been
Is an angel of light. If Thou be"
Beware OF temptation that comes with IN
1 in its mouth. The Son OF God The
consciousness OF His divine Sonship may
now in measure have been withheld.
worn from fasting. Satan saw his chance.
stones bread You are hInsrv;
aow ii You are tine Son OF God Use the
bower You haze To supn.N Iorr neccsS;.
;es. and thus prove Your divinity. In
ais first temptation Satln tcmpis orr
iic. lie appeals IT, the animal nature
.rst. Ey this avenue he approaches and
onQucrs the great majority OF mankind.
!;encath this temptation o: bodily appet'tcs
al CAUTIONS. drunkardS and Gehauchecs
Eavc fallen and become tine devils prey.
answered the devil by using the sword o!
he Spirit Not live by bread dome
Human support depends not on bread. but
ipon Goi's uniai.ing word al promise
and pledge OF iii ncediul providcnt.ai
are"
iii. The second temptation Tvs. ~.
). Pinnacle OF the tempe" The 81. H.
changes from the wilderness to Jerusalem.
Some well known pinnacle must hava
been intended, probably the royal pore
IN the southern side of the temple. q.
Cast thysrlf down. In His ;irsst reply
bounded confidence in God Now Satan
takes Him 1T that very point |: IhoI
he the Son oi God cast Thysc,f from this
pinnae.e: All trc word Will wonder 1t
grand an exploit. This was a tempta-
ton 10 presumption, or as Mr. FArrar
ten The devil has a Bible. but he nus
quotes and misapplics. Give his an.e.s ,
charge. \ INITIATED quotation ci IsI.
81: II. :. Tempt" Deut q: 10. TO !
tempt God is to put Him to the proof-to
demand evidence OF His power and OF
waiting patiently and trusting. This temp
tation appealed to the love OF show those
carried away from God by worldly pleas +,
ures or the vanities nj fashion fall here.
~. The third temptation Tvs. SID. 8
Exceeding high mountain Some hlg,I !
mountain in .judea, where n genera! view
could be had OF the country. ''Sheweth |
+. Kingdoms of the world" The |
root OF the third temptation lay in the |
superstition that the Kingdoms Of the |,
world were the devils kingdoms AVID that |
he could dispose OF them. o Worship |
me" Here the devil appears in his true
character. Christ was probably asked to |
worship mot by an external act oi hom-
age, but, by using force and establishing Il
temporal kingdom"
To- Get thee hence" Jesus par.eys
with him no longer. brt with authority |
commands him to 20 to mis- own place. The |
third temptation appealed To the ,nibi.
ton. BY this temptation the great men
OF tine world have fallen IN myriads. II. |
Devil leaveth Him" Satan had made |
4 f.f