The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-26
ONN@W@N@&@WN&'

Save for my daily range
 | Among the pleasant fields of Holy Writ, I might despair. -Tennyson.
 First Quarter. Lesson XIII.
 March 27, 1904.
 Review of the First Quarter | On the background of the Scripture narrative of the past three months nine | persons stand in high relief. There Is black group-Herod, Herodias, and Sa- lome. This is the Herod (Antipas) who mockingly clothed Jesus with royal robes and sent Him back to Pilate-the Herod who took a postgraduate course in the art of luxury at Rome, and finished it by his incestuous and aduftrous connec- tion with Herodias. The latter had am- bition as her ruling vice. For 1t she had discarded her rightful but untitled hus- band, and married one who already sus- tained the relation of uncle and broth- er-in-law to her, though by doing so she displaced a loyal wife from her hus- bands side Salome, Herodiass daugh- ter by her first husband, seems only to have been a paragon of voluptuous beau ty, skilled in the lascivious dance of the Orient.
 From such bad company 1t is a relief to turn to the four apostles whom Jesus called. Three of them-Peter, James and John--are destined to become very con spicuous in the narrative of the New Tes- tament. It is honor enough for Andrew however. that he brought his brother, Si- mon Peter, to Jesus
 Above all who have been named. John the Baptist is the towering personality In his person and mission he seemed the last effort of Providence to awaken the Hebrew nation. Had he never uttered a word, his very self would have been a lal Fawo onH FQf- ment were a protest against purple and fine linen and faring sumptuously every Gay. He took some jutting rock for pulpit, and had the whole heavens for a sounding board and river for bap- tismal layer. Add to these scenic incl dents the most searching speech that ever fell from human lips, and IS 1t to be wondered that a whole nation went out to hear him, and went down into his font, confessing their sins? He was no reed, lowing obsequiousIy under the breath of imperialism. The burden of his preaching was the immanence of the kingdom of God. The application was call to repentance and thorough reforma- ton: the sign was baptism.
 But a greater than John the Baptist appears When Jesus comes, all the per sons of this narrative fade as the stars do when the sun rises. The only recorded incident of Jesus boyhood Is found in his narrative. It is only one incident; but if analysed 1t will be found to be the whole period in epitome-the spirit. traits, requirements of Jesus before entering upon His public career. In the rapidly shifting scenes of the vivid narrative, Jesus appears as candidate for bap- tism, and in this connection we have His second recorded utterance, "Suffer 1t to be so now" This first word of His pub lie ministry identifies Him with human ity. It is as if He had said. What is obligatory upon man is binding upon Me" From this radiant scene of inaugu- ration Jesus Is hurried to the somber place of his temptation. There, in His human soul, and with His human re- sources, Jesus fought to a finish a sub jective moral battle which included in it's issues all the principles of His public career The rejection of Jesus at NaZa- reth is His rejection by the nation in epi- tome. The synagogue had judicial pre- negatives. Each was little independent republic; each could pronounce sentence for penal offense. This is exactly what the synagogue of Nazareth did. It ex- communicated Jesus on the spot; 1t cast Him out judicially; 1t proceeded to put Him to death in a legal manner. Jesus did not elude His enraged neighbors by either striking them with blindness or making Himself invisible to them. He passed through the midst of them" They saw Him as He passed, but were power less to detain Him.
 Next in interest to the persons are the places named in the course of these les- sons. The home of Jesus had a beau tiful setting of physical scenery. Naza- reth with it's white domes and abundant foliage, has been described as a hand ful of pearls in a goblet of emerald Her mon, Tabor. Carmel. the sea. and Es- draelon were in sight. The impression made upon Jesus mind is evident for its reproduction in His parables. From the provincial town we are transported to the ecclesiastical metropolis and to the golden and marble temple that could ac- cGmmodate a quarter of million wor- shippers. It was here, no doubt, that the Messianic idea first dawned in Jesus