The Red Cloud chief., 1905-02-03
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
lESSON VI, FIRST QUARTER, INTER.
NATIONAL SERIES, FEB. S.
Yext 81 the LessOn. John Nv, S-14.
Memory Verses, ~, 14-GO1den Text,
Rev. x1ii, ~ - Commentary Pre-
pared by Rev. ID. NJ. stearns.

Nopyrigbt, 1905. 10y American Press Association
The scene of today's lesson Is Sauna
ria, and the center is Jacobs well on u
piece of ground which Jacob bought OF
Shechem, son of Hnmor. which after
ward became the inheritance of 10.
ueph, where also the body Of Joseph
was buried (Josh. xiv. 81: Gen. xxxiii.
49,. We a,N always taught In c%onnec-
ton with this lesson to think Of ia
cob's well. but | was recently remind.
Cd by Il missionary home on furlough
that there must be some reason for
mentioning the parcel of ground be-
longing to Joseph. Two thoughts are
suggested: Joseph was a fruitful
bough by u well whose branches run
wei the wall. ind here il the true JO-
seph reaching over the Jewish wall to
the Samaritans and herring much
fruit Gen. Xix. 22-24).
The topic i'm last weeks lesson was
the necessity of the new birth and the
searching truth that even the most re.
ligious must he born again. Here we
have the blessed assurance TINT the
greatest sinner may be born again and
greatly used to win others to Christ.
The heart of the lesson IL the Lord
Jesus Himself and His seven sayings to
the woman In verses I. 10, 1914, IL, IL
~, 21-24, 2G. Weary and thirsty, we
see in Him one who can truly sympa-
thizc with us. touched with Il feeling
of u infirmitics. tempted in all points
like as we are. yet without sin uleD.
~, 15). According to Johns method OF
counting time, it was either q n. m. or
6 d. m. when Jesus rested by the well.
Compare chapter xix. II. His first re-
quest of the woman, Give me TO
drink" reminds us of one of His seven
words from the cross, ~ christ xix.
2S). He was literally weary. hungry
and thirsty as He sat thus by the well,
vet He was refreshed without actua'
food or drink oversees ~, 3N.
His chief hunger and thirst was ana
n for the souls of sinners. Have you
refreshed him. and are you doing II
daily by winning others? His seconu
word to the woman Verse 2O takes us
hack to Gen. |, g., Z. waters above and
waters below; also to Jer. ii, 13. the
fountain and the broken c%isterns. ana
onward to Rev. xxi. q: xii. IL, the wa
ter of life freely given. Isa. Nv. l; Ezek
Xviii, o. might also he considered with
much profit.
Thus only can we become Wel's o'
water springing up. In last lesson we
saw the water to he the word, ana TIC
only way to receive Christ. who IL
Himself the living bread ami the Nv
fng water. IL by believing His WORD
which Is both spirit and life (chaptel
vi. G3). In the majority OF be'ieVer'
the water In their well Is very low
and il IL difficult to obtain any I
them because they do not let the wore
Of Christ dwell in them richly accord
ING to Col. Iii, 1G. In our Lords tourti
and fifth words oversees 4O lie ial'
hare TO the woman her inner sinfu
Me for only those who realize ina
they are sinners and nothing but SIN
ners before God can appreciate II say
Jour. He came not to call the rlSh'
eOus but sinners, ana we MUST se
ourselves as helpless M he bitten II
r~aelites before we will care to look ID
neNlnEly uDOi iilIh WV"
for us. Being convicted or sah' she I'll
az 30 many dO-tried to escape by shy
ing. 81 do not belong to your churci
Won worship in Jerusalem. but we l
this mountain" She did not say thu
she worshiped or prOfessed to wo
ship. hut smoke of her people. "0ur II
TIERS"
In His sixth word oversees 2l-2f II
turns her to God the Father AS seel
ing not places. but hearts. Of people an
sincerity, for while man loOketh Oh u
outward appearance the Lord locke
on the heart, and "He is not a Je
which Is one outwardly, neither Is tn
circumcision which Is outward IN u
fesh. hut he Is Il Jew which Is one
wardly, and circumcision Is that or u
heart, In the spirit, not IN the ie''e
whose praise Is not of men, u
God" Il Sam. xvi, Z: Rom. II, 70, y
How much there is In many a chur'
which passes before men as worshi
but which in the sight OF Goo IL on
a mockery and an abomination n
which He says, "Valn oblations, -
feosts nv soul hateth," Elsa. l, IL, Il
1be Father Is seeking for those who
prayer and praise and meditation he
heart communion with Him, that
may reveal Himself to such n she
Himself strong on their behalf
Chron. XVI. ~.
The woman's reference to Messia
me Christ (see chapter I. 40. dra'
forth His last word. IL that speak ur
vUu,y (yn.yn sDtk Tho work