Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-05-11
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MAY Ia.

Subject: Jesus Prays For His Followers,
John xviii. 15-2G-Golden Text, John
xvii, 9-Memory Verses, 20, 21-Com.
mentary on the Days Lesson.
l. Christs prayer that His apostles
may be kept from evil Tvs. Is, 1G). 10
81 pray not" etc. He would not have
them with Him yet, nor would He
have them escape from the active,
tempting world. From the evil one
Or. W The devil. Christ prays that
they may be delivered from the dccep'
tion and power of Satan.
1G. Not of the world They do not
partake of its spirit or follow in the
wake of its ungodly practices. Even
as" etc Christs true followers par.
take of His nature and are led and con.
trolled by Him. They are born of God,
ii. A prayer that they may be sanctl
fed Tvs. 1910. II. "Sanctify them" ].
The idea at the root of the word rem.
dered "sanctify' is separation. 1t is
opposed not to what is impure, but to
what is common, and is constantly
used in the Greek of the Old Tcsta.
ment for the conservation of persons
and things to the service of God.
Through thy truth I'm the truth
II. V. The "truth," the sum of the
Christian revelation. "thc word OF
God" at once embodied in Christ and
spoken ~ Him, is (as it were) the ele.
mcnt into which the believer is intro.
duccd, and by which he is changed.
What the eleven needed above all
things was profOunder apprehension
of Christian truth, and Il hoicr chalac'
ter.
IS. Hast sent Me-" To redeem and
save the world. II also sent them.'
TO carry on the same work by preach
ing the truth and leading men to God.
AS the apostles were directed to ordain
others to the same work it is evident
that Il body Of ministry. issuing from
God Himself, distinct from the laity,
is divine institution in the Christian
church. 10. Il Sanctify Myself l
cOnsecrate and dcvOtc Myself to death,
that | may thereby purchase eternal
salvation for them. Thus as Re
dcemer He was made perfect through
suffering. THAT they also l. He
would not ask them TO do what He was
unwilling to do Himself. >, BY His
sanctihcation He set them true eX-
ample. 3 BY His sanctifcation,
which led to the atOnCmcnt on the
cross, lie presented every motive for
their sanctiication. and gave them new
spiritual life.
III. \ prayer for the unity Of all be-
levers Tvs. 20-23. 20. "Ncither-tor
these alonc.' Our intcrccSSor now
broadcnS His scope SO widely that
every man may enroll himself in the
limits of the prayer. "Through their
word Those who We're led to believe
III" gospel through the preaching OF
believers. This is the means God uses
for the conversion of men Qtom. 1O:ll,
10.
-. ".All may be one This prayer
was literally answered in the case OF
the FIRST believers who were all of one
heart (ActS 4:42,. And why is it that
believers are not in the same spirit
now: Because they neither attend TO
the example nor to the truth Of Christ.
World may believe" The unity of be-
levers would be the means of leading
men to Christ Nothing so diStracts
and destroys faith in the earth as divi-
sion among Gods people. |. Christian
unity shows the power of the Christian
religion. Only mighty power could
effect such 4 result from the widely
differing elements Of which the church
is composed. >. 1t shows the divine
nature of religion. in that it produces
the same characteristics in all. 3 y
united band is far more effective in
overcoming the world and conquerinS
evil.
-. "Have given them" Christ'S
glory is in them even now. in various
degrees, Il spark, Il slender flame,
braming luminousneSS, destined TO
shine in eternal splendOr in the celcS-
tial armament.
%. "Pcrfcct in one" The unity of
| the church consists in doctrine and III
| spirit. The historian of evangelical
! doctrine finds that the system, III its
great outlines. forms Il grand archltec-
tural structure. extending through
ages, identical in its general outlines,
and excluding all mere half-faithS, her
estes. novelties and intilclitics. AS
| such system it does. by its sPlf-con-
| sistency, strength and pcrmanence,
| form a powerful proof of the reality of
the Christian faith, calculated to make
the world believe.
". A prayer that they may be par
takers of His glory Tvs. 24-2G). "a
"Fathcr." The relationship is the
ground of the appeal: lie knows that
| His will is one with His Fathers.
will" Not pray, nor ask, but this
is NV will. He speaks rs son re-
turned to his fathers house, who tells
| in loving confidence how he will have
things. lie will bring His beloved
comrades with Him. that they may see
what a glorious prince He is, and in
! what glorious palace. "Behold My
glory" In the sense Of sharing and
cnioying it. for the faithful shall also
reign with Him q Tim. 2:12. Behold
inc His glory we are all changed into
the same image from glory to glory e
| Cor 3:1Sl. The real import of Christ 5
! prayer is that all who believe on Him
| should continue to love and serve Him
while in this world and then be eter-
| nally united with Him.
-. "Rightcous Father God has
not only His parental, but His judicial
and governmental aspect. lie Is not
only Father, but Judge and Sover-
eign. "Not known Would not ac'
knowledge; was willfully ignorant. 70
"NIay be in them" May rule in their
hearts as Il guiding principle, without
which they can.ot receive the knowl-
edge here promiscd; for che that lov-
eth not, kuoweth not Cod Il John
40, II in them" These last words
of Christ's mediatOrial prayer sum up
! its purpose. He is going away ana YET
abides with them.