The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-03-01
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MARCH 5.
Subject; Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacies,
John vii.. s7-f0-Goiden Text, John
viii, 46-Memory Verse, 3s-Commen.
tary on the Days Lesson.

John VIII. s7-40-Goiden Text, John
viii, 46-Memory Verse, 3s-Conmen.
tary on the Days Lesson.
/. Christ teaching in the temple Tvs. 81.
D). During the closing days OF the least
great opposition was stirred up against
Jesus, and the Jewish rulers sent officers
TO apprehend Him, but notwithstanding
this He taught boldly in the temple. 81
Last day." There is difference Of opin.
eighth day OF the feast. Edersheim thinks
i was the seventh day. which was really
the last day OF the feast. The eighth day
was kept as Sabbath, when there was nc
ceremony of drawing water from Sloan
Jesus stood In the temple conrt, prob
ably in Solomon's porch. And cried
Spoke with voice loud enough so all could
hear. IF any man thirst" 1T was burn
ing autumn weather, when the sun had
Tor months shone in cloudless sky, and
the early rains were longed for Water at
all times Is q magic word IN a sultry eli.
mate like Palestine, but at this moment il
had double power. The ceremonies OF
pouring water commemorated that part Of
the wilderness wanderings when the peO
pie were suffering from terrible thirst,
and Moses at Gods command brought
water for them from the rock Mum. 20,
I'D. Now Jesus invites all who were
suffering from spiritual thirst. like the
Thirst is emblcmatical of spiritual necessi
ties; an intense need aud desire for par
don. for help for righteousness. for love,
Tor peace, f1r comfort, for God. for a
worthy life, ,or immortal life. Let him.
Freely and without hesitancy or reserve
Come A very precious invitation. This
word ought to come with great force to
every soul thirstng after spiritual life. Tc
come to Jesus is to believe on Him, TO ac
cept His teachings. to repent Of our sins,
to yield to His commands. to submit &c
Him fully. Unto Me and drink Here
we see the absolute sutficiency of Christ
tor all human need. Jesus confronts the
sin and misery and heartache of the world
and deliberately declares that lie is the
panacea for ii all
3S. "Hc that believeth." 10 believe has
the same meaning as to come. as used in
the preceding verse. Scripture hath
sand. Ihe reference is not to any one pas
sage, but to many passages and promises
combined. See lea. SSH; 44:3; Jer. 81 :l2;
Eek. F:l-l2, etc. ''Out OF his belly" The
inncImost part OF man. the soul, the heart.
Shall How This clearly implies some.
thing received that 1t may How from the
recipient unto others. Rivers Denot.
ing abundance, treeness continued supply,
in contrast with the small golden pitcher
used in the ceremony OF pouring water.
Living water. Pure. running water,
eVerhowlng streams; the opposite of stag.
nant. malarious, poisonous water: also life.
giving water (chap. 4:l0l. The gospel OF
Christ: which is the truth of God received
INTO the heart by the Spirit, brings life,
health and joy.
80. This spake He This is Johns
explanation OF Christs words "Of the
spirit. etc. The Holy Spirit and His in.
tuences were the living waters. abundant.
tree. purifying. bringing life, health. saliva
tlofl to the soul, as water to the thirsty.
m in m. hn had l.
every Christian u source of the same inhu.
ences which he has received from the Holy
spirit. This Is a prophecy of the dispense.
ton OF the Spirit which was to commence
with the outpourning of the Spirit on the
day OF Pentecost, and continue through
the ages till all the world is brought to
Christ. We need to lay more emphasis in
our day upon this wonderful gift, both for
our individual growth and usefulness and
for the salvation of the world Not vet
given The dispensation of the Spirit
had not been ushered in, and He had not
yet been poured out upon the hearts of be-
levers i'll all His fulness This cannot
mean that the Spirit did not exist and
was IN no sense present with believers i'll
the Old Testament dispensation.
III. Different opinions concerning Christ
Tvs. 4043). 40. "Many-said." Those
who heard the powerful declarations of
Jesus knew that tie was more than an or
the great prophet predicted by Moses
(Deut: Is: l5), whom some identified with
the Messiah, and others supposed would
be the forerunner of the Messiah From
the next verse we see that here He was
distinguished from the Messiah, A.
Others said,' etc. These believed Jesus
to be the Messiah-the Christ the Anoint-
ed One-whom all pious Jews were expect
ing at this period, and to whom their re-
ligious rites all pointed; though for the
most part they were expecting only tenn
poral King or Redeemer. Out of Gallee"
Christ seemed to them to come from Cali
lee, because His early home was there and
much of His ministry had been there.
AZ. THE Scripture said" etc. The Jews
knew that the Messiah was to be of the
family OF David (Psa. 1921; Isa. 9:6, Z:
l:l-5;, Jer. 23:5) and was to be born in
Bethlehem Mic. $50; Sam. 1871. 5, lS);
but they did not know that in Christ these
Scriptures were fulfilled. All the trouble
with this argument was that they did not
take care to ascertain the facts. Their quo
tatlons OF Scripture were an argument in
favor OF Jesus being the Messiah, for He
fulfilled the Scriptures. Many another ar
gument against religion is OF this same ma
ture. Men set up caricature of religion,
and arguing against that really presents
arguments in favor of true religion as it
IS IN. the gospel. where David was"
David was born in Bethlehem and lived
there until he was called into the service
Of Saul, Israeli king. i3. "A division"
IT means a serious and possibly violent di-
vision.
III. The Jews seek His arrest Tvs. A.
46). A. Some of them" Some of the
people, provoked by the controversy would
on their own responsibility have carried
Him before the Sanhedrin. The reference
here is not to the officers. but no man."
etc. Not even those who had been com.
manded to do it (see VS.. 32, 45), They
were fettered on the one hand by fear of
the adherents oil Jesus and on the other by
the secret power OF God. impressing them
with an involuntary awe, so that they
dared not proceed
40. ''The officers" Not Roman soldiers,
but temple police, answering to the mod.
ern constable. They had been directed by
the members of the Sanhedrin to arrest
Jesus ". 32l. "Why" etc. The officers
had returned without fulfilling their mis-.
sion, and the authorities were chagrined
40. Never man so spake" CIR. VI Christ
spake W with authority; (2) with direct
ness TO mems hearts; (3) with power; al
clearly and distinctly.