The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-01-05

Johns testimony (Cf v. 20 with V. S4) IL
supplemented by Gods testimony, VS.. 81,
80: CT. Matt. 3:16. 10 and Jesus Is an
nounced as "the Lamb of God, which tax
eth away the sin of the world " ~
The Lesson Outline.
THEME;-The Christ Announced.
I-John's Testimony of Himself,-vs. 1926
ID Johns Questioners
(a) Priests and Levites from Jerusa'
lem.-v. 10.
(b) Sent by the Pharisees.-v. "a
(c) Their Questions.--vs. 10, q, p, 2S'
(2) Johns Negations.-vs. 20 Il.
(S) Johns Afirmation.-v. %.
(D Johns Baptism.-v %.
II.-John's Testimony Of the Christ'-Vs'
26 GA
n Jesus in Their Midst.-vs. 26, a.
(a) Unknown to Them.-v. rs.
(b) His Exalted Character.-v. ~
(2) Jesus Pointed Out.-v. %.
(a) The Lamb of God
(b) The Worlds Sin Bearer.
90 The Sign from Heaven.-Vs' o., 90
(a) The Descent of the Spirit-v. ~
m, THE Identification.-v. 80, CT. Matt
3;16, II.
az The Positive Testimony.-v. "a.
Comparing Scripture with scripture
L-John's Testimony Of Himself. ~
Johns Questioners Johns SIX or seven
months of preaching is bearing fruit
The Jewish leaders are stirred. They
appoint a delegation Of priests and
Leyites to go to John to ask VINO ne
was. and what was his baptism. They
were not seekers after truth SO much
as they were critics Of the truth. They
came prejudiced, and they went away
without seeing or knowing the Christ
So it is to-day Is. SO, 10; Acts 2S:26, "a
(2) Johns Negations.-vs. ~, 2l.
John was not willing to sail under any
false colors.-Rom. 1873 He was not
the Christ. He was not Elias. Mote.
however, the later testimony OF Jesus,
Matt. 11:14; 17:10-12. John spoke
literally; Jesus figuratively. There was
expectation of literal return of Elijah.)
He was not that prophet. This last hav-
ing reference to Deut. 1S: 15 which some
thought would be second Moses.
(3) Johns Afirmation.-v. 23 He
was only a voice crying in the wilder
ness. A voice to utter Gods message.
Only a voice that the man might be OBJ
scured and the message emphasized.
What an example for preachers and
teachers to-day.
(4) Johns Baptism.-v. 26.-Matt
3:11; Acts 1885.
Notice Johns fidelity to Scripture
He quotes Isaiah the prophet in justi-
fication of his claims. Gods children
ought always to be prepared to reply
to the questioner.-1 Pet. 81: 10.
Il.-John's Testimony of the Christ
ID Jesus in Their Midst-vs. 26, 27
"There standeth one, among you, whom
ye know not" Their hearts Of unbeliei
would not see or receive Him. Thus al
the very beginning we find exemplified
that which has ever characterized the
world since then. Jesus in the midst OF
the world but unknown by the world
Note the striking contrast between
Johns announcement Of the Christ to
these carping critics, and to those who
were ready to receive his message. TIC
the former he says: Jesus is in your
midst, but you don't know Him. and Oh
the morrow, when they have gone, he
(2) Points Jesus out to believing
hearts as 'the Lamb Of God which TAX
eth away the sin of the world"
The Jews in narrow race prejudice
were looking for a national deliverance
while the world was forgotten and un-
cared for. Johns broad announcement
| that the Christ was to be the worlds
sin bearer must have been startling tC
his hearers, and yet how blessedly true
| It was.
(3) The Sign from Heaven. The De
scent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus and
| the voice from Heaven was the Divine.
| ly appointed sign to John whereby he
| was to know the Christ. It is the ac.
| cepted opinion of Bible scholars thai
| John never met Jesus until His baptism
| which had taken place some 40 days be.
fore the incidents of this lesson, the 4C
days temptation in the wilderness hav.
ing intervened.
| (4 The Positive Testimony. John
was willing to receive the evidence OF
| the Spirit and was ready to bear posi-,
tive testimony that this is the Son OF
God" Oh, that men everywhere woult
be willing to receive the indisputabls
evidences which God supplies in His
Word, and by His Holy Spirit, that Je,
sus is the Christ, the Son of God!
Behold the Lamb of God which
taketh away the sin of the world.
Johns words have echoed through the
centuries. God had in expression OF
| His infinite love and mercy and as pro.
vision for the need Of lost world, pro.
] vided Himself (Gen. 22:8), Lamb
which was sufficient sacrifice (Heb
9:12) for the atonement for the worlds
sin. Jesus is the Lamb slain from the
! foundation of the world (Rev. 1879
Behold" then this Lamb Of God
There is life for look at the Crucified
One" John 3:14, ,15) Spurgeon says OF
| his conversion: "He looked ON mo