Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-01-25
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JANUARY 20.

Memory Verses, 10, 1t-ropic: Christ's
Preparation For His Lifo Work.
I. Preparing the way Tvs. 1-3). l.
"The beginning" Matthew begins
with genealogy of our Lord and Luke
with the history Of His infancy, but
Mark commences In the midst OF Cos
pei events. He seems anxious to come
at once to Chrlst's public life and min
istry. Gospel" The gospel Of Jesus
Christ denotes the "glad tidings" or
"good news" concerning Jesus Christ:
"Jesus." Jesus means saviour"
This name shows His human nature.
Christ" This name means "anont-
ed," and is the Greek equivalent of the
Hebrew messiah" 'Son Of God"
This shows His divine nature. See
John /: 1-3, IA. He was very God, the
second person in the Trinity. =. rs
written" See Nal. 81; lisa. 40:3. 81
send" This IL" in the prophet is spo-
ken by Jehovah. But this Jehovah is
the Messiah. SO that we have here a
true Jehovah-Jesus. "My messenger"
John the Baptist, Christs herald.
3. "The voice." Attention is called
to the message rather than to the mes
senger John was weak and inslgDiii-
cant, but Ire was delivering Gods mes
sage, and his words produced 4 mighty
effect. Crying" Heralding, pro-
claiming. evidences" John preached
in the wild, thinly inhabited region ~
ing west Of the Jordan and the Dead
Sea as far north as Enon, two-thirds
of the way to the Sea of Galilee, and
on both sides Of the lower Jordan.
prepare paths straight" This Is
figurative language. The words illus
trate the strengthening force of the
gospel. There must be a thorough
preparation before God, our King, will
come to us. The self-life must be
drought low" the crooked life must
be "straightened:" the distractions of
unbellef and carnal desires must be re-
moved.
ii. John baptizing Tvs. 4, 81. A.
"Preach." Herald; Il word suggesting
the proclamation of a king. John was
great reformer. Baptism of repent
ance." John was repentance preach
err. This was a baptism required and
representing an inward spiritual
change; the pledge of remission of sins
to those who were truly penitent. "For
the remission" The remission was to
be received of Christ, the repentance
was preparatory to Christ's coming and
work, and Johns baptism was sign
of true repentance.
S. "All the land" A figure repre-
senting the sweeping influence of
Johns preaching. "Confessing.' Con-
fession of sin is one of the elements in
true repentance. Repentance includes
% conviction, (2) contrition, (3) con-
fession, az reformation, and leads to
conversion.
III. Johns testimony Tvs. 6-S>
"Camers hair" In appearance John
resembled Elijah, the prophet. He
called sackcloth in the Scriptures. 1t
was cheap, but admirable for keeping
out the heat, cold and rain. "Girdle.'
The Orientals delight in costly, Orna'
mental girdles, but poor people must
content themselves with strip of hide.
"Locusts." The law of Moses gave
permission to eat locustS LEV. HE'D.
The common locust is about three
inches long and closely resembles our
erasshopper. Locusts are abundant
and cheap and are still used as food
by the poorer classes. "Wild honey"
Honey stored by bees in hollow trees
or in the cleftS of the rocks. Johns
habits were in keeping with his wilder
ness life. Z. "There cometh." The
preaching Of John was preparing the
minds of the people for the coming OF
the Messiah, and they began to ask
themselves whctherhe were the Christ.
But John was not slow to undeccive
them regarding himself. "Mightier."
John clearly outlined the work of the
coming Messiah. His baptism will eff
feet what mine is powerless TO do.
"Latchet." Tho latchct. word now
obsolete was the thong or lace with
which the shoes or sapdals were fast
ened. "ShoeS." Or sandals Not
worthy" John shows hiS greatness by
his establishment.
8. "With watcr-IIoiy Ghost" John
had administered the outward rite, but
could not renew their hearts.
". Jesus baptized Tvs. Old. o.
"In those days" While John was
preaching and baptizing Jesus
came" Jesus was about thirty years
old. This was the age when priests
entered upon their ministry (Num. 4:
81. and when the rabbls began to teach.
"From Nazareth" Where He had
lived in seclusion all these years. So
far as we know this was His first pub
lie net since He was twelve years OF
age. "Was baptized" Any confession
of sin was of course out Of the ques-
ton. There was only profession Oh
the part of Jesus that as an Israclite
He became subject to the law, and
that He was connected with humanity
by the ties of blood, of suffering and
of love. "Of John" At first John hes
itated about baptlzlng Jesus Matt. 81
IA, 15). 10. HE saw" Christ saw
it, and John saw it John :33. $40, and
it is probable that bill who were pres.
ent saw it; for this was intended to be
His public Inauguration. "1he heav.
ems opened" Luke says that Jesus
prayed as soon as He was baptized
U4uke 3:2D. Here Is the first recorded
prayer of Christ and its answer. Like
q dove" A symbol this Of perfect
gentleness, purity, fulness Of life. and
Of the power Of communicating it,
IL. "Voice from heaven" At two
other times during our Lords earthly
ministry was voice heard from haav'
en-: At tho TRANSPORTATION Marx 9.O,
and In the courts of the temple during
passion week John 1928. The Father
Endorsed Christ's earthly mission. my
beloved Son." Jesus Christ Is the Son
of God from eternity.
furniture Used by Napoleon.
When he returned to Washington
recently Ambassador Won Sternberg
brought complete suite of drawing
room furniture that had adorned the
rooms occupied by NAPOLEON in Leip-