The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-08-22
Sunday-schoo1.
BARTIMEUs AND zACcHEUs.

sept. z, l9O6 Luke xviii 35-xix 10
GOLDEN TEXT
"The Son of Man is come to seek and IN save that
which was lost."-Luke xix TO-
DAILY HOME READINGS.
Nuke xviii 35 xix. TO- Th.-Joshua vi I. v. II.
I.-Matt XX. Z9-34 F-2 Cor. iv. Ito
W.-Mark X 1852 Sat Tob :; -
Sun.-Psalm cxix. 1924 lO5-ll2
Our lesson to-day tells of two incidents in the life
ana ministry OF the Lord Jesus They are not para
bles, but actual One tells of miracle
the pllnd beggar at Jericho and the other of rich
and prosperous man who first sought Jesus and was
then most graciously and savingly sought bv Jesus
These things occurred at the old city of Jericho down
In the valley of the Jordan far above the head of
the Dead Sea- The town had history from the DAYS
OF the Canaanites, and the story of the Spies and
kahab and the destruction by the host of Joshua 1t
was now i'll the midst of fruitful land with abund-
ant fruits and flowers. 1t was the appointed dwell.
ing place of many Jewish priests 1t should have
been the home of religion and of the fruits of re-
ilgon of charity and peace, and the glad acceptance
of the Redeemer
l. The Blind Man Begging. VS.. 35-43. What a
picture OF human want and woe! "As he drew NIGH
unto Jericho man. who was blind and so a TYNE
OF the blindness of the human heart, sat "beggng"
poor helpless wreck of humanity dependent the
scant charity of his fellowmen The wayside was a
good place for him. for Jesus passed that way When
what it meant" And replied: "Jesus of
Nazareth passeth by" Something he had heard of
the Nazarene of his claims to be the Messiah his
grace and power. For he cried "Jesus son of Da-
vld, giving him the title he claimed, "have mercy
on me-" He asked for ''lnercy' acknowledging that
he was sinner and had claim. Jesus heard and
commanded that he should brought nigh He would
deal with him in public "What wilt thou that |
shall do unto thee?" He would draw out his desire
that act of his own will He did not rebuke the sup
plant, away from the beggar. At once by
his word he gave him what he asked, "And imme-
dately he received his sight. "What beautiful
world he looked upon for the first time! How sweet
was the light to his eyes And he saw the loving
face of his Saviour and Friend No wonder che fol-
lowed Him, clarifying Cod TIe left Jericho for the
fellowship of Jesus. He gave all the praise to God
2 Zdccheus Seeking and Zaccheus sought. VS.. 10
After the miracle of compassion and power the
wayside, Jesus entered the city. Tie on his way
to Jerusalem and the shadow of his cross rested on
him. He much occupied in thought with the
things so to come to pass in Jerusalem and on
Calvary. But on the wayside he opened the eyes of
the blind and in Jericho he would save sinner from
the error of his ways and plant his kingdom in
household ga man named Zaccheus," rich, dishon-
est, unsatisfed. He "chief among the publ
cans. At the head of the tax collectors And there
fore despised by his countrymen, the Jews, who re.
garded him as renegade and apostate.
This man 'little of statue, recognized by Jesus
and called from the sycamore tree, into which he had
climbed The young ruler did not accept Christ be-
cause he would not give up his great POSSESSIONS.
But the rich Publican saved, because he was
willing to surrender all for Christ and chose Christ
instead of gold. AT once he obeyed, and made haste
and came down and received him oyfully" At the
very beginning, che sought to Jesus" And now
with all his heart he received and welcomed him
And Jesus all the time seeking him. He called
him by name lie would ''abide" in his home There
was not priest Pharsee in Jericho TO receive
him. Jesus chose the Publican, who seemed to The
Jews so far from the kingdom, and went home to his
house, though it said that "he was the guest OF
sinner"
Zaccheus gave fruits for repentance At he de-
voted the half of his riches to charity. At he