The Tupelo journal., 1906-01-26
THE BAPTISM
OF JESUS
Sunday School Lesson Tor JANIS, 1906

LESSON TExT.-Mark 1:l-1l. Memory
verses, 10. II. Read also Matt. s:l-l7; Luke
GOLDEN TEXT. Prepare your
hearts unto the Lord, and serve Him only
II Sam. rs.
TIME.-Luke fixes the date as the 18th
year Of Tiberius. John began preaching in
A. d. &c, when Jesus was between 20 and 80
years Of age and while he was still dwell
ing at Nazareth. The baptism of Jesus
was six months after John had begun his
ministry, about January A. D.. "a.
PLACE.-The wilderness-the wild, thin
~ inhabited region lying west of the Dead
sea and the Jordan. The baptism of Jesus
was at Bethabara, either at the fords
northeast Of Jericho, or the ford near Beth
shean, IA miles south Of the Sea of Galilee.
also called Bethany.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES.-The bap-
tism and it's significance: Matt. SO; 2S:l9,
90; Mark 1916; John 1:25: Acts 2:38; 1886, 81;
10:46-4S; 16 :30-33; 1873: 1874; 22:l6; Rom. 6:S-5:
Gal. 3:27; Col. Pill, IL; Tit. 3:5; ! Pet. 1921.
The descent of the Holy Spirit: lisa. 11:2:
1921; 40:13; Joel 2:2S; Zech. 4:6; 1910; Matt.
s:11; John 3:3, 5, 6; 7:3S; 1925; 1854: Acts
1:S; 2:3S; 5:32; 10:44;-4S; 1928; Rom, s:l4. %,
&c; Gal. 5:5, Is, %. 20; Eph. 1:13, IA; Tit. 3:5;
1 Pet. 1913. 81: / John AZ.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
v. 2. 1T is written in the prophets"
The quotation in v. 2 is from Malachi
3: /, and that in v. 3 is from Isaiah
10: 3.
v. 3. He was 1.-The voice of one cry
Ing" Greek, shouting, crying with
. high, strong voice." as a manifesto
ton of feeling, ''in the wilderness"
The fitting place for his work.
v. 4. And preach" Proclaim like
a herald with his trumpet, Prepare We
the way of the Lord" "Repentenance
for the remission of sins" Repentent-
ance is a change of mind, of heart as
to sin; implying grief over sin, as its
source, and a change Of life and con-
duct, as its result.
v. 5. "All the land of Judea and
(all) they of Jerusalem" were drawn
out to the desert to hear the prophet
rich and poor, young men and maidens.
hardened sinners, Pharisees, soldiers
Romans, priests, farmers, villagers, cit
liens, beggars, p%ublicans, all classes
and conditions of men. Thus the whole
| country was aroused and heard the
message which prepared the way for
the Messiah King.
v. Z. preached" Proclaimed as a
herald. The Greek tense implies that
he kept doing this. THE lachet OF
whose Shoes" or rather, sandals.
Latchet, a word now obsolete, vas the
thong or lace" with which shoes or
sandals were fastened. Il am not
worthy to unloose." 1t was
| the business of the lowest servants to
bind on. to loose and carry about their
masters sandals. The. nature of Je-
sus. the work of Jesus for men was in.
initely above Johns, greatest of the
prophets as he was. John could point
to the Saviour, Jesus could save. John
could send men to the good physician.
| Jesus could cure the disease of sin.
v. s. 81 indeed have baptized you
| with water" unto repentance"
(Matt.). A sign and symbol. ! call
to repentance, but cannot give the new
life.
v. 9. "In those days." when Jesus
was about 30 years old, and while John
was preaching and baptizing in the
| Jordan. About six months after John
| began to preach. Baptized of John"
Described more fully in Matthew. Je-
sus received baptism which expressed
death to an old life, and rising to a
new" because ID baptism expressed
a public remuneration of sin, and an
open stand on the side of God and
| righteousness. Christ did not need to
| repent, but He did need to show by
this public profession that He belonged
| on the side of righteousness, and was
| eternally opposed to sin. (2) Baptism
was required of His followers as one
Of the great aids to a righteous life.
Christ, therefore, would fulfil every
| duty He required of them. He was the
| standard and example of righteousness.
60 BY His baptism He showed that He
| was himself a brother of the sinful.
"He maintained an attitude of solid.
arity with the sinful rather than as
sumo the position OF critic and judge"
He shared the fortunes of our fallen
and wrecked humanity.
Y. 10. "And straightway coming up"
as soon as He, was baptized. They say
that John had the people under water
up to the neck until they confessed
| their sins, and that Jesus having none
| to confess tarried not in the river. THE
| Spirit like a dove descending upon
| Him." The Holy Spirit descended not
| only in the manner of a dove, but in
| the bodily shape of a dove (Luke 8:
! 22). This was the symbol: the COM
ing Of the Spirit was the reality.
v. II. There came a voice from
| Heaven" Three times during our
Lords earthly ministry was a voice
heard from Heaven: ID at His bap-
tism; (2) at His TRANSPORTATION MARK
g: y; 60 in the courts of the temple
during Passion Week John IL: 28).
"Thou art MY beloved Son, in whom !
am we'll pleased" Thus God endorsed
| Him and His mission, and showed to
the Jewish nation that here was the
| Messiah. 1t must also have strength
| ened and confirmed the human Jesus
as to His nature and His work.
For the Quiet Hour.
Where no enthusiasm is the fires Of
conviction will smolder.
There are too many trying to wall
| Gods way and win the worlds o. X.
Only a blind mar can dwell in the
light and not discern the condition OF
those round about him.
Better a sin acknowledged before