The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-01-24
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JANUARY 20.
Subject: The Baptism Of Jesus, Mark. :.
1-11-Golden Text, I Sam. VIII, g.
Memory Verses, 10, 11-Topic: Christ's
Preparation For His Life Work.

l.. Preparing the way Tvs. 1-3). ].
1.-THE beginning" Matthew begins
with a genealogy of our Lord and Luke
with the history Of His infancy, but
Mark commences in the midst of Cos
pel events. He seems anxious to come
at once to Christ'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 "anoint-
ed" and is the Greek equivalent Of the
Hebrew Messiah" "Son Of God"
This shows His divine nature. See
John /: 1-3, ii. He was very God, the
second person in the Trinity. 2. us
written" See Nal. 81; lisa. 1913. i
send" This 81" 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, Christ's herald.
3. 1.-THE voice" Attention is called
to the message rather than to the mes
senger. John was weak and insignif'
cant, but he was delivering Gods mes
sage, and his words produced a 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-thtrds
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 q thorough
preparation before God, u King, will
come to us. The self-life must be
brought low" the crooked life must
be strengthened" the Instructions OF
unbelief and carnal desires must be re-
moved.
II. John baptizing Tvs. 4, s.. 4.
Preach" Herald; q word suggesting
the proclamation of a king. John was
a great reformer. Baptism Of repent
ance." John was q repentance preach
er. 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 q sign
of true repentance.
5. AL 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
Cd conviction, (2) contrition, ~ con-
fession, ~ reformation, and leads to
conversion.
III. Johns testimony Tvs. 6-s).
"Camel's hair" In appearance John
resembled Elijah, the prophet. He
was clothed in the coarse, rough cloth
called sackcloth in the Scriptures. II
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 a strip Of hide.
"Locusts." The law Of Moses gave
permission to cat locusts LEV. 11:2l).
The common locust is about three
inches long and closely resembles our
~grasshopper. 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 %whetherhe were the Christ
But John was not slow to undeceive
them regarding himself. "Mightier."
John clearly outlined the work of the
coming Messiah. His baptism will ef'
feet what mine is powerless to do
"Latchet." The latchet, a word now
obsolete, was the thong or lace with
which the shoes CT sandals were fast
ened. Shoes" Or sandals. mot
worthy" John shows his greatness by
his ESTABLISHMENT.
S. with water-Holy Ghost" John
had administered the outward rite, but
could not renew their hearts.
w. Jesus baptized Tvs. 9-1D. 8
I'm those days" While John was
preaching and b%aptizing. Jesus
came" Jesus was about thirty years
old. This was the age when priests
entered upon their ministry Mum. 4
81. and when the rabbls began to teach
From Nazareth" Where He lad
lived in seclusion all these years. Sc
far as we know this was His first pub
lie act since He was twelve years OF
age. WAS baptized" Any confession
of sin was of course out Of the Ques'
ton. There was only a profession on
the part of Jesus that as an lsraelite
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 baptizing. Jesus GMatt. 9
ii, 15). 10. HE saw" Christ saw
IT, and John saw it John 1888, 34), and
it is probable that all who were pres
emit saw it; for this was intended to be
His public Inauguration. 1.-THE heav'
ems opened" Luke says that Jesus
prayed as soon rs He was baptized
luke 3:21). Here is the first recorded
prayer Of Christ and it's answer. Like
q dove" A symbol this of perfect
gentleness, purity, fulness of life, and
Of the power OF communicating it.
II. "Voice from heaven" At two
other times during u Lords earthly
ministry was a voice heard from heav-
en-: At the TRANSPORTATION Mark 90,
and in the courts Of the temple during
passion week John 1898. The Father
indorsed Clrist's earthly mission. My
beloved Son." Jesus Christ is the Son
If Gnd from eternity
epanks Octogeuarinn boy"
Friends and neighbors for miles
around assembled at the residence OF