The Morris County chronicle., 1906-01-23
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JANUARY 2e

subject: Ths Baptism Of Jesus, Mark. +.
1-11-Golden wexts Sam. VII, S-
Memory Verses, 40, 11--roptc; Chriet'a
preparation For his Life Work.
Preparing the way Tvs. 1-3). !.
"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 gos-
I mel events. He seems anxious to come
at once to Christ's public life and miI-
fstrv. 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 2 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, IA. He was very God, the
second person in the Trinity. z. rs
written" See NAL 81: Isa. 40:3. II
send" This .I7 III the prophet is spo-
ken by Jehovah. But this Jehovah is
the Messiah. So that we have here g
( true Jehoyah-Jesus. Ny messenger"
John the Baptist, Christs herald.
3. "The voice Attention IS called
I to the message rather than to the mes
senger. John was weak and insigni1l-
cant. but he was delivering Gods mes
sage, and his words produced mighty
effect. Crying" Heralding, pro-
claiming. s.Wilderness' John preached
| il the Wild. thinly inhabited region ~
ing west OF the Jordan and the Dead
I Sea as far north rs 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 thorough
preparation before God, our King, will
come to MS. The self-life must be
drought low" the crooked life must
be "straightened; the distractions or
unbelief and carnal desires must be re-
moved.
II. John baptizing Tvs. A. b. 4.
"Preach." Herald; a word suggesting
the proclamation OF a king. John was
a great reformer. Baptism Of repent
ance." John was repentance preack-
er. This was 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.
s. "All the land" A figure repre-
senting the sweeping influence OF
Johns preaching. "Gonfessing" Con-
fession Of sin is one oe the elements in
true repentance. Repentance includes
| a. conviction, (2) contrition, 90 con-
feSsion, AZ reformation, and leads to
conversion.
III. Johns testimony (vs... 6-s).
"Camel's hair In appearance John
resembled Elijah. the prophet. He
| was clothed in the coarse, rough Goth
called sackcloth in the Scriptures. It
was cheap, but admirable for keeping
out the heat, cold and rain. "Girdle."
The Orientals delight in costly, ocna-
mental girdles, but poor people must
content themselves with q strip Of hide.
"Locusts." The law of Moses gave
permission to eat locusts fLev. 11:2D.
rhe 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 {. There comethD 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.
1 But John was not slow to undeceive
/ them regarding himself. 'AIightierv >
4 John clearly outlined the work Of the
coming Messiah. His baptism will eff
! feet. what mine is powerless to do.
Latchet" The latchet, word now
| obsolete. was the thong or lace with
which the shoes or sandals were fast
ened. Shoes" Or sandals. mot
worthy" John shows his greatness by
his self-abasement.
s. with water Holy Ghost.p John
had administered the outward rite, but
could not renew their hearts
Nv. Jesus baptized Tvs 9-1D. 8.
"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 Mum. 4:
! 3D. and when the rabbis 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 act since He was twelve years OF
| age. WAS baptized" Any confession
OF sin was of course out OF the ques-
/ ton. There vas only G profession on
the part of Jesus that as an Israelite
He became subject to the law, and
| that He was contacted with humanity
by the ties Of blood, OF suffering and
Of love. "Of Johny AT first Jchn hes
itated about baptizing Jesus Matt. 3:
| IA, 15). 10. He saw Christ saw
it, and John saw it John i 1915, 34), ana
it is probable that all who were pres
ent saw it; for this was intended to be
His public inauguration. "The heav-
ems opened Luke says that Jesus
1 prayed as soon as He was baptized
/ (Luke 3:21) Here IS the first recorded
1 prayer OF Christ and its answer. Like
a dove. A symbol this Of perfect
gentleness, purity, fuIness Of life, ana
Of the power of communicating ii.
II. Voice from heaven. At two
ether times during our Lords earthly
ministry was a voice heard from heav.
en-: At the TRANSPORTATION Marx 9:7).
! aud IN the courts Of the temple during
| passion week tJ0hn 1928. The Father
\ indorsed Christ's earthly mission. Ny
! beloved Son Jesus Christ is tile SoA
IF God from eternity.
Pigeons Fast Flight Homss
Two carrier pigeons exhibited at The
New York City Poultry Show bv Peter