Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-27

Christ, for whom he desired 20 prepare
the way. That testimony was in three
parts-first. Jesus was mightier than John.
lie would possess great power which would
be used by him in his work--a fact of mo-
inent in day when men looked for abil-
ity. Second Jesus was more honorable
and glorious than John, so that the latter
was not worthy to perform the most me-
NAL service for him, such as the loosing
OF mis- shoe latchets. Third, Jesus would
be distinguished particularly by the fact
that he would haptize with the Holy
Ghost lisa. xliv:3), as had been predicted
tnGer these heads John completely por-
trayed the coming one.
MARINE Verse %. All this had
gone on with increasing popular interest for
six months at the river Jordan. The multi
tude or hearers and converts from Judea
and even from Jerusalem looked upon John
as prophet and reformer Matt. KID.
The preaching had accomplished its des. gn-
ed end. genuine and widespread re-
vival of religion had reached all classes ana
produced a most profound impression.
Withal. many had heard the testimony
concerning the Greater and Mightier One
who would bestow the Holy Spirit. At
such an opportune time Jesus appeared
upon the scene. He quietly left His Naza-
reth home. as other men left theirs in vari-
Gus parts, walked across the country I'M
attended and presented Himself for baptism.
In another place we earn that the great
reformer expected this visit John, 1889,
and knew that the disclosure would be
made I'm baptism, and yet when the time
came he hesitated for a while Matt, ill:
I'D conscious of inferiority. and then
yielded. So Jesus received baptism had
others.
WITNESS Oversees 10 and ID. Bap-
tism had been selected and appointed as
the method by which Jesus should be made
known to John John. 1881. or, rather, il
had been designated the mode and time
of atteSting the person whom John came to
Introduce. That attestation was made in
three ways, all supernatural. First, the
han
we cannot describe appeared to John, as IL
a pasSageway had been effected into the
celestial regions. Second, through this
opening there descended a something like
a dove in form, which was recognized as
the Holy Spirit. This dove descended upon
Jesus John, ni:3D. emblem and proof of
His divinity. Third, a voice was heard pro-
claiming the, sonship of Jesus and the pleas
ure of the Father in Him. This address
was to Jesus, an assurance to Him of much
value al this time, although prior to this
He was aware of His nature luke. HAD.
By these three phenomena evidence was
given that appealed to the senses of sight
and hearing. We must remember that this
was at the beginning. Other evidence came
later.
CONCLUSION. This narrative reach
es it's climax in the words, Thou art my
beloved Son" All that preceded was
natural preliminary to that sublime declara-
ton. The work and preaching of John,
attracting and imlfessing as 1t did vast
crowds of people, looked steadily forward
to the time when Jesus should be made
known by a heavenly voice as a Divine
person. He was to begin His matchless
career with that title, which would be made
good by the three years of his ministry
Let this fact be kept in mind by all who
study the life of Jesus. They who regard
Him as anything less-as a teacher or re-
former merely-must fail utterly to get any
Just conception of him, On the opening
page of his biography stand the words,
'sSon of God" 1t ought also to be noticed
hot no closing a lesson
the doctrine of the Trinity. There was the
Father who spoke, the Son to whom He
spoke. the Holy Spirit descending upon the
Son. Chris tianity is trinitarian If the teach
ing of the evangeliSts may be accepted as
authoritative
QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
Any person may mail to DR.. Gilbert, 1903
R street northwest. this city. any biblical
question, and receive an answer through
The Star.
A.. Does not the fact. given in last lesson.
that Jesus grew in wisdom, refute the doc
trfne of His divinity?
Answer. No; the fact supports the doc
trine, when rightly stated. complete and
sudden entrance of Deity into a human or
ganism would have weakened and perhaps
destroyed the organism, presenting mon
strosty,. startling to behold, prejudicial to
religion. The gradual entrance OF the di-
vine into the human, with a gradual dis
play, as the latter was prepared by growth
| to receive and manifest its possessor. ex-
! hibited both man and God in way to con-
vince mankind of their union. This process
is in harmony with all Gods work. The un-
folding of God in Jesus prehgured His I'M
folding in the race and in history. He who
came, now comes lis coming) more and
more John, i:8, and will continue to come
until every eye shall see him.
4S. By what mode Jesus baptized?
Answer. Ask one Presbyterian, one Meth
odiSt and one Baptist minister of ability
and spirituality, and read prayerfully one
book on the subject which each will give
weigh all the arguments, hold your opin-
ions charitably, and remember that good
ana great men have honestly disagreed on
this much-discussed question