The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1906-01-26


river of Jordan, confessing their sins"
1t is uncertain whether this rite was
originated by John, or whether he
adapted a rite known and occasionally
used before. In either case he applied
II to repentance and made 1t universal.
1t was a most fitting emblem OF the
cleansing of the soul from sin, of
death to sin, and rising to righteous
ness.
Confessing their sins. The very act
of baptism was confession of sins
and promise of repentance, but,
doubtless they also, as Afford says,
made "a particular and individual con-
fession." No one truly repents who
does not also confess-to God the sins
against God, to man the sins against
man, to individuals the sins against
them, ever also making restitution as
far as possible.
Confession honors God, proves sim
noble and honorable act that does all
it can to undo the evil that had been
wrought.
Note that the excitement that some
times accompanies such scenes is a
mere incident of little account except
as making the good work more widely
known. The real power is such deep
feeling, such a moving Of the emotion
al nature, however quiet, as leads thS
repentance, restoration. oopfession
and a new life.
5. John Prepared the Way by Point
ing Men to Christ Tvs. Z. 81. z.
Preached" Proclaimed as a herald.
The Greek tense implies that he kept
doing this. The latchet OF whose
Shoes" or rather, sandals. Lstchet, a
wcrd now obsolete, was the thong"
or ''lace" with which shoes or sandals
were fastened. II 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 Jesus. the
work of Jesus for men was infinitely
above Johns, greatest of the prophets
as he was. John could point to the
Savior, Jesus could save. John could
send men to the good physician. Jesus
indeed have baptized you with
water, unto repentance" (Matt). A
sign and symbol. l call to repentance,
and cannot give the new life. But
ne shall baptize you with the
Holy Ghost" Ghost is Old Eng
Itch for 0en;r;tpA vT,o r,goht;oet
power in the universe for renewing
the heart and bringing in the kingdom
Of God. 1t would be as easy to bring
spring-time without the sun as the
kingdom of God without the Holy
Spirit.
III. The Preparation of Public Pro
fession Through Baptism.-V. 8. I'm
those days." when Jesus was about 80
years old, and while John was preach.
ing and baptizing in the Jordan. About
six months after John began to preach.
Baptized of john" Described more
fully in Matthew. Jesus received bap
tism which expressed death to an old
life, and rising to a new" because ID
baptism expressed a public renuncia.
ton 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 righteous,
ness, and was eternaly opposed to sin.
(2) Baptism was required of his fol
lowers as one of the great aids to q
righteous life. Christ, therefore, would
fulfil every duty he required of them
He was the standard and example OF
righteousness. (3) BY his baptism he
showed that he was himself brother
of the sinful. He shares the fortunes
of our fallen and wrecked humanity.
w. Preparation by Receiving the
Holy Spirit.-V. 10. And straightway
coming up" as soon as he was bap
tized. "Euthymius. Greek monk OF
the twelfth century, quantity remarks,
They say that John had the people un
der water up to the neck till they had
confessed their sins, and that Jesus
having none to confess tarried not In
the river There might be worse ex.
plantations" -Exp. Greek Test "The
OpiIlI ling uONC uCSCCnulhS upOu
him." The Holy Spirit descended not
only in the manner Of dove, but In
the bodily shape of dove duke
1920. This was the symbol; the com
ing of the Spirit was the reality.
V. The Preparation Which Comes
From the Assurance That He had a
Divine Call to His Mission.-V. IL
There came a voice from heaven"
Three times during our Lords earthly
ministry was a voice hearS from heav
en-: % at his baptism; CD at HE
TRANSPORTATION mark 9:O CD in the
courts OF the temple during Passion
Week John 1929. Thou art my be.
loved Son, in whom am wei
pleased" Thus God endorsed him and
HIS mission, and showed TO the Jewish
nation that here was the Messiah. II
must also have strengthened and con-
firmed the human Jesus as to his ma
ture and his work.
IL is hard to realize what power and
courage and patience are given to re-
formers and prophets and all workers
-