The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-04-10
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR APRIL is.

John XII. e5-1emory Verses. II, 16-s
Topic: Great Faith and Helper.
!. The centurion asks aid of Christ
Tvs. 1-5). i. "Ended-sayings." The
sayings recorded in the preceding
chapter and in the sermon just
preached. In the audience" What
Christ said He spoke publicly. In SCI
cret He said nothing John 1900
Unto Capernaum." Where most on
His mighty deeds were performed
Yet His miracles failed to produce reI
pentance Matt. 1928. 2. "CenturI
ions servant" A centurion was al
Roman officer, ranking with our cap,
tain, who had charge of 100 men. ThiS
centurion, though a Gentle, was far
vorable to the Jews. reigiously in3
clined, generous and kind. The ser-
want was probably slave.
8. Heard of Jesus" OF His ar
rival at Capernaum. He must have
known of His miracles before this.
Sent-elders." The leading men-the
magistrates Of Capernaum. "Beseechs
ing Him." Earnestly entreating Him.
These elders of the Jews must have
been strongly attached to tie GEM
turiOn would come" They evident
" thought it would be proper for Him
to go to the house, even though the cen-
turion was GENTLE a. Game to-
Jesus" Distress drives to Jesus, and
Jesus comes to those in distress 'In-
stantly.p That is, earnestly and with
out a moments delay HE was wor-
thy" This is what the elders said of
the centurion.
5. "Loveth our nation" He was
probably q proselyte of the gate-tnat
is. one of those who embraced Judaism
on the whole, but without becoming a
proselyte of righteousness by accept
ing circumcision.
IL The centuricn's opinion of him.
self Tvs G-8). 6. Jesus went" He
was glad to go with them. He is tho
Savior of the Gentiles as well as the
Jews. 'Sent friends" This was the,
second deputation. and it is quite
likely that the centurion also came,
himself. See Matt. 1913. Trouble
not myself" If he had known Jesus
better he would have known that Jesus
was anxious to help him. Not Wor-
thy" He was only a Gentle and
thus outside of the favored nation. He
regarded Jesus as a superior beirg. Z.
ITO come unto Thee" He felt as
though he could not approach into the
presence of one SO great and so holy%
"But say in |. word" He had prob
ably heard a few months before this
how Christ had healed the noblemans
son when at c distance from him
(John 4:46-54). s. "Set under author
ity." That is, under the authority of
others. He is confident that Jesus
can as easily send an angel to cure
this servant Of his, as he can send a
soldier on an errand.
III. The centurion's faith rewarded
Tvs 9. I0).
8. "MarveIled at him." The only
other time when Jesus is said to have
been astonished is in Mark Sc, when
He marvelled because of unbelief.
Christ was not ignorant of the centur-
ions faith, He knew all about that
before a word had been spoken; but
He expressed His admiration with al
view to make it more conspicuous.
so great faith" Faith is that soul
element which enables us to grasp
God. 1t is the medium through which,
we receive the blessings of the divide
life. I'm Israel" After the retufnI
from the captivity this term was given
to all Jews 10. Servant WHOLE
The healing took place at a distance
from Christ. He could heal by word
as well as by touch.
Nv. The widows son raised from
the dead Tvs. 11-17). IL. *The day
after Soon afterwards. "-R. VI
much people, Jesus was now reach,
ing the height of His popularity. 49,
1.-THE gate" Nearly all towns and Yil-l
lagos were surrounded by walls as a
protection. Carried out" With the
exception Of kings, all burials were
outside the city. much people. =
Here was a large company of mourn
ers. Main is approached by narrow
rocky path; there was only one en-
trance to the city; the two PROFESSIONS
met on the western slope of the hill-I
side. 10. Had compassion" He did
not wait for her to ask for help, for
probably she did not know Him. Her.
needs and sorrows were her SILENT
prayers. The fact that this youth was
1.-The only son of his mother" and that
she was a widow would convey to Jew
ish notions deeper sorrow than it
even does to ours, for they regarded
childlessness as a special caIamity,l
and the loss of offspring as direct
punishment for sin. Weep not" The
large company came to weep with herr
a. Touched" Here again, as inl
the case of the leper, our Lord sacri-
feed the mere Levitical ceremonialism,
with its rules about uncleanness, to al
higher law. Bier Jewish collins
were open, so that the dead could be-
seen; but in the case of the poorer,
classes there would be no coffin, but
merely board supported by two poles
on which the dead would be laid. IN
say" Life and death are controlled
by the will of this II" Arise At
last death has met its Master!
10. Began to speak" Which
proved that he was fully restored.
16. "Came a fear" A sense of SOL
emnity and reverential awe. "Glori-
fed God.S The miracle was Witnessed
by a large company Of people, and they
all recognized the hand of God on the
One who could perform such mighty
deeds. Great prophet" The Jews
were at this time expecting Elijah,
jeremiah, or one Of the great prophets
to appear.
IT. This rumor.v 1t appears that
the report OF this miracle spread
throughout ali Palestine; it reached
the ears of John the Baptist who was
imprisoned 1T Castle Macherus.
Ants Broke Up High School.