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


lee Jesus on the threshold of his mis-
lion of proclaiming and bringing the
5ingdom of God, which henceforth was
o grow and spread. till this world is
changed into the New Heavens and
he New Earth symboliZed by the City
If God described in Revelation.
The Need of Preparation.-For ev-
cry new era there is needed twofold
preparation.
1. A preparation of the new leader
)r leaders.
2. A preparation of the people.
I. The Hidden Years in Nazareth
For eighteen years, after the glimpse
we had OF him when IL years old, the
life of Jesus is hidden from view, with
only one quick fash upon 1t from his
neighbors who call him the carpenter,
the son of a carpenter.
But these years were all needful for
his human preparation for mis- life's
work. During these years he learned
many of life's lessons. He grew in.
sympathy with daily toll and proved
to men how 1t might be the seed plot
Of many virtues, the pillow OF stone
from which might be seen the vision
OF heaven and angels and God. He
wrestled like Jacob with life's prob
TENS. He fought mighty battles on the
battlefield of the heart. He meditated
on his nation, their hopes and their
needs, till his heart burned withip
him.
II. The Work Of John the Forerun-
ner II Christ.-vs. Is. Verse is the
title OF the Gospel according to Mark.
His Gospel begins with. the prepare
ton by John the Baptist for the work
of Christ.
1. John Came in Fulflment OF
Messlanic Prophecy. 2. 1T is written
in the prophets" The quotation in V.
2 is from Malachi GID, and that in
v. Is from Isaiah (40:3). Part of the
prophecy concerning the coming Mes
siah was that he should be pre-
coded by one who should go be-
fore him like the officers be.
fore coming king. and who should
be the Elijah of the new era (Mal.
4:5).. The fulfilment of this prophecy
was essential to the proof that Jesus
was the Messiah.
John the Baptist exactly realized the
portrait, and did the very things the
forerunner was expected to do, and
thus bore witness that the promised
Messiah was at hand, as the morning
star is the forerunner of the sun.
2. John Prepared the Way by
Preaching. 8. He was "the voice of
one crying" Greek, shouting, crying
with high, strong voice" as a mani
festation of feeling, 'in the wilder
ness" The fitting place for mis- work.
4. And preach" Proclaim like a
herald with his trumpet, Prepare We
the way of the Lord"
Picture the scene when ". 81 call
the land of Judea and (alD they OF Je-
were drawn out to the desert
to hear the prophet-rich and poor.
young men and maidens, hardened sin
ners, Pharisees, soldiers, Romans,
priests. farmers, villagers. citizens,
beggars, publicans. all classes and con-
ditions of men. Thus the whole coun-
try was aroused and heard the mes
sage which prepared the way for the
King.
3. Repentance Was the Necessary
for the kingdom of Christ,
which is kingdom of righteousness.
4. Repentance for the remission
of SINS" Repentance is a change of
mind, Of heart as to sin; implying
grief over sin, as its source, and
change of life and conduct, as its re-
suit. For, rather unto" as the result
and fruit of confessed repentance, an
Indispensable prerequisite. Remission
Of sins is the removal OF the punish
ment of sin, but 1t is a great deal
more; It Is the taking away of the love
Of sin, the renovation of the sinful ma
tyre, the being received back into the
loving family OF God, and treated as
one who has not sinned.
Johns preaching of repentance was
direct and fearless. He denounced in
dividual sins. His metaphors were
very vivid. His preaching was impair
tial. He not only reproved soldiers
and publicans, but John-Knox-like he,
at the risk OF his life, reproved the
king in his palace, who by his crimes
had brought the nation to the verge of
war. This greatly enhanced his power,
for men saw the depth of his SINGER
ty.
The Call to Repentance prepared the
way because It turned the hopes of
The people into the direction in which
alone the hopes could possibly be real
zed-to such a Savior as Jesus was.
They looked for an outward king, in
splendor and prosperity But
such king could never bring the
kingdom of heaven.
A true revival is always revival OF
righteousness. While am writing
his there comes to me from England
his statement about the wonderful re-
rival that Is sweeping over Wales.
rhe formal sermon plays little part in
his revival. What teaching Is given
s comprised In four declarations: ~
All known sin must be confessed. (2)
rl - -. xx..ct ~, xxotht..s. lz..h4e..1