, 1908-01-30

Day But Many Men of Learning
of Wealth Came Under His
Ranner-GoIden Text for Day.
The International Sunday school les.
son for Sunday, February 2, the first
Sunday in February and the fifth in the
present quarter, is on the subject,
Jesus the Savior of the World" John
iii. 1-21. The Golden text is as fol.
lows:
God SO loved the world that he
gave his only begotten Son that whose,
ever believeth in him should not per.
ish, but have everlasting life."-John
iii, 16.
An Honest Inquirer.
Not all of the followers of Christ
were unlearned and ignorant men,
though the humble and the lowly have
been most ready to accept the gospel.
Nicodemus was a man of the Phari-
sees, highly educated. He occupied d
seat in the Jewish s%anhedrin or coun-
Gil of seventy, a kind of ecclesiastical
court, having superior authority.
May Have Been Business Man.
Some have been inclined to discount
the character of Nicodemus because
he came to Jesus at night. But let us
not be too hasty in passing severe
Judgment upon him. Who knows but
what he was engaged in public duties
during the day and that this was not
his first opportunity to meet Jesus?
This may have been the very best
time; at least Jesus honored his com
ing. That he came at all is certainly
g. credit to him and a blessing to us.
If he was timid at this time he over
came that timidity later, for while 9th
ers forsook their cruciied and dying
Lord, he showed his fidelity by taking
the body from the cross and laying it
in the tomb.
Prophet from God.
Even at this time he was in advance
of most men of his class. Though 9th
er Pharisees may regard Jesus as ali
imposter or n possessed of an evil
spirit, he m with a frank acknowl-
edgement that this is truly a prophet
from God, but he was not ready to ac-
cept him as he NASSAU. He was a
sincere inquirer after the truth and
especially as this new teacher spoke
and acted with such authority, he
would know his doctrine.
Jesus answers his inquiry by telling
him that what the world needs is not
new doctrine so much as new life. It
was the hope of the Jews that when
the Messiah came he would deliver
them from the oppressor and restore
their kingdom. But Jesus came to es-
tablish d kingdom of righteousness, a
kingdom over the hearts of men. To
have part in this kingdom it was nee
essary that a man be born from above.
Us Suliupl ~ WO.lulg halulC, thV
heart which sis deceitful above all
things and desperately wicked" and be
renewed. The ceremonial washing
cannot purify the thoughts and affec.
tons and purposes of the heart, there
must be a radical change.
A Pe~rplexing Matter.
The question of how this is to be ac-
complished p%erplexed this master
in Israeli and many people are still
asking that anne question, How can
these things be?" Jesus said, 'Nico,
demus, do you hear the wind? Do you
understand where it comes from? or
can you tell me where it is going?"
Here vas an earthly mystery, an I'M
solved problem. That there was wind
he was certain. That it had power he
could see in the tempest. We do not
reject the fact of earthly things which
We do not understand. No n has yet
solved the mystery of the generation
of a new being into the world. But
this does not discredit the fact of our
natural birth. Neither are we to re-
Ject the new life because we cannot
understand the how of it."
Serpent as a Symbol.
Jesus refers to the serpent unto
which the children of Israel looked as
n symbol of his W saving power. Sal.
walton was made possible only by the
atonement Of the cross. He suffered
for US. This is the revelation and
pledge of Gods love. If we accept this
wonderful gift we shall abide in his
love. Those who reject the offer of
mercy and grace must stand con
demned.
The test of faith is light. Are we
ashamed to have our innermost
thoughts, affections n purposes re-
vealed? If so, we may be sure that We
are condemned, but il we do mo-.