The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1908-02-07
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson W.--First Quarter, For
Feb. 8, 1903.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, John ", lag.
Memory Verses, 2a, A-GoIden Text.
John vii, s7-commentary Prepared
by Rev. o. NJ. Stearns.

Memory Verses, Is, Z4-Soioen tcSts
John vii, s7-commentary Prepared
by Rev. o. M. Stearns.
copyright. 1907. by American Press Association
Let us remember in every lesson In
this gospel just why the Spirit wrote
1t (chapter Xxx, 81 and note the desired
end in verse IL of our lesson, Now We
believe and know that this Is indeed
the Christ. the Saviour of the world"
The witnesses have only to bear faith
full testim, Z to Him. and the Spirit
by whom We witness will care for His
own word and make it to accomplish
the purpose OF God. We LlL.St know
Him as the Bridegroom, the one to
whom the Father hath given all things
and the Spirit without measure, the
Messiah Of Israel who will surely full
ill ali that Is written OF Him and in
due time bring the kingdom iii. 26-36l.
All who truly receive Him have life.
but on all others the wrath Of God
abideth.
In the daily life OF every fully sur
rendered child of God there is must
needs go" for every step and need
be" for every event (verse 1: Pet.
l. O.. that the plan Of God may be
wrought out and the individual fitted
for the service Of the kingdom.
Sychar and Shechem and Jacobs
well take us back to Gen. xii. q: xxxiii.
1920: Josh. xiv. D.. and set us think
ing of many things in the purpose OF
God. some fulfilled in the past and
some yet TO be. We have an illustra-
tive fulfillment IN our lesson Of those
words Of Jacob In Gen. Xix. y. 10
seph Is a fruitful boush by well
whose branches run over the wall"
As Jesus sits by Jacobs we'll He Is
very near to the place where Joseph's
body lay buried. and he reached over
the Samaritan wall that day to find
this woman and through her many
others. There Is larger fulfillment TO
be seen in the future, and also Of that
other saying of Jacobs. From thence
u luc ouGDuEAh. tuC CthAAE wa
According to Johns way Of reckon
ing time, the hour when Jesus sat thus
on the well would be our in the
morning. the same as in chapter XIX.
IL, for 1t was not unusual for Him to
rise a great while before day. His
true humanity is seen I'm His being
wearied and thirsty and hungry In bis
longing for fellowship OF those whom
He had chosen and in many other
ways. He was In all points tempted
like as we are yet without sin. While
the disciples went TO the city to bry
meat He Eas left alone. ar1a then
cometh this woman. never dreaming
that this was TO be to her the day Of
all days In her history. the day when
she would meet her Creator and Re-
deemer and receive Him as her own.
but He who notes a sparrow's fall had
foreseen II all. In last weeks lesson
we saw His divine wisdom In dealing
with a moral. upright. religious man,
and now We see the same wisdom In
dealing with this sinful woman. for
this man receiveth sinners.
He began by asking Of her a favor
and each Of His seven sayings has In
It a fullresS Ike the fullness Of God
for Gin Him dweileth all the fullnes:
1T the Godhead bodily" tCoI. II. o.. and
some Of that fuIIness Is manifest q
every word Of His. Water Is u topiG
which leads us from the river In Elder
q the river ~ Rev xii. and even ir
tie restoration story ~ Gen. |. we tint
TN the second day waters above ant
waters below. as We do also in Jer
Il. 10 But here we have most full!
the water % earth and tGe heavenl!
living water. which when receives
becomes IN the true believer n well .
water Filing him nad refreshint
others. The remarks " the woman II
reply to the Saviour's sayings ar
slout as foolish as were thP words .
NicOdemus. for she. too. IL only nat
oral person. seeing things With natura
eyes. After lie Interested her IN thi
water. Of which she had never befos
heard. lie then began 90 show her bet
self. or. as s. u. Gordon says In hi
"sychar Revival" 20 show her the ur
dersIde Of the plank where were al
manner Of Shiny. creeping things. Sh
began 70 be uneasy under such search
Ing and would faln turn the converse
ton. but lie held her until he said {
her. II am the Messiah (yerSes .. %
Then. having seen HIN aud heard Hin
she went 90 tell others. "Come. soc
man. $50 the Christ" Thus she b
lieyed. and mauy others because of hs
testimony. and many more because q
Ills on-n words 90 them. for berans
Of their entreaties Tie 1bDde With t'iei
two days. ABdrew brought siuIOI
Philip brought Nathaniel. this w0ma
brought others. hut what Of those WI
never seem TO ing any Or even cal
tor By tho Spirit the ambition
PauI was ely al means 90 save some
mot seeking his own profit. hut Il
profit Of many. that they might
saved" q Cor. IL. -: Z. 33I.
The disciples were surprised that u
saviour seemed no longer 70 he eth
hungry or thirsty. and Ills reply tnu
have perplexed them: u have meat
cat that ye know not of. 800 My me
IL 20 do the win 81 Him that Sc
Me. and 10 finish Ills work" (vers
81. a.. lie is stIlI saying TO Us vers