Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-09
Sunday School Lesson for Nav 10 Discussed
BY Rev. J. E. Gilbert, D. D., Secretary
American Society of Religious Education.
THE MISSION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT John. ", AS.

INTRODUCTION.-It was left for
John' the beloved. to give the only record
OF tnat tender scene in the upper room at
Jerusalem that preceded the crucfixion
why the other evangelists had nothing to
say concerning it, although they were
witnesses. no one can conjecture. Ii is
one OF the most precious services rem
uereo 10 believers. But for these chap
ters xiv. Ky and xvi. that last dis
course that fell from the Masters lips.
so Iuil of instruction. might never have
oeen given TO the wcrld. Ii was the
l|ord parting sermon. i'm which He dealt
WITH subjects that pertaned to His cause
ana 10 His followers i'm all the after cen
turtles. Probably no part of the entire
passage has excited more interest or pro-
voked more study than the words as
signed for today's lesson. The subject
is OF surpa ssing Importance The mission
OF the Holy Spirit. who should be admins
razor or the new diSpenSation, was fun
oamenial and vital in all the realms of
christian thought and endeavor Let us
cover the ground with extreme reverence
careful to gain the force OF every word
WITHHOLDING verse 4-There is
presented hr-st of all the astonishing fact
that Jesus had Intentionally kept back
certain truths from His disciples While
moving among them He purposely linn
itet HIS instructions This He did solely
because He was with them His bodily
presence was needed for another purpose
and IT served that purpose. He came to
live among men somewhat on their plane
10 be seen Of them, to minister TO them
IN temporal or natural things. and only
incidentally to make known the things
that belonged to the higher field This
was necessary As boy enters a primary
schoel TO learn the elements of an educa-
tlon Jesus desired His followers while
they saw Him to gather from Him the
rudlmenary truths. to be well grounded
in these az preparation for what should
follow But in these closing hours, after
three years of such limit alton He briefly
aliudes to some matters. not previously
mentioned, that will be made known. and
desires them to remember that He alludes
to them.
BORROWING oversees 5. 6).-With
this Introduction He refers to the sorrow
ciples. caused by His statement of His
departure 1t was a very plain prediction
that He gave. He was going to leave
them. to leave the world; He was going
by His way. the way of the cross. that
had been appointed; He was going to the
place from which He came unto Him who
had sent Him. All this proved His fore
knowledge. 1t referred to events that
would shortly occur. TO the tragic scenes
of the execution on Calvary. He spoke
fectly calm. resigned to His fate. But He
reminded them that they had not been
curious to inquire concerning His desti-
nation. Did they know? Did they desire
that point. Instead they had all been
filed with sorrow because He would be
taken from them. This was proof of
their love. proof that His presence had
been esteemed by them a great privi-
ExPEDIEN,r, fversa p WIN sbou,d
Jesus depart out of this world? Every
human consideration would require Him
10 remain. He was young man, but
little more than thirty years of age. He
live is very strong, when the future is
filled with hope. Besides. His work was
seemingly undone. He had thus far &C.
complished but little, comparatively
speaking. He had travelled about work
ing miracles. speaking incidentally to
those whom He met. and He had deliv-
cred but one sermon. He perfected no
system and effected no organization. Why
not stay and finish His purpose? He had
gathered band of fishermen who knew
little of His nature and less of His mis-
sion. What can they do without Him?
Sorrowing. ignorant. without prestige.
when their Master is gone they will be
helpless. So might all reason. But Jesus
declared that it was expedient. or best.
for them for Him to go. For after His
departure the Holy Spirit would come
and He would not come while Jesus re-
manned. The unseen spiritual presence
would be more valuable than the physi-
cal seen presence. The material con-
ceaied the spiritual. which could not be
received while the material remained
REPROVING oversees 8-1D.-This
last statement of expediency must have
awakened surprise. Jesus therefore pro-
ceeded to set forth the mission OF the
Holy Spirit and thus make known the
superior worth of His presence This He
does under three heads. First, the work
Of the Spirit upon the world. the great
mass of mankind. composed chiefly of
those who know not God. The Holy
Spirit will reprove all these upon three
great topics - sin, Righteousness and
Judgment to come. The grounds of that
feproof will also be given. In this way
men will be made to feel their sinfulness
in it's ehormity, to recognize righteous
ness in its beauty, and to look forward
to THAT time when God shall judge the
actions of men and lay bare the secrets
of all hearts. All this would be in the
interest of religion by promoting the
spirit of repentance. No one will come to
God uyhO does NOT desire deliyoranco from,