Evening star., 1908-01-25

MISSING LINk.-Between last les
son and this there is only brief time in
the gospel narrative. This is covered. as
far as il is covered at all. by the apostle
John. The other evangelists have nothing
to say concerning this interval. and Johns
account is very brief. Having called His
first five disciples. Jesus proceeded to
Cana of Galilee. where He turned water
into wine at wedding feast After per-
forming this miracle and awakening the
surprise and admiration of those who be-
held this first display of divine power He
went down to the city of Capernaum.
How long He remained In that metropolis
OF Galilee and what He did Is wholly un-
known The historian drew the veil over
that period. which may have lasted for
several days. and left 1t all in obscurity.
1t was from that city that Jesus started
out on His journey southwark to Jerusa-
lem, as related in todays lesson.
PASSOVER VISITED Verse 49,
BY divine command feast was establish
ed in the time of Moses to commemorate
the deliverance of Israel when God de-
Stroyed ire first born of Egypt. With
great regularity and exactness generation
after generation observed the occasion
through all the fifteen centuries fol owing
EXODUS. xii14-15). The memorial had
mind the wonderful mercy of God: among
others 1t tended to united the people and
promote piety. After the settlement in
Canaan. and especially after the elevation
OF David to the throne. the males of the
population repaired to Jerusalem and ex-
changed neighborly greetings in connec-
ton with their religious rites Following
the custom of the time Jesus entered into
one or the caravans and journeyed like
other men to the holy city. He was
nrOmnfad n hty lie.
form TO the national usage and by the
opportunity afforded for His ministry.
TEMPLE POLLUTED verse 10
DR.. Dods of Edinburgh remarks: The
exigencies of temple worship had bred
fiagrant abuse. Those coming from re-
mote parts of the land and from coun-
tries beyond found it convenient to pur-
chase on the spot the animals used in
sacrifice. and the materials for various
offerings-salt, meal. oil. frankincense.
Traders were quick to supply this de-
mand, and vying with one another they
crept nearer and nearer to the sacred
precincts. until some. under pretense per-
haps Of driving in an animal for sacrific,
made sale within the outer court This
court had an area of about fifteen acres
round which ran marble colonnades af-
ford!ng ample shade for the traders" :"
Into these chambers also crowded money
changers who aided In the purchase and
n the preparation for the annual temple
tax. This was the condition which our
Lord found as He approached on that
occasion.
TEMPLE PURIFIED Verse 1O.-
The sounds and movements of the market,
the loud and eager exclamations of COM
peting traders. the hustle of selecting an
animal out of flock. the laughter of idle
onlookers-all this presented an incon-
hot ~.
Ing to every pious beholder. The very
purpose of the passover season. that of
religious worship. was defeated. With
zeal for His Fathers house Jesus at once
became its defender and vindicator.
Armed with scourge of small cords
which he quickly improvised he proceed
ed single handed and alone to expel the
traders and the cattle together. That
none resisted. that all fed before him
illustrates the cowardice of those who are
conscious of wrong and the courage of
those who are In the right prov. xxviiD.
While no other was bold enough to re-
buke the PROCLAMATION all doubtless ap-
proved the act Of the Lord.
COMMAND GIVEN VERSES 16-lD.-
There was another feature OF this in
cident that gave it peculiar interest
Jesus not only acted. using force to ac-
compllsh His purpose. but He spoke, as
signing the reason for His act. His
words had much to do in securing i'm
mediate submission on the part of the
offenders. There was first an assertion
of authority. command as from one
who had peculiar right and jurisdiction.
That command to take the offensive
things away rested on the claim that it
was MY Fathers house." and that i'm
piled the exalted character of Jesus. whom
no one dared to question. 1t also car
ried with it by implication the fact of
sanctity and of sacrilege, and this was
an appeal to the Jewish mind and con-
science. for they had great reverence for
the temple. These words also suggested
the messianic claim of Jesus to the dis
ciples who recalled an old prophecy.
SIGN REQUIRED (Verse 1S).-An