Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1908-02-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson W.-First Quarter, For
Feb. 8, 1908.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, John ", lac.
Memory Verses, %, 24-Golden Text,
John vii, 37--cemmentsry Prey Jared
by Rev. D. M. Stsarns.

by Kew. y. NJ. 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 AZ 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 testimony to Him, and the Spirit
by whom we witness will care for His
own word and make 1t to accomplish
the purpose of God. We must 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
fiji ali that Is written of Him and in
due time bring the kingdom Oil, 1886.
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 60 for every step and a need
be" for every event (verse 4; Pet.
|, 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
we'll take us back to Gen. XII, 6: xxxiii.
1920; Josh. xiv, 80. 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. %. 40
seph is q fruitful bough by a well
whose branches run over the wall"
AS Jesus sits by Jacobs well 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 fulfllment to
be seen in the future, and also of that
other saying Of Jacobs. From thence
is the Shepherd, the Stone Of Israel"
According to Johns way Of reckon
ing time, the hour when Jesus sat thus
on the well would be our G in the
the same as in chapter xix,
IA, for 1t was not unusual for Him to
rise a great while before day. His
true humanity is seen in His being
wearied and thirsty and hungry in his
longing for fellowship of those whom
He had chosen and in many other
ways. He was in all points tempted
ike as we are. yet without sin. While
the disciples went to the city to buy
meat He was left alone, and then
cometh this woman. never dreaming
that this was to be to her the day OF
Ill days In her history. the day when
she would meet her Creator and Re-
leemer and receive Him as her own.
but He who notes a sparrow's fall had
'oreseen it all In last weeks lesson
We saw His divine wisdom in dealing
With a moral. upright. religious man,
md now we see the same wisdom In
lealing with this sinful woman. for
his man recelveth sinners.
He began by asking of her favor,
Ind each of His seven sayings has In
t q fullness like the fullneSs Of God.
or ain Him dwelleth all the fullness
II the Godhead bodily" (Col. II. 81. and
;ome of that fullness Is manifest in
very word Of His. Water Is topic
which leads us from the river in Eden
o the river of Rev. xii. and even in
he restoration story Of Gen. |, we find
IN the second day waters above and
waters below. as we do also In Jer.
/. l3. But here we have most fully
he water of earth and the heavenly
living water. which when received
becomes i'm the true believer well OF
water filing him and refreshing
thers. The remarks Of the woman in
eply to the Saviour's sayings are
bout rs foolish as were the words Of
licodemuS. for she. too. is only q nat
ral person. seeing things with natural
yes After He Interested her In this |
vater. of which she had never before |
card. lie then began to show her her |
elf. or. as s. D. Gordon says In his
Sychar Revival" to show her the un-
erside of the plank where were all
1anner Of Shiny. creeping things. She
egan to Ike uneasy under such search I
lg and would fain turn the conversa-
lon, but He held her until He said to
er. 81 am the Messiah" oversees %. 26D.
hen. having seen Hin and heard Him,
he went to tell others "Come. see
ian, the Christ" Thus she be-
eyed. and many others because Of her
estimony, and many more because Of
lis own words to them. for because
I their entreaties He abode with them
wo days Andrew brought Simon,
hilip brought Nathaniel. this woman
rought others. but what of those who
ever seem to-bring any or even care
}? BY the Spirit the ambition of
aul was "by all means to save some"
not seeking his own profit, but the
roflt OF many. that they might be
aved" q Cor. TX. %; K, 33).
The disciples were surprised that the
aviour seemed no longer to be either
ungry or thirsty. and His reply must
ave perp:exed them: 81 have meat to
ut that We know not Of. 80 My meat
to do the will Of Him that sent
lie. and to finish His work" oversees
2. 34). He is still saying to us verses
B. &c. but have we ears to hear, or
re they dull Of hearing? Are
re covetlDg the fruit unto life eternal
rult unto holiness. fruit unto the glory
God, fruit that may abound to on:
ccount (verse SO. Rom. vi. %; VII, d;
hill. I. II: iv. III. or. although saved.
re we still given to minding earthly
tn