The Carlisle independent., 1909-12-30
John, the Forerunner
 of Jesus Sunday School Lesson for Jan. 2, 1910 Specially Arranged for This Paper

LESSON TEXT.-Matt. 3:1-12. Memory verses 2, g.
 GOLDEN TExT.-"The voice of one | crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight" Matt 33
 TIME.-John began to preach in the summer of A. D. 26. He preached six months alone. then a year and three months coincident with Christ till March, A. D. 2S
 PLACE.-The wilderness of Judea
 Suggestion and Practical Thought.
 1. The Personal Preparation of the Herald.-vs. 1, f. When was John the Baptist born? In the summer of B. c. 5.
 In what place? In the hill country of Judah. probably in one of the priest ly cities.
 Who were his parents? Zacharias, a priest, and his wife Elizabeth.
 What was his relation to Jesus? He was a relative, perhaps a second cousin, Mary and Elizabeth being rela- tives, translated cousins" in the A. V. of Luke 1:36
 Where did he spend his youth and early manhood? In the wilderness or
  munion with God, with nature, and with the Scriptures, living under the power of the Holy Spirit. While he meditated the fire burned.
 Why is he called the Baptist? Be- cause he baptized those who repented, and did not merely bring them to re- pentance
 hot h oho J1 filled with the Spirit from his child hood. He obeyed the Spirit. He was hero. a martyr, brave. He spoke the truth at all costs. He deserved a place in the Hall of Fame" for he- roes of the faith.
 Why did John live in this manner? 1. Because it was the perfectly nat live in the wilderness.
 II. John Prepared the Way by His Message.-Vs. 1-3. Game John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness" the wild lands and pasture lands of Judea. The people lived almost en- tirely in towns. Preaching" here is not our modern preaching Tt means
 
 and implies that the uplifted voice and the brief, urgent message of one who runs before the chariot and shouts; The king, the king'' His preaching is like a succession of light ming flashes"
 His message is summed up in two sentences, two blasts of the trumpet; the call to repentance and the rous- ing proclamation that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. "-Maclaren, in Propositions of Scripture. Matthew
 2. Saying, Repent ye" (Metanoe- ite). The Greek word is compound ed of proposition with two mean ings, after and with, and very mean ing to perceive, and to think as the result of perceiving. Hence the mean ing to think after a deed is done, and to think with, in comparison with what ought to have been done, or might have been done, and so to think differently after. It is a change of mind resulting in change of conduct The emphasis Is on the change of mind and heart, rather than on the sorrow which is the impulse that leads to the change of conduct
 A New Motive for Repentance For the kingdom of heaven ia at hand" The new era is about to be- gin, with it's new leader, Jesus, new powers through the Holy Spirit, new motives, new truths, new hopes, new joys; with deliverance from sin, and disease, and bondage. (For the def1- hilton of "the kingdom of heaven" see Lesson III.)
 H. John Prepared the Way by Con- firming the Decisions to Repent-Vs. 5, 6. 5. Then went out to him" the inhabitants of Jerusalem" practi- cally the whole city, and all Judea." They did not all go out at once, but kept going and coming. He did not go to them, but they came to him, not only the common people, but also the soldiers, Pharisees, Sadducees, and leaders of the nation.
 What attracted such crowds? Plain- ly there was something there which they needed, and which they realized that they needed They went as the hungry go for food ,and the chilly for fire, and the poor for plenty, as the doves gather in St. Marks square in Venice, at the hour when grain is scattered. Here we find lesson for preachers and teachers.
 ". Preparation by the Presentation of Motives for Entering the New Life.-Vs. TIP. First Motive Con- sciousness of Sin. T. When he saw many of the Pharisees and Saddu- cees." The two leading religious sects of the Jews, including the prin- cipal men of the nation. Come to his baptism" Drawn by the all-per- vading interest, possibly with some consciousness of sin and need, by the desire to watch what was going on so that they might hinder the work if need be, or if a new kingdom was com ing. that they might have chief place in it. They would be baptized (Luke), if by so easy form they could be partakers in the kingdom
 Golden Sand.-"Lashed into rage by