Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1910-01-06
The Baptism and
Temptation Of Jesus
SssAay SeLssl Lsssss fss j.. .. 1919
Specially Arranged for This Pspsr

tf's'' ''tfh w ~ ~ ~ -
cor them that are tempted. "-Heb. 2:1s.
? TIME.-The baptism was probably In
January A. D.. q: the temptation the "
days. Immediately following.
PLACE.-Jesus came to John from
Nazareth. The baptism of Bethsbsra. on
one Of the fords OF the Jordan. The
temptation In the Wilderness OF Jndea.
northwest Of Jericho. Tradition calls the
place Mount QuaraDtania.
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
I. The Training School Of His Early
Life. Jesus was both human and d.
vine, the Son OF God taking upon him.
self the nature OF man. lie could re
veal the nature and the will OF God,
because he personally knew God and
eternal life and therefore could speak
with the authority Of perfect knowi
edge. But the human nature must
grow, and be trained SO as to become
the fitting instrument OF the divine.
The Schools and Schoolmasters OF
the Young Jesus. I. The grace ri
God was upon him.
2. lie was brought vp In the at
mosphere Of n deeply religious home.
3. He was q student Of the Bible.
and n member OF a Sabbath school.
4 lie was an attendant at the synn
gOgue, the counterpart Of our church.
II. The Baptism OF Jesus; His Pub.
lie Announcement of Ills Position on
the Side of Religion and Righteous.
ness.-Matt. 3:l3.17. Cometh Jesus
from Galilee, from his Nazareth home.
to Jordan, probably at the ford near
Jericho over which passed the great
route of travel from the north and
east to Jerusalem. To be baptised OF
(by) him, who was introducing the
kingdom of God. The announcement
and the one announced came to-
gothcr.
n. but John forbad." was In the
act OF preventing him, was protesting.
II have need" etc. ! am the sinful
one, not you; as In V. II. ut was his
Wilderness against their ~blackness
which moved the Baptist to his indlg'
nant refusal."-John Watson's Life OF
the Master.
Is. Suffer II" (pcrmit ~ =.
for thus 1t becomcth u.s." both OF us,
or n general statement true Of all
men, to fulfill all righteousness, to do
wat Is right. what ought to be done.
Why was Jesus baptzsed? !. 1t was
his public announcement OF his posi-
ton; that he stood on the side OF re.
ligion and righteousness.
2. 1t was an identifying Of himself
with humanity, sharing their lot. SUI.
ferlng with men the effects Of sin.
going down into the slums Of human
ity, an undefled brother. tempted
like rs we arc. yet without SIN"
touched with the feeling of our In
N mitics,' and thus "able to succor
them that are tempted"
3. He was baptized as an example
for all his followers.
Ills Amounting az Priest and King.
10. Went up straightway out OF the
water" and up the bank OF the river.
lie was praying AZ he went (Luke
3:21). "The heavens were opened"
symbo'izing the fuller vision OF Jesus
into the eternal realities. Heaven
and all It's powers and blessings were
with him. He saw the Spirit of God
descending. bcstowIng upon him the
power and presence of the Holy Spirit
who was to convince men OF sin,
and of righteousness and Of judg'
mcnt."
TIT. Ills Victory In the Battle with
Temptation. The Great Crisis Of His
Life-Matt 4:1.1l.
First. The Bat'oheld.-V, |. Jesus
led up of the spirit" He went out to
meet his great enemy; II was part OF
the divine plan. The test was eces
sary before he could enter upon his
great work. His life questions must
be settled once for all. Into the
Wilderness" the lonely mountainous
regions northeast OF Jerusalem. The
real battle was fought on the battle.
field Of the soul, where are fought the
greatest battles In all time.
The enemy was Satan, the adver.
sarv, a real being.
"IIow could n holy being be tempt.
ed?" Only by the good that was In
him, by natural appetite AZ hunger,
by the desire to do good. to escape
pain. &c satisfy right desires.
Second. The Long Campaign.-V.
2. 2. And when he had tasted forty
days" The real spirit OF fasting lies
IN being so intensely absorbed that
m does not feel the sensation Of
hunger. Jesus was so intent on set.
thing the great questions that con-
fronted him--whether he vas the Son
OF God. In what way he should accom-
plish his mission, in prayer for guild
ance. in seeking light, In deciding on
duty-that he was unconscious OF