The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1910-01-06
The Baptism and
Temptation of Jesus
Sunday School Lesson for Jan. 9, 1910
Specially Arranged for This Paper

AfOlaA'iaAN 1 iaaN - III AlldA AAf NoAis
suffered. being tempted he is able TO sue
cor them that are tempted. Heb. 2.iS.
TIME.-The baptism was probably in
January. A. ID. "a the temptation the ~
days Immediately following.
PLACE.-Jesus came 10 John from
Nazareth. The baptism OF Bethabara, on
one OF the fords OF the Jordan. The
temptation in tho Wilderness OF Judea,
northwest of Jericho. Tradition calls the
place Mount Quarantania.
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
|. 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. He 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 knowl'
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. l. The grace OF
God was upon him.
2. He was brought up in the at
mosphere OF a deeply religious home.
3. He was a student OF the Bible,
and a member OF a Sabbath school.
4. He was an attendant at the syna
gogue. the counterpart OF our church.
II. The Baptism OF Jesus; His Pub
lie Announcement OF His Position on
the Side of Religion and Righteous
ness.-Matt. 3:13-17. Cometh Jesus
from Galilee, from his Nazareth home.
20 TAN1an -
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-
gether.
IA. 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. 1T was his
Wilderness against their. blackness
which moved the Baptist 10 his indig
nant refusal. John watson's Life OF
the Master.
Is. Suffer II" (permit ~ 9.
"for thus it becometh u.s." both OF us.
or a general statement true OF ell
men. TO fulfill all righteousness. to do
what is right, what ought to be done.
Why was Jesus baptzsed? 1. Il was
his public announcement OF his posi-
ton; that he stood on the side Of re-
ligion and righteousness.
2. II was an identifying of himself
with humanity. sharing their lot, suf-
fering with men the effects OF sin.
going down into the slums OF human
fly. an undefiled brother. tempted
like as we are. yet without sin"
touched with the feeling OF our in
frmities." and thus able to succor
them that are tempted"
3. He was baptized as an example
for all his followers.
His Amounting as Priest and King
is. Went up straightway out OF the
water" and up the bank OF the river
He was praying as he went duke
3:2D. THE heavens were opened"
symbolizing the fuller vision OF Jesus
into the eternal realities. Heaven
and all its powers and blessings we're
with him. He saw the Spirit Of God
descending. bestowing upon him the
power and presence OF the Holy Spirit
who was TO convince men OF sin,
and OF righteousness and of judg.
ment"
III. His Victory In the Battle with
Temptation. The Great Crisis OF His
Life-Matt. 4:1-11.
First. The Battlefield-V. 1. Jesus
led up Of the spirit" He went out to
meet his great enemy; IL was part OF
the divine plan. The test was neces-
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-
sary. real being
How could holy being be tempt
ed?" Only by the good that was in
him, by natural appetite as hunger.
by the desire TO do good. to escape
pain. to 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
one does not feel the sensation OF
hunger. Jesus was so intent on set
Ting the great questions that con.
'ronted him-whether he was the Son
Df God, in what way he should accom-.
plish his mission. in prayer for guild.
ance, in seeking light. in deciding on
iuty-that he was unconscious OF
hunger; and in his lonely place there
was no food to be obtained.
Both Mark and Luke say he was
tempted all these 40 days. probably
N the same general way as the last
three great assaults now to be de- |
'cribed. which sum up the conflict.
Third. Three Great Battles and
Victories.-Vs. 2-10 Note that these |
all came in reference TO |
he means OF establishing the king |
lom of God.
Prof. Jowett OF Manchester, Eng. |
and, well says in late sermon: |
Whatever else my Lord shall be to |
ne he shall not be a counterfeit man.
,Xposed TO counterfait fire a mara