The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1910-04-12
The
Sl1n day school
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
MENTS FOR APRIL II.
Subject: The Question of John the
Baptist, Matt. 11:1-10-Com-
NIT Verses 4, 5.

Of Me, that the Father hath sent Me-
John $3.50, R. v.
TIME.--M A.. D. %.
PLACE.--Capernaum.
EXPOSITION.-I. Johns Doubt
Concerning Jesus, 1-6. John was in
prison in Macherus, but the news of
Jesus mighty deeds penetrates even
to his dungeon. Johns disciples have
access to him in his Imprisonment,
and they tell him the strange reports
that fill the air (Luke 7:18). John
had had divine revelation that Jesus
was the baptizer with the Holy Spirit
ane a clear, positive faith in Him as
the Lamb of God, and Son of God
(John 1888, 20, 34). But John was
not perfect, he was human; and when
his active spirit was shut up in prison
doubts began to come, as they are so
likely to come to the man of intense
activity when he is Obliged to sit still
and wait (cf. Kings 1873, ~. Many
ind difficulty in reconciling Johns
present questioning with his former
clear faith; but those who know men,
even the mightiest men of God, and
especially those who know their own
hearts, with their moments of clear
vision and unquestioning faith, and
other moments of conflict and uncer-
taintg, will find this story most nat
ural. Indeed it would never have
been fabricated in this way, but it
bears the evidence of its genuineness
on its face. John, in his doubt, did
the wisest thing any man can do in
his doubt: he went right to Jesus
Himself with it. He was not clear for
II. Two 1altv &1a&
Coming One" but he was clear that
Jesus testimony about Himself
should be accepted. Such doubter
will not remain doubter. If those
who to-day doubt that Jesus is the
only go right to Him and ask Him,
He would soon tell them. Johns
question was right to the point, "Art
Thou the Coming One?" (the one
whom all the prophets from Moses to
Malachi foretold was to come as the
fu1fller of Gods promises to and glo-
rious plans for His people, or look
we for another? The thought very
likely had come to John, IF He is
the Coming One, why does He delay
to manifest Himself as King and to
dethrone Herod and set me free?" At
rived Jesus was giving ocular demon
stration that He was 'tthe Coming.
One by curing diseases and plaques,
opening the eyes of the blind, and
casting out evil spirits (cf. Luke 81,
21). For an answer to John, He
simply points Johns two messengers
to what they see going on before their
very eyes and the glad testimonies
that they hear. go tell John the
things which we do hear and see. =
Then follows catalogue of divine
works accomplished before their eyes
or testified to in their astonished
ears. These were the very things
predicted of the Messiah (Is. 1855, s;
1875, Z; 61:1-3). Jesus constantly
appealed to His miracles as proof
that He was Messiah and the Son OF
God John $3.50: 14:11; 1920. In
the present instance the things Johns
disciples heard reached even to the
raising of the dead, for the son of
the widow of Main had been recently
raised (cf. Luke 7:11-21) and quite
likely was among those about Jesus
on this day. Jesus added a gentle
word of reproof and warning for
John, Blessed is he whosoever shalp
find none occasion OF stumbling in
Me-" This was a reference to Old
Testament prediction concerning the
Messiah (Is. 8:14, 15).
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