Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-01-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson II. First Quarter, For
ian. 9, 1910.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, Matt. III, -. to w.,
1f-Memory Verses. iv. 10, 11-Gold-
en- Text, Heb. ii, 1s-Commsntary
Prepared by Few. D. NJ. stearns.

While the people were in expecta-
ton OF suspense ard men were reason
Ing In their hearts as to whether John
was the Christ or not. Jesus. being
about thirty years OF age. came to
John TO Jordan to be baptized of hun
(Luke Ill. Is. 81. The Jews had sent
priests and Levites from Jerusalem TO
John to ask him IL be WAS the Christ
or Elijah or that prophet but John
replied that he was neither the one
nor the other, but only the voice Of
one crying In the wilderness. Make
straight the way OF the Lord. as said
the prophet Isaiah" John i. 10. 81.
Then after His baptism John pointed
Him out as the Lamb OF God who
taketh away the sin OF the world and
whom men nre to follow. and men
bearing John followed Jesus. We are
not good witnesses unless those who
see and hear us follow Jesus because
Of u.s. According TO our lesson. John
at frst refused TO baptize Jesus. feel
ing his own unworthiness, but Jesus
said. Suffer il TO be so now. for thus
becometh us to fulfill all righteous
ness" verse I5. Remembering the
nrst recorded utterance of Jesus. y
must be about my Fathers business"
Duke II. 49l. how suggestive Is this
second utterance. Suffer II to be so
now" As believers in Him and
therefore His representatives here we
should always be about His business,
and in reference to al, that He np-
points us. however unnecessary and
uncalled for many things may seem to
us. we should remember His words.
"Sufer II 10 lie so now" Whatever
God appoints Is right and best. and
we manifest His high righteousness BY
cheerful submission TO ali that Is right
IN His sight Thus we shall be ap-
proved OF Him In some sense as Jesus
was. When Jesus began thus publicly
to Identify Himself with sinners. for
those whom John baptized confessed
their sins verse 81. but Jesus had no
sins to confess. the heavens were OPEN
ed and the Father testified to His de-
light In His Son. and the Spiri, came
as dove and abode upon Him. Thus
we see the Father, Son and Holy
Spirit In this great event. 1t seems tn
me that this testimony from the Father
covers all the previous life at Naz-
ereth. while the testimony at the
TRANSPORTATION xvii. 81 covers all His
public life. He could truly say of
Himself in relation TO His Father. go
do always those things that please
Him" John will. 29I. We can neve-
be satisfied with ourselves while we
stay In these mortal bodies. but we
can walk with God In fellowship II
we are always well pleased with His
Son Jesus Christ. In the seven chap
tiers in which we find the phrase
Heaven opened" (Ezek 1: Matt i'll:
John l, Acts vii and Z. Rev. ~ and XIX
we have In each vision OF Christ
he Is always the center OF alteration
by the hosts In heaven and the redeem
ed on the earth IL Jesus, who must
have been. like John. filled with the
Spirit from His birth duke 1. l5,.
needed a special 6liing or amounting for
His public ministry Is II any wonder
that so few have any public ministry
unto Him when so few seem to know
or care anything about n special anoint-
Ing of the Spirit? His desire Is for
many to stand before Him. TO serve
L
XIX. ID. but He has TO say TO the
many: II would. but We would not:
"1e will not come unto me-" The
same devil who blinded and led astray
Adam and Evo il still binding the
minds Of the lost to the light OF the
glorious gospel and the minds Of the
saved ones to the light OF the glory Of
God and His kingdom. To submit to
God means to resist the devil JAS
Nv, 1; Pet. V. 8. 81. and until we have
learned something OF his devices and
how to resist and overcome him we
are not qualified for service rs wit
nesses unto Christ. God did all He
could for the comfort and happiness
Of Adam and Eve. but the devil told
them that be would do better for them
and make them like God. The devils
lie won and has been winning the
crowd ever since by his suggestions
on the same three lines. Something
for the A,dy. something for the mind
and the power to lord II over others
Seem 10 cover the most Of his devices
good for food. pleasant to the eyes. a
tree TO be desired to make one wise
Gen. Ill. g.. Bread for the body. the
esteem Of men. the world and it's glory.
The first may include all Qualifications
OF the body. the second all that might
give US praise from men and the third
every phase of dominion over others.
Whatever you desire get it: do or be
something wonderful In the eyes Of
man: get power over men by gold or
politics or IN any way the devil may
suggest. How does our Lord reply?
Things for the body are not important