Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-16
The Question of John
the Baptist
SuH1sy SeAool Lesson for April II. 1910
Specially Arranged for This Paper

GOLsDhN 4 EsAA-- But the witness
which have is greater than that OF
John; FOR the works which the Father
hath given me 90 accomplish. the very
works that 90. bear witness OF me.
that the Father hath sent me"-John
TIME--Perhaps iu the summer OF A.
d. p. before our last lesson
PLACE.-Jesus was somewhere in Gal
lee According 20 Luke ne had frst
raised the son OF the widow AT Main.
John the Baptist was In prison at Castle
Machaerus. on the east OF the Dead sea
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
Chrlsts Answer 20 Honest Doubt
Who was this doubter. this John the
Baptist? He was the last man in the
world one might have expected 70 en-
terrain doubts regarding Jesus. he
was his cousin according to the flesh.
born only a short time before our
Lord. He was brought I'D as a Naz.
arite like Samson and Samuel. and
his pure and simple life gave him fine
insight into spiritual matters.
II The Doubt-vs. i-3. Under
what circumstances did John BEGIN 20
doubt the Messiahship Of JesusT He
had been cast into prison as a pun.
ishment FOR his bold condemnation OF
the sin OF Herod Antipas. Herod had
sent away his own wife and had per
suaded his brothers wife 20 become
bis.
What was the sensible course that
John took TO rid himself OF doubt? He
sent directly 20 Jesus by two Of his
disciples" who had remained faithful
20 him In all his trials. The message
was. Art thou he that should come. {"
a common and well-understood de.
scriDtion OF the Messiah.-"or do we
look for another"
Illustration. a weaver who had
an elaborate piece OF tapestry hung IL.
stretched upon the tenter hooks. in hiss
yard. That night IL was stolen. A
piece OF tapestry was found by the
ofhcers which seemed 60 answer the
description. but as the pattern was not
unlike that OF other fabrics. there
must be definite proof u was brought
20 the weaver's yard and there the
perforations in the fabric were found
70 correspond precisely 10 the tenter.
hooks. This was denomination. Tn
like manner n We place the life and
character OF Jesus over against an the
prophecies Of Messiah in Scripture. in
the sacred books OF the false reIig.
ions, and IN the universal longings OF
the race. We shall find that there Is
a perfect correspondence point by
point"-David James Farrell. d. ID.
IL ID.
Christ's Answer 90 the Doubt-Vs.
IS. Luke tells us luke 7:2D that
when Johns message was delivered
Christ proceeded at once TO work
many miracles OF healing. including
the cure Of demoniacs and OF the
blind. Not until he had done this did
he give the messengers his reply.
Christ gave two credentials OF his
messiahship; what was the first? His
miracles. the undoubted fact that "the
blind receive their sight. and the
lame walk. the lcpers are cleansed
and the deaf hear. the dead are raised
up"
With what significant exhortation
did Jesus close his message TO John?
Blessed is ne whosOever shall not be
offended in me"
Christs Estimate Of the Honest
Doubter.-Vs 7-I5 Why did our Lord
as soon as Johns messengers depart
ed. tell the crowd what he thought OF
John? Because they might think that
Johns question implied a weakness
IN him at which Christ would be Of
Tended. As John had exalted Jesus.
SO Jesus would exalt John.
Doubters.-Vs 1919. John was ready
20 receive Jesus. as soon as his mind
could be convinced: that Is, he was az
honest doubter Christ now turns Sc
verely upon a set of men, the Phari
sees and lawyers duke 7:3O), who
showed plainly that they were dis
honest dOubters. being unwilling To
receive the truth 10 matter how much
evidence was given them
To what does he compare them? To
children playing in the market-places
at marriages and funerals. trining
with the greatest things Of life. Some
are pretending TO play the flute, like
the hired musicians that headed the
wedding professions followed by other
children will not join in the piping or
the wailing at the right times TO
please them. These last, of course.
are Jesus and John.
To what comforting conclusion did
Christ Gomez That wisdom-the
Truth Of which he was an incarnation
lis justified. approved, accepted, by
her children. even though all the chill
dren OF the evil one reject her. Their
hearts are in unison with the gospel
harp; when Christs minister strikes
its golden strings their feelings vi
brate 10 every touch; they can accom-
pany him through it's whole compass
Of sound. from the low notes OF pious
grief and penitenial sorrow up TO the
high thrilling tones Of enraptured graf.
itude. love. and praise Edward Pay.
son