The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1910-01-08
Sabbath School
NOTES BY R. S. HOLMES.

Lesson IL. January " l9io.
THE BAPTISM AND TEMPTA-l
TION OF JESUS.
Matt. 8: 1917; Matt a: I-I4.)
Golden Text: I'm that he himself
hath suffered being tempted, he is able
TO succor them that are tempted.
Heb 2: IS.
The baptism of Jesus was his accept
ance OF the proclamation that the King
dom of Heaven was at hand. 1t did
not subject himself to it because he
needed to repent, but as symbol OF
a righteous purpose to place himself III
the company OF the righteous. When
John demurred. Il have need to be
baptized of thee" Jesus answered,
Suffer it. for thus it becometh us to
fulfill all righteousness" 1t was say
ing, Il will be known from the outset
as one OF those with whom righteous
ness is the highest end and aim"
The temptation OF Jesus ragged
around the proposition that he was
'the Son OF ~od."
He understood that proposition. 1t
was not that he was the Son OF Cod
as every man is son, since all are
taught to call God, Father. 1t was the
definite proposition that he was The
Son of God" The world in part denies
it. The new cults of the day deny it.
We of the old-fashioned sort believe it
with all our hearts. Satan has been
CRYING from the hour OF the baptism
until now. III thou be the Son OF God
prove it by some sign" and the only
answer the Christ gives is larger SER
vice to humanity.
THE LESSON.
Chap. 3, VS.. -. The visit to Jordan
was to be baptised. 1t was for nothing
else. Curiosity did not move him
Doubt as to his own Messiahism did
not disturb him. His mother and he
had many times talked over those por-
tents in connection with his birth. She
knew, so did he, that he was the Christ
Let no one deceive you here.
vs.. IA. John forbade him Johr
could not comprehend that the sinles'
man needed to take upon himself thu
symbol OF repentance. He was not o
the class to which John had beer
preaching. There was no axe at thu
root of the tree John at once recog
nized the superiority OF Jesus.
vs. IA. Suffer now" Jesus say
that he must from the first identity him
self with his nation. He did not b.
the act confess to sin, nor did he CT
thereby, II repent" He himself ex
planned his act. 81 am fulfilling a
righteousness The Kingdom OF Hea
ven is at hand. SO you preach The
who are baptized say thereby they be
'rI,.,t &c ,,,hnt | n,
about to say. | seal my faith in you
declaration by receiving this baptisi
myself.
vs.. TO- Then came the first woi
deriu experience. Notice. The he;
-~Nens were opened unto him | may |
wrong, but | do not think the peop
saw the descending Spirit OF God. Pc
haps they did. The interesting thing
"he saw" Heavens opened unto hir
and he saw What matters wheth'
others saw or not. 1t was the divr
assurance OF satisfaction with h
righteousness. He knew OF a certain
that his mission had begun.
VS.. u. How many heard the voit
matters not. One, the one for who
it was designed, heard it. 1t produce
a tremendous impression on him VIII
Their he ever doubted before. or not,
do not know. ! am sure that in II
nature OF things he and his mother Ia
q, often talked about this very fact TIL
= he was Gods beloved Son.
Now he heard the voice declare
The message first attcStcd him. "Ih
is my Son The message next d
clared his Fathers love for him, ar
last ii said with him the Father is
entire accord.
Chap 4, VS. I. Now comes the .o2, .ns.
side oi the story. Is ,,ad IL n'si,e l,,.'
the most F1s ras1as RI, ,Sa 20, tn
III did net. did kno', ''"' S'iiiii'
fi,e pad st:i ca the preacher, ant
HAT unused thing was in connection
with he Nazarcne peasant All eye
were fixed, and the carpenters son
amazed at the sudden ordination to hi
Kingdom, fled from the sight OF men
The unique record says that he wa
lied up of the Spirit to be tempted"
Go to the Lords Prayer and see how
this experience is imbedded in it. Lea,
us not into temptation" His memor,
was good. Il was led into it, pra,
God not to lead you"
VS.. 2. This is the record OF the lon,