Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-04-15

Golden Text; But the witness which 1
have is greater than that Of John; for
the works Of which the Father hath given
Me to accomplish, the very works that 1
do bear witness of Me, that the Father
hath sent Me. John, 5:S6.
| After Jesus had finished commanding
His u disciples of which we studied last
week, He Himself went before them into
all the cities of Galilee making another
tour, teaching and preaching, and heal
ing. When He had reached Capernaum
again, He received a deputation from
John the Baptist. On account Of His
holiness in preaching against the fin Of
Herod and his unlawful wife, John had
been cast into the dungeon at Machaerus.
and had lain there for some time, his
/ disciples, however, having access to him.
Herod hoped that some time he would
retract his statement in order that he
might release him, for he had great re-
spect for John, in spite OF the latter's de-
nunciation of him.
After a time, the spirit of this man,
who had been accustomed to the free
dom of the wilderness all of his life,
began to be FESTIVE under his prolonged
confinement. Satan took advantage of
own ministry and over the personality
of One whose coming ne had proclaim
ed. Surely, he thought, if Jesus of Naz-
areth was the Messiah of whom all the
prophets had spoken He would take the
kingdom and unseat Herod, and deliver
him. He had prophesied that Jesus
would come with fan In His hand and
thoroughly purge His threshing floor;
but he had heard Of nothing of this kind
being done during the nearly two years
of his public life. So he decided that
the best course to pursue was to send to
Jesus and ask Him if He was coming
soon, or should he look for another.
We are not to condemn John for these
doubts that he had which were very
real because John was very human. II
we know our own hearts and are honest,
we will admit that on some days the at
mosphere is clearer than on others
Some days we are very sure we are
doing Gods will, and on others we grope
about in the darkness, trusting, but not
assured This Is characteristic of all OF
Gods saints, and John was one of them
with a special work to do. He, however,
did the very best thing: He came to Jesus
with his doubts and fears for Him to set
tie them. When darkness comes into
your life follow Johns example-bring
your doubts to Him.
JOHNS QUESTION ANSWERED
The trouble with John was that he
had q wrong conception Of what the
Messiah was to do at that time. All
that he had said of him was true. He
was the Lamb of God who taketh away
the sin of the world; He did come to
baptize with the Holy Ghost and with
fire; His work was to thoroughly purge
the threshing floor, and TO scatter the
chaff while He gathered the wheat into
the garner; He is indeed the King of
Kings and the Lord of Lords. But at
this time it was part of Gods plan that
He should by His tenderness and obedl-
ence. by His helpfulness and sympathy,
by His love and sacrifice to set things
right; to win the crown by way of the
cross. We understand these things but
John did not. His ignorance was the
cause of his doubt.
Johns disciples found Jesus in the
midst of a great multitude of people
and sick folks. There were ethronged
about Him sinners, the lame, the halt
and the blind, and those sick with divers
diseases. 1t is very probable that even
the son of the widow of Main was there
whom He had but a few days before
raised from the, dead. He was found
by the disciples healing the sick, and
comforting the MISUNDERSTANDING a
word of cheer here, and bringing sunshine
into the life of some sufferer by his
winsome smile there; explaining to this
one the things OF the kingdom, and max