The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-04-06
The
Sunday=SchOOl
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR APRIL II.
Subject: The Question of John the
Baptist, Matt. 11:1-19-Com-
NIT Verses 4, 5.

which I have is greater than that Of
John; for the works of which the
Father hath given Me to accomplish,
the very works that I do bear witness
Of Me, that the Father bath sent Me-"
John 5:36, R. v.
TIhE.-Midsummer, A. D. rs.
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 a divine revelation that Jesus
was the baptizer with the Holy Spirit
and 4 clear, positive faith in Him as
the Lamb of God, and Son of God
John 1888, 29, 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
ard wait (cf. 1 Kings 1873, A.. Many
find difficulty in reconciling Johns
present questioning with his former
clear faith; but those who know men,
ven 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-
tainty, 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
Oh its face. John, in his doubt, did
the wisest thing any mar can do in
his doubt: he went right to Jesus
Himself with it. He was not clear for
the time being that Jesus was "the
Coming One" but he was clear that
Jesus testimony about Himself
should be accepted. Such a doubter
will not remain a doubter. If those
who to-day doubt that jesus is the
Messiah and the Son of God would
only go right to Him and ask Him,
He would soon tell them. Johns
question was right to the point, cart
Thou the Coming One?" (the n
whom all the prophets from Moses to
Malachi foretold was to come as the
fulfller of Gods promises to and glo-
rlous plans for His people) or look
we for another? The thought very
likely had come to John, 1T He is
the Coming One, why does He delay
to manifest Himself as King and to
dethrone Herod and set me free?" At
the very hour Johns messengers ar
rived Jesus was giving ocular demon
stration that He vas "the Coming
One" by curing diseases and plaques,
opening the eyes of the blind, and
casting out evil spirits (cf. Luke 8:
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 ye do hear and see."
.Phen follows a catalogue of divine
works accomplished before their eyes
or testified to in their astonished
ears. These were the very things
predicted Of the Messiah Us. 35:5, 6;
1876, z; 61:1-3). Jesus constantly
appealed to His miracles as proof
that He was Messiah. and the Son Of
God John 5:36; 14:11; 1924. In
the present instance the things Johns
disciples heard reached v 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 whosoeyer shall
find none occasion OF stumbling in
Me-" This was a reference to Old
Testament prediction concerning the
Messiah lis. STA. 15).
II. Jesus Testimony to John the
Baptist, I'll. Jesus had sent to john
a word Of cheer and a word of re-
proof, but, when the messengers were
out Of hearing, Jesus gave the multi
tudes a glowing testimony to Johns
worth and greatness. AS he had been
shaken for a moment in his faith. 1t
might seem to them chat re was a
reed shaken with the wind" but he
was not. Neither was he a man seek
ing his own glory and comfort, gor-
geously apparalled and living deli
cately (cf. Luke 7:25). He was a
prophet, that is, a man directly COM
missioned, sent and inspired of God,
authoritatively declaring Gods mind
to men (cf. Luke 1:76 and 26). But
he was more than that, he was him
self the subject of Old Testament pro-
phecy, one of whom the great pro-
phets of olden times had spoken
(Mal. 81; As, 6; Is. 40:3; CT. Luke
1:15-17, rs; John 1:2, 81. He was
chosen from the whole human RAGS to
be Gods own messenger to go before
the face of God incarnate to prepare
the way before Him. John the Zap
fist filled 4 of the lofteist Offices
ever filled by man. Amongst purely
human beings, there is none greater
than John the Baptist. And yet
Jesus, the Son of God, was so much
greater than John the Baptist, that
the latter was not worthy to wear His
shoes (ch. sill; John 1:27). Great
as John was as the forerunner of
Christ and preparing the way for the
kingdom, he was not yet in the king
dom, and the n who is "but little"
in the kingdom, but really in the
kingdom. is greater than even John.
We VINO to-day are in the kingdom,
see and hear things which prophets
desired to see and hear but did not
duke 1923, 24). Things are now
clearly revealed to us which had been
hidden from the beginning of the
world (Eph. 3:S, 9; Col. 1857; l
Pet. 1:10-12). The one who in this