The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1910-04-16
Sabbath School
NOTES BY R. S. HOLMES.
Lesson Ill. April II, 1910
THE QUESTION OF JOHN TIL
[ Matt. II: i Io.)

BAPTIST
Matt II: I-Io)
Golden Text: But | have greater
witness than that OF John; Tor the,
works the Father hath given me to
finish, the same works that ! do, bear
witness OF me, that the Father hath
sent me- John S; 80.
Did Jesus send out the Twelve that
he might have opportunity to rest!
Read Matt. II: / Tor answer. Was
there ever more tire,ess worker!
Nothing could stop him. in that lay
part OF the secret OF his power
day OF his life would put to shame the
whole lie OF many who are called
Christians
THE LESSON.
vs.. /. Immediately he set forth al
ter organizing the campaign for his
Twelve. Emphasize this. Earnest
ness in the index OF power.
VS.. ?. John the Baptist was i'll pri-
son. put there by Herod. 1t was
strong prison i'll lonely place Yet
tiidngs came to John in prison OF the
work that Jesus was dong. But 1t was
not the WORK OF a triumphant king.
There was no army, no standard, no
battles against the Romans, no CAPT
tai city, no throne OF the kingdom, no
court. The works are plenty, but
they do not count for the kingdom.
He sent to ask about the whole mat
ter.
VS.. 3 makes it very plain that John
was not satisfied with what was being
done. HIS question shows his doubt
Why should John doubt? He evident
ly shared the common idea OF what
the King was to be- lie wanted to be
freed from prison and put out OF the
powerof llerod and the Romans.
Would king let such forcrunner as
he had been lie useless i'll prison, and
in daily danger OF losing his head:
Preconceivcd notions have numbered
Gods truth in every age. Opinions
formed on prevailing beliefs have Of
ten retarded Gods woll. 1t is not
impossible that they are doing it to-
day.
Vss. 40. The answer OF Jesus is a
model. lie did not say y es'' or
No, he SAID, Go tell John to think,
and to stop doubling He threw
John back on his own knowledge
Prophecy was plain as to what Mes
siah should, would be- John knew
Isaiah. l,a. ~: 1910 was very exph-
cit. The deaf, the blind, and the poor
were to be MADE happy lisa. IS: so
tells the same story, Tel John what
yourselves have seem said Jesus to
the messengers. The things that
Isaiah said Messiah should do. am
dong. iell John this. Tell him not
to doubt, but To believe that was a
fine answer. 1t was better than yes,
Tor IL was the answer OF Hoy Scrip
ture to th, question oil a forlorn heart
vs.. 7. WHAT follows is an excellent
illustration Of the method vi Jesus in
teach ny. nc took the thing nearest
at hand. tie used the commonest
things with which people were tamil
lar. He said, perhaps, something VIZ
!hls <rs-srtTnfSse--s.r crowd, You as1hose
men: They came rom John the Bap
fist. Do you remember him? You
went INTO the wilderness To hear him
preach. What made you GO: lie has
Just sent to me ASKING question OF
doubt. Some al YOU heard ii. Is
that a lar representation oi John:
Did he think one thing to-day and an
other tomorrow: WAS he i reed
shaken by the wind:'
" hat answer would crowd make
to Sucl 4 gus liuu ii its members had
hard the fearless. poSiilc man:
vs.. s. Ind YOU so to see a cour-
tier: Such man as kings have about
them: lie declared a Kingdom: de
clarcd King to be at hand. Were the
Kingdom and the King which he de-
clarcd likely to be luxurious. ctfcnli-
nate, pleaSurc-iovne. SOFT cI~thng-
wearing"
Once more such crowd would. no
doubt, answer No"
VS.. Q. What did YOU 60 10 see?
Whom dii You go to hear Was John
prophet: Is that what you believe:
Aud note the crowd thunder out,
YES. \ prophet" And Jesus took
up their word. hight You are
right c Was Il prophet. Yea. he
was Vastly more How could man
Us. 10 Here is the iulI accrcditng
OF John tn" Eaptist Read Malachi 3:
!. This is the man OF whom Malachi
spoke For whom does my stand
- i'rr h vah For whom does thy
stand: For the Messiah who was to
come Here is a verse which may be
by NO mcaUS passed over hurricdly
Fhis is the direct claim OF Jesus that
he was Messiah John was Gods mes