The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-06-13
LESSON FOR JUNE 16.
cHRlsT's WITNESS TO JOHN THE
BAPTIST.


BAPTIST.
LESSON TExT-AIatt. 1929.
GOLDEN TExT-"Among them that
are born of women there is none greater
4 Nngdom of God Is greater than he
Luke 7:28
This is the last lesson with the ex-
ception OF one that we are to have
upon the character of John the Bap-
list. Following the Imprisonment OF
John by Herod, Jesus, for diplomatic
reasons, made Capernaum his head
quarters, and 1t was in Galilee that his
great popular ministry was performed
Meanwhile John is shut up in the fort
ress at Machaerus, on the east side of
the Dead sea- For one who had been
so intensely active to be obliged to
sit idly by and wait while another's
name and fame increases daily was
severe test Of faith. His prototype,
Elijah, had to meet q similar testing
| q Kings 10: 8, A.; why, therefore,
need we wonder that doubts should
arise In the mind OF the greatest
born Of woman" Not one OF us at
all familiar with the experiences OF
life and the subtility OF temptation
will be surprised when under these
circumstances we read Of Johns ques-
ton, V. rs. This doubt Is SO natural
that 1t bears upon its very face the
stamp Of being genuine and that the
record was not fabricated 1t Is no
! ticable In the form OF Johns question
| that he had no doubt as to the char
acter Of Jesus, the genuineness OF his
miracles, nor any question but that he
was sent of God, but still he ques
! toned, is this the Messiah ?" 'Is this
the one whom all the prophets from
Moses to Malachi said was to come,
or do we look for another? frankly
disclained being the Messiah, you ara
a truthful man, and am willing to
| accept your word. are YOU the Christi"
| John was not envious (John 8: 27-36).
he was too great a man to be that.
but yet Jesus had not welded the an
| as he had expected, hence the meg
senger to Jesus and this frank ques-
ton. John sets us the good example
OF taking his doubts to Jesus, and
Jesus In most tender way answers
his doubling and at the same time
turns 1t to his own advantage in con-
| flrming his claims as the Messiah
John Sought Not His Own Glory.
The second half OF the lesson is the
tribute Of Jesus to the life and char
acter Of John the Baptist. Jesus has,
as we have just seen, sent his word OF
comfort and cheer to John when he
| turns to the multitudes with highly
| eulogistic testimony as to Johns work,
his worth and his greatness. True his
! faith seemed to be shaken for the mo-
ment, but John was not a reed sha-
ken Of the wind" indeed not John
was not man seeking his own glory
| nuke 3:16) nor his own comfort
! Matt. 81, ~. He.was not clad sump-
| tuously (Luke 7:25). No, John was
| prophet, man sent, commissioned, in
| spired of God He had authority to
speak for God Nuke 1:16, 26) in de-
claring Gods will to man. Yes, John
is oil Of this and more, for he was him
self the gubject of Old Testament
prophecy (Mal. 81, etc). This John
was chosen among all men to 60 be-
fore his face and to prepare a highway
| in the minds and hearts of Israel over
| which Jesus the Messiah might enter
and begin the establishing OF this new
kingdom. It was in performing this
service that John filled one Of tho
| highest offices ever filled by man. In
this eulogy we need to recall the DIFF.
| ference in the miraculous births Of
these two men. John super
naturally born Of natural parentage,
Jesus supernaturally born Of woman
but conceived of the Holy Spirit, hence
the words of Jesus are to be under
stood that among purely human beings
none greater was born of woman
Went to Christ Himself.
Jesus words In verse is are tremen-
| dous with import Literally he says:
Il have told you these things about
John and about my kingdom, now you
who have ears have an obligation rest
| ing upon you because of what have
told you" There was need OF their
understanding and accepting an i'm.
| portant teaching, but the unreasonable
| Scribes and Pharisees would accept
neither the austere John nor the more
social Jesus. John would not join in
their gaity. Jesus mourned not but
led more Joyous life, yet they re-
jected him also. This Son of Man"
not OF man nor the man but son OF
man, of humanity, known as friend Of
the needy and the outcast, is himself
cast out by the religious leaders of his
time. Nevertheless In the wisdom OF
God (Luke HAD both John the Bap
list. and Jesus the Son of man and OF
Mary, have been sent and the results
of their lives and of their teachings
prove them to be a part of Gods wise
plan. Gods wisdom Is justified Z ".
| S9)l by its workings or as some trans
:ste it by fits children"
Great as was John the forerunner,
get he that is In this newer kingdom
Jesus came to establish is vastly great
sr than the old Hebraism. John in the
cd would seize the kingdom by force
ard contrary to all human conceptions
of kngship. His work was apparently
without program or policy. 1t was de-
| void If army and this very method