The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1912-06-14

Luke l.ZS.
This Is the last lesson with the OK.
cept1on of one that We are to have
upon the character of John the Ban
list Following the Imprisonment OF
Jonn by Herod, Jesus, for diplomatic
reasons, made Capernaum his head
quarters, and it was in Galilee that his
great popular ministry was performed.
Meanwhile John is shut up in the fort.
fess 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 a similar testing
Il Kings 10: 3, ~; 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 &c. This doubt is so natural
that 1t bears upon its very face the
stamp Of being genuine and that the
record was not fabricated Il is no.
tieable in the form of Johns question
that he had no doubt as to the char
acter of Jesus. the geruineness= of his
miracles, nor any question but that he
was sent of God, but still he cues
toned, lis this the Messiah?"
John was not enyious (John 3:27-36),
he was too great a man to be that
but get Jesus had not welded the ak
as he had expected, hence the mes
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 it to his own advantage in con-
ffrming 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
aeter OF John the Baptist. Jesus has,
as we have just seen, sent his word of
comfort end 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
luke 3:16) nor his own comfort
Matt. 81. a. He was not clad sump-
tuously duke 7:25). No, John was a
prophet, a man sent, commissioned, in
spired of God. He had authority to
speak for God duke 1916. 26) in de-
claring Gods will TO man. Yes, John
is all of this and more, for he was HIM
self the subject of Old Testament
prophecy (Mal. 81, etc.. This John
was chosen among all men to go 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. 1t was in performing this
service that John filled one of the
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 systematically 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 10 are tremen'
dous with import Literally he says:
II 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 l nave
told YOU" There was need Of their
understanding and accepting an I'M
.portant teaching, but the unreasonable
/ Scribes and Pharisees would aecep'
neither the austere John nor the more
social Jesus. John would not join III
their gaity. Jesus mourned not pu'
led a moro joyous life, yet they re.
iected him also This son OF Man
not of q man nor the man but son Oh
man. of humanity. known as friend OF
the needy and the outcast, Is himsei'
cast out by the religious leaders OF his
time. Nevertheless In the wisdom o.
God duke 11:49) both John the bale
fist and Jesus the Son OF man ana OF
Mary. have been sent and the results
Of their lives and OF their teachine'
nrove them to be part OF God "lse
nlan. Gods wisdom Is Jusuheu "
ia1 by its workings or as some trans
,ata Il by its children"
Great as was John the foreruhno'
vet he that is In this newer kinsooin
Iesus came to establish is vastly sre''
or than the old Hebraism.
One Of the six Panama commissions
ors was a few years ago. cuo TO
norter at five dollars per week, anu
dur,ng that time was much perpieAeo
over the problems of the Christian hie
and tormented by his doubts, rou'
successive nights he discussed the mat
| ,.h bio nastDr: on the Hltu Ho