The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-06-13

than John: yet he that 10 little in The
kingdom OF God 70 greater than he."-
Luke 7;S.
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 heaA
quarters. and II was In Galilee that n
great popular ministry was performed,
Meanwhile John IL 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 a
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 womanY" Not ono OF us al
all familiar with the experiences OF
life and the subulity OF temptation
viii be surprised when under these
circumstances we read OF Johns cues.
ton. v 2-6. This doubt Is so natural
that II bears upon It's very face the
stamp Of being genuine and that the
record was not fabricated. II Is no
icable in the form OF Johns question
that he had no doubt as 10 the char.
acter OF Jesus. the genulneness OF his
miracles nor any question but that he
was sent OF God, but still he ques.
toned. rs this the Messiah"
John was not envious Gohn 3:27.3e),
he was too great a man to be that,
but yet Jesus had not welded the AK
Ms he had expected, hence the mes.
scnger TO Jesus and this frank ques-
ton. John sets us the good example
of taking his doubts 10 Jesus. and
Jesus In most tender way answers
his doubling and at the same time
turns # to his own advantage in con.
hrming 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.
1s We have Just seen. sent his word OF
comfort and cheer to John when he
turns TO the multitudes with a highly
culogistic testimony as 10 Johns work,
his worth and his greatness. True. his
faith seemed 10 be shaken for the mo.
mcnt, but John was not a reed sha.
ken of the wind" indeed not John
was not a man seeking his own glory
nuke $3.50 nor his own comfort
tMatt 81, ~ He was not clad stump
tuously OLuke 7:25). No. John was a
prophet, man sent. commissioned. in.
spircd Of God He had authority TO
speak for God duke l:lG. 26) In de-
clarlng Gods will 10 man Yes. John
Is an Of this and more. for he was him.
self the subject OF Old Testament
tMal 81, ctcD. This John
was chosen among all men 20 20 be-
fore his face and TO prepare highway
In the minds and hearts of Israel over
which Jesus the Messiah might enter
and begin the establishing OF this new
kingdom. Il was In performing this
service that John filed one OF the
highest Offices ever filed by man. In
this oulogy 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 I 5 are tremen-
ious with import. Literally he says:
i have told you these things about
John and about my kingdom. now you
who have ears have an obligation res
Ing upon you because OF what hav>
told you" There was need OF their
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
ed more Joyous life. yet they re-
iected him also. This "Son OF Man"
not OF a man nor the man but son OF
man, OF humanity. known as friend OF
he needy and the outcast. Is himself
east out by the religious leaders OF his
lime. Nevertheless In the wisdom OF
God Guke HAD both John the Bap-
list, and Jesus the Son OF man and OF
Mary, have been sent and the results
II their lives and OF their teachings
prove them to be a part OF Gods wise
plan. Gods wisdom is justified ".
IO by its workings or as some trans
ate II by its children"
Great as was John the forerunner,
ret he that is In this newer kingdom
Iesus came to establish is vastly great
'r than tho old Hebralsm.
One OF the six Panama commission.
RS was, few years ago. a cub re-
'orter at five dollars per week. and
Turing that time was much perplexed
'yer the problems of the Christian life
md tormented by his doubts. -Four
uccessive nights he discussed the mat
err with his pastor; on the fifth he
anne with radiant face 20 inform his
'astor that all his questionings were
ettled for, said he. Il went to Christ
Iimself."