The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1912-04-13
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8 SUNDAY IN THE CHURCHES .
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Sunday School Lesson-April 81.

that we may know the hopeless con
dition OF man, and the matches
love John S:16) which has provid
ed salvation full and free. NOTHING
could possibly eclipse grace, for w,
see it working and shining in spit,
of thecunbelief and hardness of hear
so characteristic of men.
In our last lesson we found mel
opposing Jesus in His seeking ant
saving the most, and in the fifth verse
OF this same chapter we read that hi
was distressed over their hardness o.
heart, and now we see divine power
flowing forth to meet the effects O,
sin again-grace unquenched anl
unquenchable. We may reject it
and thus deprive ourselves of all it:
| blessed benefits, but the benefcien1
stream of Gods love will flow re.
sistlessly on, for some will believe, be
saved and blest.
Let us not miss the lesson here sc
evident-God's provision in Christ
meets all the effects of sin, in world
disorganized and ruined by it-noth.
ing else can ever do it. This applies
to all creation, animate and mani
mate, and scripturally and logically
enough to the rule of the world.
2. The presence of Satan-The
striking thing here is that Satan ap-
pears patronizingly, and that Jesus
silences him at once, not standing
in need of patronage. 1t is indeed
Gods plan that Jesus be made
known to the world, but not through
Satan or any of his representatives.
How poorly His people have learn
ed this, but on the contrary con-
graduate themselves when they find
themselves patronized by the world
which is Satan ruled. The days of
Satan's persecution are past, and the
days Of his patronage are upon us
what a testing for the people of God.
The action of Jesus as in verse twelve
is interesting and suggestive in the
light of one particular word
"charged.
This word "epetima," as it is in
the original, is commonly rendered
'rebuke' in the New Testiment, and
SO Darby in his excellent transula-
lions has it-"He rebuked them
much that they might not make
Him manifest"
The word is one which seems to
carry with it penalty. The latter
part of the word-''tima," is a Greek
word meaning price, and Satan can
depend upon it that God will not rest
until the full price of his deed in
Eden is paid. If the wages of sin
is death surely the old originator of
sin and death will not be spared the
lake which burneth with fire and
brimstone.''
3. The attitude of the people
A contrast. This is brought out in
verse ten.--They 'pressed upon him. -
The word pressed is more literally
fell. If we have difficulty with the
word believe, we can find help here
Here they not only pressed him
physically, but they were casting
themselves On Him for healing.
What they were doing for physi-
cal health we are told to do for
cleansing from sin-"Believe (fal]
ON the Lord Jesus Christ and thou
shalt be saved" The work of God
John 6:28, 29) then is not that we
do something, but that We let Jesus
do something for us.
Cnbelief is mans effort to save
himself, belief is mans cessation OF
effort, that God in Christ may save
hlm. Man let's go and falls on the
One able and willing to save. The
contrast lies in the very few that
1lock for salvation as compared with
the many who came for bodily heal.
ing.
The word plaques here is literal.
~ "scourges.' The original means
whip Literally, the Roman flagel.
lum for criminals.) We have the
same word in Acts 1925 rendered
scourge. Disease was thus consider.
ed a stroke from the divine hand
When sin is no more, disease anG
suffering will be no more. (Rev
21:45.)
4. Jesus chooses those who shall
make Him known. Significant word:
indeed are those in verse thirteen
Self appointed preachers of the Wore
are not acceptable then-"whom hi
himself would" And again, called
ones are responsible-sthey went I'M
to him." We should have an ope1
ear for the call of God, but should
be very careful not to intrude.
The number called is significant
twelve, and in scripture stands fol
the manifest rule of God. The mean
Ing OF the names also-Matthev
means gift of God. Andrew manly
1t is manly indeed to come to Christ
Thaddaeus, beloved child, or praised
He is the Judas of John 14:22. Luth
er calls hinder fromme Judas 9Th,
good Judas Look up all the names
!
Swedish Lutheran.