The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-08-22
|. LESSON FOR AUG. rs.
TVS vislT TO NAZARETH.
.ussos rExT-Luke tis-so.


own. and they that we're his own received
him not"-John ISL
Cannon Farrar has said that this
visit OF Jesus TO his home in Mana
reth IL "a most striking commentary
upon" the words OF John, which form
our Golden Text Those words are
the epitome OF this lesson In a very
real sense. The young prophet had
been proclaimed by his counsin John
the Baptist as he who was to come.
He had performed his early Judean
which includes the visit OF
Nicodemus, and the meeting OF the
woman OF Samaria John had been
shut up in prison and Jesus was about
entering upon that wonderful Cali
lean ministry.
In this lesson we can see him as he
returns TO his boyhood home. TO those
old and most familiar scenes OF his
youth.
Day Of Vengeance.
AS his custom was" ". 1s) he en-
tered the old familiar synagogue to
take part in the worship. praise and
as had long been his Gus
tom in this his home town. Here II
was he had learned OF the law and the
prophets. here he had heard tho
prophecies discussed. here he had I'M
doubtedly participated In the discus
sions In the days gone by, for after
the worship ne IL asked 20 conduct the
reading OF the second part OF the
service. n selection from one OF the
prophets. undoubtedly that portion for
the regular reading OF the day. His
method OF reading was very significant
Finding a portion from the prophecy
Of Isaiah. chapter 81, he reads that
portion as We now have II recorded,
comprising verse one and In verse two
to the frst punctuation mark. q COM
ma. This, said he. Ia being fulfilled
before your eyes. implying that the
concluding portion. that which refers
to the day OF vengeance OF our God"
Ia yet 10 be fulfilled or performed.
Just what his exposition may have
been Luke does not tell us. although
he leads Us TO believe that he made
n definite claim OF being the Messiah
-"this Scripture hath been fulfilled"
They wondered at his gracious words.
but such an assumption from the
tongue OF this son OF the village car
penter was more than a challenge; II
sounded OF blasphemy. II is one thing
to listen to beautiful platitudes. but
for one TO assume authority such a.
this at once arouses antasonism.
To make this still more plain. he
makes q specific application To para
phrase his words. he said. doubtless
you are saying. young man perform
here in Nazareth some Of those mira
cles you performed over In Csper-
naum. but I say you would not accept
me even then. for no prophet is 40
csptable TO his own countrymen." Then
he goes on to illustrate by an incident
from the wife OF Elijah. also one from
the life Of Elisha.
orsphle Lesson stoy.
In teaching this lesson We can en-
phasiIe the need and the Importance
Of public worship. the Observance Of .
day set apart for that purpose and
the public reading and exposition Of
Gods work We can also lay stress
upon Jesus's knowledge and use OF
the Scriptures: also his emphatic ap-
prevail OF inspired prophecy ~ ap-
piled to. and fulfilled In his own life.
In teaching the young scholars these
truths. the graphic lesson story will
be all and probably more than can
we'll be covered during the lesson
hour.
For the older scholars. one question
Tor discussion would be. Why does he
Bon Of God speak Of or claim the
spirit OF the Lord upon met" OF
course he was anointsd after johns
baptism a. an example to all his fol-
lowers. but here We take II ~ mean
ns that the Spirit 10 upon him In .
rsal manner for service and for power
IN service He 10 TO witness and TO
He IL to teach and to heal
He 10 TO preach the Gospel TO the poor
md dsiivsrancs to those bound with
he chains of osremonialism and OF
lin. He 10 to heal broken hearts and
diseased bodies. TO set the captivss
rec and heal the bruised ones. Verse
10 10 . sad picture Of the state Of
nan without outside help. But Jesus
anne into the world for this express
purpose. John s:12. Is: Matt 1:al
This prophecy means me-" Come
into me-" was indeed q bold proclama-
ion. Did they bsiisvsf Are you
making such bold claims for your Mas
or and Lordf Some will reject. OF
course. but let US remember that "0od
Iivsth the Increase. ours truly TO Wit
less. to SOW the seed. I. Cor. Sc.
Why this hostility ~ Jealousy.
'Jossph's Son" az Contempt. was
10 not one OF thsmf Was this NOT
'lso . slur upon bis namsf Cd His
illusion to Elijah. going outside Of
srasl for sustsnanos. ,t,. lr
Do not forget the searching face
hat there were those who knew him
'sst through long association. yet thsy
sjsct him. Our peril u 70 know him
nd yet reject his fellowship. Let u
mphasiss that verse IN JoAn's ooer
'sl which follows the Golden .Tsrs
lid. But TO 80 many ~ rsosivsA
I'm 70 them save As pewss 70 become