Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-06-26


nent. that light Is come into the world
and men loved the darkness rather than
the light; for their works were evil
John 3:1s.
There are two kinds OF unbelief de-
picted in this lesson. the malignant.
cruel, vindictive unbelief Of the Phari-
sees; and the incredibly. the amaze
ment. the unbelief of the family and
friends of Jesus There are three nat
ural divisions of this lesson; first
V. 20, 21) the unbelief Of his friends
who, beholding his marvelOusly busy
life, so busy as not to take time to
eat, concluded he must of necessity
be insane on the subject Of religion,
as no other explanation would suffice
Secondly ". 22-30) the malignant.
malicious, blind unbelief of the rep
resentatives Of the rulers in Jerusa-
lem who had come down to "investi-
gate" the popular Galilee prophet.
that they might find wherewith to "ac-
cuse him" Third ". 31-35) the unbe-
lief Of those his nearest OF kin who
also sought to restrain and to turn
him aside II possible from his ardu-
Gus labors. We have in this first
section another Of those wonderful Cos
pei pictures, just a touch, but so graph
&c, Of the eagerness of the multitudes
to see and hear Jesus. Simply to
hear him was enough to draw together
a crowd. Yet notice his response, he
would not even pause to refresh him
self but the compassion of a great
mission compelled him TO minister
unto them What cared he for rest
OF refreshment?
Miracles Explained.
The multitude had studied Jesus as
he performed his miracles and &C
counted him to be the Messiah Matt.
1929. but the Pharisees were not
then willing to acknowledge him. for
that would be to condemn themselves.
| However. here are tnese miracles that
demand an explanation. and we must
remember that these men came with
predetermined motive. viz. that
they might find wherewith TO accuse
him (see V. and g. Not accepting
the plain common sense explanation
and his avowed purpose in performing
miracles (Mk- 2-10) they gave out that
1t was by the power OF the Prince OF
Devils, Beelzebub, that Jesus perform
ed his mighty deeds. The utter fall
lacy OF such an accusation is shown
by Jesus reply. He did not upbraid
them with anger though their accusa-
ton was the utmost limit OF malig-
nifty. Jesus knew that he must needs
endure just such contradictions Of
sinners lisa 1913. ~. nevertheless he
exposed their folly ". 1920. Jesus
here gives US a fine example OF logic.
which is simply unanswerable. No
more can a divided kingdom stand. or
divided house stand than for Satan
TO fight against himself. No more can
the thief capture his booty unless he
first finds or deceives the guard, than
for Jesus to fight Satan and at the
same time be his vassal. Satan is a
strong man ". 22) and he. Jesus.
came to break, to overcome, that pow
err. for he is inded the stronger one.
The subjects OF Satan are his slaves.
In the revised version We find
the correct translation for verse %.
} "Whosoever shall blaspheme against
} the Holy Spirit hath never forgiveness.
J but is guilty OF an eternal SIM" thus
effectually setting at rest any thought
| OF a future probation after our life
} here upon this earth. II when men
love their evil deeds to such an ex.
/ tent that they refuse to walk in the
! light and resolutely set their faces
t against the true Light. they commit
: the last and irremediable sin.
. Sons Of God by Faith.
= Lastly we see the kinfolk OF Jesus
IL. vs4A
: draw him from his conflict with the
; Jerusalem lawyers, or, as has been sug
: gested. II they were among the friends
:. mentioned at the outset seeking tC
: protect him after this interruption BY
taking him away TO a place OF res
; and quiet Jesus was. however no
: understood by his nearest and dear
est kinfolk and such has ever beer
!. the bitter grief of many of his follow
!. ers. grief that is even harder to bea
than the denunciation OF his enemie
= with all OF their misrepresentation
But he who was reviled and reviled no
again. who was led as a lamb to tn
slaughter. answers not this strang
misunderstanding by any fash of al
ger, but in gentleness rebukes thei
Interference with his plans and point
out that his nearest and dearest ar
those who do his will Jesus as on
. Great High Priest is here speaking NJ
as the Son OF Mary. but as the Son
Man.
The golden text throws wonderf
2 light upon this whole lesson. H
y Jesus. the Light. came into the wor
- and we must account for him. LII
led PLATE. we have him on our hands.
&c wa refuse To walk In tho Huht N