The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-07-04
LESSON FOR JULY 7
MALIGNANT UNBELIEF.

LESSON TExT-Mark 3:2O-35.
GOLDEN TEXT-"This Is the judg-
ment that light is come into the world
and men loved the darkness rather than
the light; for their works were evil
John 3:19.
There are two kinds of unbelief de-
picted in this lesson, the malignant,
cruel, vindictive unbelief of the Phari-
sees; and the incredulity, 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 unb elief 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 w. 22-30) the malignant
malicious, blind unbelief of the rep
resentatives of the rulers In Jerusa-
lem who had come down to "invest-
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 If possible from his ardu-
Gus labors. We have in this first
section another of those wonderful gos-
pei pictures, just touch, but so graph
ic, 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
4 70 och hiVsA-
self but the compassion of a great
mission compelled him to minister
unto them. What cared he for rest
or refreshment?
Miracles Explained.
The multitude had studied Jesus as
he performed his miracles and &C.
counted him to be the Messiah Matt.
12-23), but the Pharlsees were not
then willing to acknowledge him, for
that would be to condemn themselves
However, here are these 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. 2 and g. Not accepting
and his avowed purpose in performing
miracles (Mk. 2-10) they gave out that
it was by the power of the Prince OF
Devils, Beelzebub, that Jesus perform
ed his mighty deeds. The utter fal
lacy of such an accusation is shown
by Jesus reply. He did not upbraid
them with anger though their accusa
tion was the utmost limit of malig
nifty. Jesus knew that he must needs
sinners lisa. 63:3, ~, nevertheless he
exposed their folly ". 1920. Jesus
here gives us a fine example of logic
which is simply unanswerable. Nc
more can divided kingdom stand, OF
"a 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
er, 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 30
"Whosoever shall blaspheme against
the Holy S"lrit hath never forgiveness
bui Is guilty of an eternal SIM" thus
ctrctupl'v setting at rest any thought
ot a Future probation after our life
he~a urcn this earth If when men
loTc ter evil deeds to such an ex
t. IN they refuse to walk in the
'7' End rC'Oute.y set their faces
g'lsL he true Light they commit
the last ana irremediable sin.
Sons of God by Faith.
Lastly we see the kinfolk of Jesus
including his mother, seeking to with
draw him from his conflict with the
Jerusalem lawyers, or, as has been sug
ges ed, II they were among the friends
mentioned at the outset seeking to
protect him after this interruption by
taking him away to a place of rest
and quiet. Jesus was, however, not
understood by his nearest and dear
est kinfolk; and such has ever been
the bitter grief of many of his follow
ers, a grief that Is even harder to bear
than the denunciation of his enemies
with all of their misrepresentation
But he who was reviled and reviled not
again, who was led as a lamb to the
slaughter, answers not this strange
misunderstanding by any flash of an,
ger, but in gentleness rebukes their
interference with his plans and points
out that his nearest and dearest are
those who do his will Jesus as our
Great High Priest is here speaking not
as the Son Of Mary, but as the Son OF
Man.
The golden text throws wonderful
light upon this whole lesson. He,
Jesus, the Light, came into the world
and we must account for him. Like
PLATE, we have him on our hands. II
Wa raPIQa IN WALL In tho IIoht ma