The Red Cloud chief., 1912-07-04
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDGYSC[lOOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR JULY J
MALIGNANT UNBELlEF.
(By E O. SELLERS. Director OF Even
ing Department. The Moody Bible In
stitute OF Chicago)
SSoN TE\T-N,ork 2.m-a.

MALIGNANT UNsELleF.
LESSON TENT--NIark 32O-35.
GOLDEN TEXT-"rhis is the 3udR-
mcnt. that light is come into the world
and men loved the darkness rather than
the light; for their works were evil
John 3.i9.
There are two kinds Of unbelief de-
picted In this lesson. the malignant.
cruel, vindictive unbelicf of the Phari-
sees; and the incredulity, the amaze
ment. the unbeief of the family and
friends of Jesus There are three nat
ural divisions OF this lesson: first
v. 20, 2l) the unbelicf 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 Jorusa-
lem who had come down to ''investi-
gate" the popular Galilce 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 IL 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 eagerDess 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
or refreshment?
Miracles Explained.
The multitude had studied Jesus as
he performed his miracles and ac-
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 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 6) Not accepting
the plain common sense explanation
and his avowed purpose in performing
miracles INK. 2-1O) 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 accuse.
tion was the utmost limit OF malig-
nifty. Jesus knew that he must needs
endure just such contradictions OF
sinners lisa. 1878, ~. nevertheless he
exposed their folly ". 23-27. Jesui
here gives us a fine example of logic.
which is simply unanswerable. No
more can divided kingdom stand, or
divided house stand than for Satar
to fight against himself. No more car
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
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 20.
"Whosoever shall blaspheme against
the Holy Spirit hath never forgiveness.
but Is guilty OF an eternal sin." thus
effectually setting at rest any thought
Of future probation after our life
hero upon this earth. II when mel
love their evil deeds to such an ex.
tent that they refuse to walk In the
light and resolutely set their faces
against the true Light, they commit
the last and 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
gested. 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. grief that Is even harder to bear
than the denunciation OF his enemies
with all of their instrumentation
But he who was reviled and reviled not
again, who was led as q lamb to the
slaughter. answers not this strange
misunderstanding by any fash 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