The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1912-07-05
INTERNATIONAL
SIJNIAYSC[IOOL
LESSON
By d. o. SELLERS. Director of Even
ing Department, The Moody Bible In
Stltute Of Chicago.)
LESSON FOR JULY Z
MALIGNANT UNsELIEF.


MALIGNANT UN5ELlEF.
LESSON TEXT-Mark S:2O-35.
GOLDEN TEXT-"Thls 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 S: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 unbelief of his friends
who, beholding his maryelously busy
life, so busy as not to take time to
eat, concluded he must of necessity
be insane on the subject Of religion,
az no other explanation would suffice
Secondly ". 22-S0) the malignant,
malicious, blind unbelief Of the rep
resentatiVes OF the rulers In Jerusa-
lem who had come down to "1nvesti-
gate the popular Galllee 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 Cos
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
q crowd. Yet notice his response, he
would not even pause to refresh him
self but the compassion of great
mission compelled him to minister
unto them. What cared he for rest
or refreshment?
F; 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 these miracles that
demand an explanation, and we must
remember that these men came with
q predetermined motive, viz, that
they might find wherewith to accuse
him (see v. 2 and g. Not accepting
the plain common sense explanation
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.
cd 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 accuse,
ton was the utmost limit of malig.
nifty. Jesus knew that he must needs
endure just such contradictions of
sinners lisa. 1913, A., 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
q divided house stand than for Satan
to fight against himself. No more can
the thief capture his booty unless he
first hnds or decelves 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 lnded the stronger one
The subjects Of Satan are his slaves.
In the revised version we find
the correct translation for verse 30.
whatsoever shall blaspheme against
the Holy Spirit hath never forgiveness,
but Ia guilty of an eternal SIM" thus
S6ectually 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
against the true Light, they commit
the last and irremedlable sin.
Soma 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-
Eested. 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 denunclation of his enemies
with all Of their Misrepresentation.
But he who was reviled and reviled not
again, who was led as lamb to the
answers not this strange
misunderstanding by any fash of an
ger, but In gentleness rebukes their
kAw L l.