Mexico Missouri message., 1912-12-26

err l speak OF myself" John 7:l7 r. "
The golden text is in this case a
very good introduction to the review
OF the work of the past quarter. Jesus
had sent his disciples up to the Je-
rusalem feast. while he remained In
Galilee. whittier he had gone for fear
OF the Jews John I'D. When they
arrived in Jerusalem they found
sharp division among the people, some
for and some against him John Z:
1919 Jesus secretly followed his
disciples. and suddenly in the midst
Of the feast he is found in the temple
teaching. That his teaching was diff
ferent is evidenced from John 7:15
II Is also evident that he had n thor
ough knowledge of culture and tho
things OF the scholastics of his day
The inquiry as to where he acquired
his knowledge ellcits the reply that,
MY teaching is not mine, but his
that sent me-" and then as II to prove
the accuracy of his assertion, no uses
the words Of the Golden Text. Those
who desire to know the will OF God
will find that his words express that
will perfectly, and as men obey his
words the divine origin of them will
be demonstrated.
His Claim Valid.
The lessons of the past year. but
particularly the past quarter, are all
strong illustrations of the validity OF
his claim as we'll as the truth OF this
general proposition.
II we omit the temperance
lesson, tho lessons OF this quarter
are confined to a few months OF
time following April, A. d. 29, and
in particular present Jesus as
worker and healer more than a
teacher.
In the first lesson we read OF his
command to his disciples to cross the
sea. They obeyed though 1t sent them
into the storm. In the midst Of their
perplexity he appears. superior to the
laws of nature.
Lesson two shows Jesus defending
himself and the authority OF the Word
of God. Two ideals are presented Of
the kingdom, and the proof of the d.
vinity OF his ideal will always come
to those who obey him.
In the third lesson Jesus teaches
this same truth to two Gentiles, the
Syro-Phoenician woman and the
! centurion.
Lesson four gives us the account OF
the second feeding of the multitude.
1t shows us how our poverty may be
transmitted into wealth as he takes
such as we have for the satisfaction
of the needs of mankind
In the fifth lesson Jesus rebukes the
materiallstic, slgn-seeking Pharisees
and warns us concerning the leaven
(eviD of their hypocrisy.
I Lesson six Is the temperance lesson,
and II a connected review is desired,
It will have to be omitted as it does
not belong to the systematic studies
of this quarter.
In the seventh lesson Jesus ques-
lions his disciples to see as It were
how firm a grip this principle has So
cured upon their lives.
Divine Authority.
The incidents of lesson eight fol-
low Immediately after those of les
son seven. 1t is as though he would
restore his disciples to full loyalty
that they behold the special revela-
ton upon the Mount of Transfigura-
ton. Those heavenly visitors talked
not of the glory but of "his disease
which he should accomplish at Jeru.
SALEM" thus adding their testimony
to the Divine authority OF his words
The ninth lesson is pre-eminently
ono that illustrates the fundamental
principle of this entire review. 81
believe, help thou mine LIDelief"
Twas a faltering reply, but indicated
his surrender to the word and will OF
Christ. The demonstration he re
ceived OF the Divine authority of the
words of Jesus was that his boy was
restored to him fully healed
Again in lesson ten this principle
that an absolute and complete submis
sion to Gods will is a necessity Is
shown by the teachings of Jesus
which center about the child that was
set "in the midst"
Lesson eleven deals with the sub
ject OF forgiveness. In reply to Pc
ter's query Jesus taught his dIsct
pies that forgiveness is not a mere
matter OF formal observance, but with
God it is limitless and he calls the
disciples to a definite testing of his
words that they might not only know
that this is the divine method. but
that they might enter into fellowship
with God. Jesus here shows the re-
verse side of the picture when he
reveals the fate of the srvant who was
compiled to pay "all that is due"
In the twelfth lesson Jesus re-
Dukes the false spirit OF his disciples
and in his treatment of the would,be
disciples he emphasizes the fact that
to follow him involves the setting
aside OF all else. NO man looking
back is fit for the kingdom" plainly
means that he who came to establish
this kingdom has the right TO demand
obedience, and as we are obedient tc
the laws of the kingdom we shall
come to know to a demonstration its
/ divine origin and To a full realization