Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1912-08-22

GOLDEN TEXT-"He came unto his
own. and they that were his own received
him not."-John All.
Cannon rarraP has said that ihis
visit OF Jesus to his home In Naza-
reth Is "a most striking commentary
upon the words OF John, which form
our Golden Text. Those words are
the epitome OF this lesson In a very
real sense. The young prophet had
been proclaimed by his counsin John
the Baptist as he who was to come.
He had performed his early Judean
ministry, which includes the visit OF
~Nicodemus, and the meeting of the
woman of Samaria. John had been
shut up in prison and Jesus was about
entering upon that wonderful CALI
lean ministry.
In his lesson w can see him as hs
returns to his boyhUod home, to those
old and most familiar scenes OF his
youth.
Day Of Vengeance.
AS his custom was" ". 1G) he en-.
tered the old familiar synagogue to
take part I'm the worship, praise and
discussion, IS had long been his GUS
tom in this his home town. Here 1t
was he had learned Of the law and the
prophets, here he had heard the
prophecies discussed, here he had un.
doubtedly participated In the discus.
sions In the days gone by, for after
the worship he is asked to conduct the
reading OF the second part OF the
service, a selection from one Of the
prophets, undoubtedly that portion for
the regular reading of the day. HIS
method Of reading was very significant.
Finding a portion from the prophecy
of Isaiah, chapter CT, he reads that
portion as we now have 1t recorded.
comprising verse n and in verse two
to the first punctuation mark, n COM
ma. This, said he. Is being fulflled
before your eyes, implying that the
concluding portion, that which refers
to 1.-THE day of vengeance OF our God
Is yet to be fulfilled or performed.
Just what his exposition may have
been Luke does 70 tell us, although
he leads us to believe that he made
a definite claim of being the Messiah
this Scripture hath been fulfilled
They wondered Mt his gracious words,
but such an assumption from the
tongue of this son of the village car
penter was more than a challenge; 1t
sounded of blasphemy. 1t Is n thing
to listen to beautiful platitudes. but
for one to assume authority such az
this at once arouses antagonism.
To make this still more plain, he
makes a specific application. To para
phrase his words, he said, doubtless
you are saying, young man perform
here in Nazareth some OF those mira
cles you performed over in Caper-
naum, but I say you would not accept
me even then. for no prophet Is ac-
ceptable to his own countrymen." Then
he goes on to illustrate by an incident
from the wife of Elijah, also one from
the life OF Elisha.
Graphic Lesson Story.
In teaching this lesson We can en-
phasize the need and the Importance
OF public worship, the observance OF q
day set apart for that purpose and
the public reading and exposition OF
Gods work. We can also lay stress
upon Jesus's knowledge and use OF
the Scriptures; also his emphatic ap-
prevail Of inspired prophecy as ap-
piled to, and fulfilled In his " life.
) In teaching the young scholars these
truths, the graphic lesson story will
be all and probably more than can
well be covered during the lesson
/ hour.
3 For the older scholars, one question
3 for discussion would be. why does the
r Son of God speak Of or claim the
!. spirit of the Lord upon me?' Ot
course he was anOinted after Johns
I baptism as an example to all his fol
I lowers, but here we take 1t as mean
t ing that the Spirit Is upon him In q
real manner for service and for power
! In service. He Is to witness and &c
e minister. He Is to teach and to heal
He is to preach the Gospel to the pool
and deliverance to those bound Will
9 the chains OF ceremonialism and Of
9 sin. He Is to heal broken hearts and
Q diseased bodies, to set the captives
n free and heal the bruised ones. Verse
Q IS Is a sad picture of the state OF q
n man without outside help. But Jesu!
came into the world for this express
% purpose. John 8:l2, 13; Matt. 1:21.
u "This prophecy means me-" "Com,
Q unto me-" was indeed a bold proclama
d ton. Did they believe? Are yot
making such bold claims for your Mas
r ter and Lord? Some will reject. o
n. course. but let us remember that "Got
giveth the Increase" ours truly to wit
ness. to SOW the seed. I. Cor. 3:e.