The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-06-14

kingdom of God is greater tfa, n ne
Luke 7;28. HT-
This Is the last lesson with ,ha :
ception OF one that We are IN b,v.
upon the character of John the poD
list. Following the imprisonment =,
John by Herod, Jesus, for diplomats
reasons, made Capernaum his beaa.
quarters, and it was in Galilee that ii.
great popular ministry was performed
Meanwhile John is shut up In the fo,,.
ress at Machaerus, on the east side n,
the Dead sea For one who had been
so intensely active to be Obliged IA
sit idly by and wait while anothers
name and fame increases daily was a
severe test of faith. His prototyna
Elijah, had to meet a similar testing
Il Kings 10: 8, ~; why, Therefore
need we wonder that doubts sboulA
arise In the mind OF the greatest
born of woman" Not one of US Al
all familiar with the experiences If
life and the subtility OF Temptation
Will be surprised when under these
circumstances we read of Johns olles.
ton, v. 2-6. This doubt Is so natursl
that II bears upon It's very face the
stamp of being genuine and that the
record was not fabricated. II Is no
ticabls In the form of Johns question
that he had no doubt as to the char.
acter OF Jesus, the ge~nuineness of Ms
miracles, 0 any question but that he
was sent of God, but still be cues.
toned, rs this the Messiah" as this
the n whom all the prophets from
Moses to Malachi said was to come,
or do we look for another? | frankly
disclaimed being the Messiah. you are
a truthful man, and | am willing 10
accept your word, are you the Christi
John was not envious John S:27.S6),
he was too great a man to be that
but yet Jesus had not welded the az
as he had expected, hence the mes.
senger to Jesus and this frank cues.
ton. John sets US the good example
of taking his doubts to Jesus, and
Jesus In a most tender way answers
his doubling and at the same time
turns 1t to his own advantage In con.
flrming his claims as the Messiah.
John Sought Not His Own Glory.
The second half OF the lesson Is the
tribute of Jesus to the life and char
acter Of John the Baptist, Jesus has,
as We have Just seen, sent bis word Of
comfort and cheer to John when he
turns to the multltudes with a highly
eulogistic testimony as to Johns work,
his worth and his greatness. True, his
faith seemed to be shaken for the mo-
ment, but John was not a freed sha
ken OF the wind" indeed not. John
was not a mar seeking his own glory
duke S:16) nor his own comfort
Matt. 81, ~. He was not clad stump
tuously (Luke 7:25). No, John vast
prophet, a man sent, commissioned, In
spired OF God. He had authority 70
speak for God (Lake 1:16, 26) In DE-
claring Gods will to man. Yes, John
Is all of this and more, for he was him
self the subject of Old Testament
prophecy (Mal. 81, etc.. This John
was chosen among all men to go be
fore his face and to prepare a highway
In the minds and hearts of Israel over
which Jesus the Messiah might enter
and begin the establishing of this new
kingdom. 1t was In performing this
service that John filled one Of tho
highest offices ever filled by man ID
this eulegy we need to recall the dt
ference In the miraculous births OIL
these two men. John super
naturally born of natural parentage,
Jesus systematically born Of woman
but conceived of the Holy Spirit, hence
the words Of Jesus are to be under
stood that among purely human beings
none greater was born of woman
Went to Christ Himself.
Jesus words In verse Is are trench
dous with import. Literally he says
Il have told you these things about
John and about my kingdom, now you
who have ears have an obligation resi-
Ing upon you because OF what | nav
told you" There was need OF then
understanding and accepting an I'M
poEtant teaching, but the unreasonaOis
Scribes and Pharisees would acceps
neither the austere John nor the noN
social Jesus. John would not join u
their gaity. Jesus mourned not ou'
led a more joyous life, yet they ~
jected him also. This "SOn OF MAE
not Of a man nor the nan but son .,
man, of humanity, known as friend .,
the needy and the outcast Is nlnnsen
cast out by the religious leaders OF u,
time. Nevertheless in the wisdom y
God luke 11:49) both John the pap
fist, and Jesus the Son Of man ana y
Mary, have been sent and the resuis
Of their lives and of their teacninsa
prove them to be a part of Gods WIZ
plan. Gods wisdom is justified "
1917 by its workings or as some Trans
late It by its children"
Great as was John the forerunns
yet he that Is in this newer hnsao.
Jesus came to establish is vastly gls
er than the old Hebraism. John ".
old would seize the kingdom BY iol
and contrary to all human c~oncepu, =,
of kingship. His work was appaien
without program or policy. It was ay
void OF army, and this very mep =.
was at variance, at violence. WIN !.
natural pride and prejudice OF the Nv
man heart. :.
One OF the six Panama cornml
ers was, a few years ago, q
porter at FIVE dollars per week, a.,
during that time was much perpns,
over the problems Of the Christian =,