The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-10-31
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 8.
THE SIGN AND THE LEAvEN.


THE SIGN AND THE LEAvEN.
LESSON TExT-Mark s:1i-2e
GOLDEN TExT-"Jesus spake unto
them. saying. / am the Light Of the
world: He that followeth Me shall not
walk In the darkness. but shall have the
light OF life."-John s:i2 n. v.
In order properly to understand this
lesson we ought to study carefully
the parallel passage In Matthew 1888
to 1912, also to read carefully John
s:12 to 80. The persistent Pharisees
were ever upon his track seeking to
find wherein TO accuse him. Claim
ing to come from and to represent the
Father. they ask Jesus to show them
a sign from heaven. Turning upon
them, he says, "You observe the con-
dition OF the sky and foretell what
weather to expect the coming day
and yet you cannot discern the sign
OF the times" As though TO say. Il
have come and performed those things
that have been prophesied OF me as
the Messiah and yet you cannot read
in my life the fulillment OF these
signs OF my Office" In Luke IL:
$3.50 Jesus makes a similar state
ment: when ye see a cloud IN the
west, straightway ye say. there COM
eth a shower: and so II cometh to
pass; Ye hypocrites. ye know
how to interpret the face OF the earth
and the heaven; but how is II that
ye know not how to interpret this
timer"
His Ideal.
Their question involved q sugges-
ton that his works might be account
ed for In many ways other than the
rightfui Interpretation John 1851.
3S), but their demand was for some
particular demonstration. They were
not looking for q spiritual manifesto
ton and so far at their request he
sighed, because they did not conform
to his ideal; he rebuked them by tell
ing them that their wickedness should
have one sign that would be an eter-
nal seal upon his deity.
Reaching the other side of the lake.
the disciples realize their hunger and
discover that they have but one loaf
of bread among them. Jesus seizes
the occasion to warn them of the evil
which he had combated with the Phar-
isees whom they had Just left.
II anyone has any question as to
the scriptural teaching upon the sub
ject OF heaven. this passage ought to
answer their query. Mark tells US
that Jesus warns them against the
leaven OF the Pharisees and OF Herod.
while Matthew records the leaven Of
the Pharisees and Of the Sadducees.
There is no difference In the two, for
Herod belonged to the Sadducees.
There was, however, quite a differ
ence between these two parties. The
teaching OF the Pharisees LAID great
emphasis upon the ceremonial observ-
ance OF the law and the traditions OF
the elders. The Sadducees laid great
emphasis upon the denial OF the su-
pernatural, they did not believe In
the resurrection from the dead. There
was this In common. however. that
they both substituted the false for
the true.
Answer to the Question.
The misunderstanding OF this warn
ing upon the part OF the disciples
was q common occurrence and con-
tinued until after Pentecost. In this
case, however. Jesus tells them plain
ly why they did not understand ".
III. Jesus knew and could read their
hearts (Heb. 4:19. How like the
disciples OF old are we today.
The disciples had been with Jesus
a long time and observed his mighty
acts, yet they confused the material
with the spiritual. II was against
this sort OF leaven he warned them.
rather than some kind OF bread.
We now turn to the third section OF
our lesson, the healing Of the blind
man Wv. 1926. There are four cases
Of restored eyesight mentioned In the
gospels, three OF whom are brought.
and one came alone. In this case
others bring the man and intercede
for him ". 22). Last week We OBJ
served a case OF . progressive cure
and here we have another. Jesus led
the man by the hand outside the vii.
lage and making clay with spittle
opened his eyes. Again We would
emphasize the fact that they OBJ
served him, that they might accuse
him." and hence every act on each
separate occasion had q Significance
and a suggestiveness for that partic-
ular occasion. a meaning entirely ir-
relevant at any other time. Why this
man did not see at first We are not
told, but surely twas through no fault
on the part OF Jesus. Nor was II the
mere use OF the spittle that effected
the cure, but rather demonstration
OF the fact that Jesus can heal with
or without means.
The Golden Text seems to be at
variance with the facts revealed In
this lesson and yet when We turn
from examining the disciples with
their lack Of perception and from the
Pharisees whose hard hearts demand
cd a sign and gaze upon Jesus as he
deals with these two classes and with
the blind man We see the truth In
the text. He is the Light and by
his patient dealing. by his rebuke. by
his instruction. he led them to the
light that they might have q true