The Brinkley argus., 1912-08-23
LESSON FOR AUG. 25. THE VISIT TO NAZARETH.

LESSON TExT-Luke 416-3o
 GOLDEN TEXT-"He came unto hi. own, and they that were his own received him not."-John 1:11.
 Cannon Farrar has said that this visit of Jesus to his home in Naza
 reth is "a most striking commentary uron"s tho 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 Judear ministry, which includes the visit ol Nicodemus, and the meeting of the
 woman of Samaria John had beer
 shut up in prison and Jesus was about entering upon that wonderful Cali
 lean ministry.
 In this lesson we can see him as ht
 returns to his boyhood home, to those
 old and most familiar scenes of his
 youth. l.
 Day of Vengeance.
 "As his custom was' (v 1G) be en
 tered the old familiar synagogue t6
 take part in the worship, praise and
 discussion. as had long been his GUS
 tom in this his home town. Here il
 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 aftei
 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 foI the regular reading of the day. His
 method of reading was very significant Finding 8 portion from the prophecy
 of Isaiah, chapter 61, he reads that portion as we now have it recorded
 comprising verse one and in verse two to the, first punctuation mark, com
 ma. This, said he. is being fulfilled before your eyes, implying that the concluding portion, that which refers to "the day of vengeance of our God, is yet to be fulfilled or performed Just what his exposition may have been Luke does not tell us, although he lends us to believe that he made a definite claim of being the Messiah -"this Scripture hath been fulfilled They wondered at bis gracious words but such an assumption from tho tongue of this son of the village car penter was more than challenge; I sounded of blasphemy. It is one thane to listen to beautiful platitudes, bu for one to assume authority such a: this at once arouses antagonism. To make this still more plain, hs makes specific application. To para phrase his words, he said, doubtless you are saying. young man perform hero in Nazareth some Of those mira cles you performed over in Caper uaum. but 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 tho life of Elisha.
 Graphic Lessen Story.
 In teaching this lesson we can em phasize the need and the importance of public worship, the observance Of day set apart for that purpose and the public reading and exposition oi Gods work. We can also lay stress upon Jesus's knowledge and use ol the Scriptures; also his emphatic ap proval of inspired prophecy as ap piled to, and fulfilled in his own life In teaching the young scholars these truths. the graphic lesson story VII be all and probably more than car well be covered during the lesson hour.
 For the older scholars, one question for discussion would be, why does the Son of God speak of or claim tho spirit of the Lord upon me?' Ol course he was anointed after Johnt baptism as an examplexto all his fol lowers. but here we tale 1t as mean ing that the Spirit is upon him in real manner for service and for power In service. He is to witness and tt minister. He Is to teach and to heal He is to preach the Gospel to the pool and deliverance to those bound witf the chains of ceremonialism and ol sin. He Is to heal broken hearts and diseased bodies. to set the captives free and heal the bruised ones. Verse 1s Is a sad picture of the state of man without outside help. But Jesus came into the world for this express purpose. John SIP, 13; Matt. 1:21.
 This prophecy means me" Come unto me-, was indeed bod proclama ton. Did they believe? Are you making such bold claims for your Mas ter and Lord? Some will reject. ol course, but let us remember that "God giveth the increase" ours truly to wit ness. to SOW the sced. l. Cor. S;6. Why this hostility? t1) Jealousy "Joseph's Son." CD Contempt, was he not one of them? Was this not also | slur upon his name? (3) Ills
 allusion to Elijah. going outside ol Israel for sustenance.
 Do not forget tho searching fact that there were those who knew him
 best through long association, yet they
 reject him. Our peril is to know him
 and yet reject his fellowship. Let us
 emphasize that verse in Johns Cos
 pel which follows the Golden Text