The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-10-31
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 8.
THE SIGN AND THE LEAvEN.
LESSON TExT-Mark s:11.2s.

THE StIN AMI TIE EEAVEN.
LESSON TEXT Mark s:11-2s
GOLDEN TEXT-"Jesus spalee 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 fe."-John s:12 r. 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
SIP 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
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 fulfillment 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 We say, there COM
eth a shower; and SO 1t cometh to
pass; Ye hypocrites, We know
how to interpret the face Of the earth
and the heaven; but how is 1t that
ye know not how to interpret this
| timer"
His Ideal.
i Their question involved sugges-
ton that his works might be account
ed for In many ways other than the
rightful Interpretation (John 1887,
4 ISL, but their demand was for some
particular demonstration. They we're
not looking for a 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 Matt 1874
and 12:40, AID and then departing he
leaves them to ponder over his words
and his works.
Is there any sign for US today to
set as 1t were its seal upon his life?
Yes, the Holy Spirit, Acts 5.32. and,
having the eyes Of our understanding
enlightened, we may see plenty of
other signs all about US. Having so
many evidences at hand and still ask
ing for sign revealed their wicked
ness II men today will not receive
the truth as 1t Is in Christ Jesus, he
l'leaves them In their darkness and
self-chosen error, 2 Thess. 2:10; Heb.
1925. Having eyes the Pharisees
saw not and ears they heard not.
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-
lsees whom they had just left
i 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 Pharisea8 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
snce between these two parties. The
teaching OF the Pharisees laid great
amphasis upon the ceremonial observ-
ance of the law and the traditions Of
the elders The Sadducees laid great
emphasis upon the denial Of the SUI
yernatural, 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.
4 Answer to the Question.
The misunderstanding Of this warn
ing upon the part OF the disciples
was common occurrence and con-
tinued until after Pentecost. In this
case, however. Jesus tells them plain
ly why they did not understand ".
10. Jesus knew and could read their
hearts (5eb 4:13). How like the
disciples of old are we today. Fer
getting the miraculous feeding and
the careful gathering Of the frag-
ments, each new doubt causes US to
reason one with another"-whereas
these memories ought to relieve US
| fro.. AZ rare anvfafv Hapnv II