Mexico Missouri message., 1912-08-22

GOLDEN TEXT-"He came unto his
own. and they that were hts own received
him not."-John I'LL
Cannon Farrar has said that this
visit of Jesus to his home in Naza-
roth ia "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 tho 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 Call
lean ministry.
In this lesson we can sec him as he
returns to his boyhood home, to those
old and most familiar scenes OF his
youth.
Day Of Vengeance.
AS his custom was" ". ICY he en-
tered the old familiar synagogue to
take part in tho worship. praise and
discussion, as had long been his GUS
tom in this his home town. Here II
was he had learned OF the law and the
prophets, hero he had heard the
prophecies discussed, here he had un'
doubtcdly participated in the discus
slons in the days gone by, for after
the worship he is asked to conduct the
reading Of the second part of the
service, 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 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,
ia yet to be fulfilled or performed.
Just what his exposition may have
been Luke does not tell us, although
he leads us TO believe that he made
definite claim of being the Messiah
this Scripture hath been fulfilled"
They wondered at his gracious words,
but such an assumption from the
tongue of this son of the village car
penter was moro than challenge; It
| sounded of blasphemy. 1t is one thing
| to listen to beautiful platitudes. but
| for one TO assume authority such as
this at once arouses antagonism.
81 nluin ha
makes a specific application. To para
phrase his words. he said, doubtless
! you are saying. young man perform
here in Nazareth some of those mt7S
Giles you performed over in Caper
naum, but I say you would not accept
me even then, for no prophet Is &C
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 a
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 APP
prevail of inspired prophecy as APP
piled to, and fulfilled In his own 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
For the older scholars, one question
for discussion would be, why does the
Son Of God speak of or claim the
spirit OF the Lord upon mel" o.
course he was anointed after Johns
baptism as an example to all his fol
lowers, but here we take 1t as mean
ing that the Spirit Is upon him In
real manner for service and for powe
in service He Is to witness and t
minister. He is to teach and to hea
He is to preach the Gospel to the poo
and dellverance to those bound wit
the chains of ceremonialism and @
sin He is to heal broken hearts an
diseased bodies, to set the captive
free and hea! the bruised ones. Vers
IS is a sad picture Of the state OF
man without outside help. But Jesu
came into the world for this expires
purpose. John S:12, 10; Matt. 1:21,
This prophecy means me" "Com
unto me-" was indeed a bold proclam'
tion. Did they believe? Are 20
making such bold claims for your Ma
ter and Lord? Some will reject, c
course but let us remember that go
giveth the Increase" ours truly to wi
ness, 10 sow the seed. /. Cor. $50.
Why this hostility? % Jealous!
. "Jo-ephs Son" l2) Contempt. Wa
he not one of them? Was this no
also a slur upon his name? CS) HI
alusiou 10 Elijah, going outside c
Israel for sustenance.
DO not forget the searching fac
that there We're those who knew hir
best through long association, yet the
reject him. Our peril is 20 know hin
and yet reject his fellowship. Let u
+ emphasize that verse in Johns Cos
8 pei which follows the Golden Tex
a G:12), Put to as many as receive
. e, ho tn hnrNpn