The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-02-21
Sunday School Column
Side Lights on Next Sundays Les
son for Teachers and Pupils.
By CHAS. X. MEYERS

req. 20. Inc Baptism and Iempta
ton OF Jesus.-Mark l, 9-13; Matt. i'll
In all four gospels there is an &C
count OF the baptism of Jesus. 1t was
marked day in the history of the
preaching of John the Baptist when
Jesus came forward to have the rite
of baptism given him. One can easily
imagine John preaching the need OF
repentance from sin and living life
bearing fruits of good deeds, when
looking about he saw Jesus coming
forward. knowing the stranger, John
at first did not want to perform the
ceremony. Jesus insisted that He be
allowed to share with the others the
outward sign of new life. Now
bark! There is voice which all
heard declaring Thou are my beloved
son in whom l am we'll pleased" and
some saw something which seemed
to come from above and rest on the
head of Jesus. Wonderful indeed was
the scene.
OF course Jesus had no awful sins
to repent of, yet He underwent the
ordeal OF public baptism. It was in
truth the beginning of His public min
istry. Many is the man who has
signed a hundred temperance pledges,
and there is no need to sign more, yet
as encouraging others, giving APPROX
al to temperance work, inducing
friends to make the first public reso-
luton, the pledge is again signed. 1t
was thought in that day and hour that
it Fulfilled all righteousness" to do
what Jesus was now doing. l expect
as child and young man Jesus went
through all the ceremonies OF the
Jewish church, not that these had a
saving power, but at that time
Jews considered these things should
be done by strictly faithful children
OF father Abraham. There is great
thought right here and it is that one
should be ready to do things which
public opinion declares a true chris
tian should do. If public opinion in
the churches holds that drinking in.
toxicating liquors, dancing, card play.
ing, attending certain amusements, en-
gaging in certain employments is not
consistent with the best form of chris
tian living, then drop them out OF
your life.
1t is our thought that after the
descending OF the Holy Spirit when
the baptism took place, Jesus came in.
to full consciousness that He was the
Son of God and began His public min
istry. While yet thrilling with this
new-found power, there came the
temptations told OF in further verses
of the lesson. First, there was the
thought to use the power to supply
hunger from the stones about Him.
1nis would have been wrong, and on
reflection Jesus saw this and strength.
ened His resolution not to thus use
the stones, by calling to mind tny
declaration found in Deut. S-3, which
said that man doth not live by bread
alone, but by every word that pro-
ceedeth out of the mouth of God.
There was second temptation to
use His power and attract people to
His standard by falling off prominent
place like the temple heights, and es-
tablish supernatural fame and win a
great following. This, too, was over
come by recalling the words of the
9th Psalm which told OF Gods keeping
power. He further had in mind the
declaration OF Deut. GIG, which says
that one should not tempt God to pun
ish, by deliberately doing wrong.
Now comes the worldly plan to gain
hearers and followers by worldly ag-
grandisement overthrowing the es-
tablished rulers and setting up an
earthly kingdom. This was certainly
enticing, much easier than the road
leading to the cross. This temptation
was put away as one from the enemy
Ol UOu pldll VI SdlVdllOu ANON CdHlC
the satisfaction of triumph over
wrong, of having successfully with
stoon temptation. This happiness is
in the reach of every one, and it is
richly worth striving after.
Every man and woman is tempted
to take easy methods Of being chris
tan and gaining the cowmendation OF
God. There is in truth, however, but
one way and that is by self sacrifice
for others, suffering for Christ's sake.
There is joy in so doing which cheers
and sustains those who are willing
to serve God that way. Jesus was
tempted and so are we. Study how
He overcame, standing firm on the
declarations of the bible by putting
aside the enticements of riches, pow
err, personal ease, choosing the true
and honest path. Remember the words
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