Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-08-21

GOLOEN TE&T-|He came unto his
own. and they that were his own received
him not."-John Ill
Cannon Farrar has said that this
visit OF Jesus TO his home in Nazs-
reth is "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 the Wis; OF
Nicodemus. and the meeting Of ne
woman of Samaria John had be
shut up in prison and Jesus was ABB
entering upon that wonderful Ga.
lean ministry.
In this lesson we can see him as he
returns to his boyhood home. to thos<
old and most familiar scenes OF Ais
youth.
Day Of Vengeance.
las his custom was" w. 16) he ell
tered the old familiar synagogue to
take part in the worship. praise and
discussion. as had long been his Gus
tom in this his home town. Here it
was he had learned of the law and the
prophets. here he had heard the
prophecies discussed. here he had IN
doubtedly participated in the discus
sions in the days gone by. for after
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 f.
the regular reading OF the day. HIS
method OF reading was very significant.
Finding a portion from the prophecv
of Isaiah. chapter 61. he reads that
portion as we now have 1t recorded.
comprising verse one and in verse two
90 the first punctuation mark, a COM
ma. This. said he. is being fulfilled
before your eyes. implying that the
concluding portion, that which refers
10 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 leaos us to believe that he made
definite claim of being the Messiah
this Scripture hath been fulf"Cd.'
They wondered at his gracious words,
but such an assumption from the
tongue of this son OF the village car
penter was more than a challenge; 1t
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.
To make this still more plain. he
makes a specific application. To para
phrase his words. he said. doubtless
you are saying. young man perform
here in Nazareth some of those mira
cles you performed over in Caper-
naum. but say you would not accept
me even then for no prophet IS &C
ceptable to his own countrymen." Thea
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 ems
phasize the need and the Importance
of public worship. the observance Of q
day set apart for that purpose an I
the public reading AID exposition
Gods work We can also lay stres 5
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
we'll be covered during the lesson
hour.
For the older scholars. one ques,
for discussion would be. why does the
Son of God speak of or claim the
spirit of the Lord upon me- OF
course he was anointed after John &
baptism as an example to all his fol
lowers, but here we take it as mean
ing that the Spirit is upon him in a
real manner for service and for power
in service He is to witness and 70
minister. He is to teach and 20 heal
He is to preach the Gospel to the pocl
and deliverance to those bound with
the chains of ceremonialism and oil
sin He is to heal broken hearts and
diseased bodies. to set The captive:
free and heal the brui-ed ones. Verse
Is is a sad picture of the state of
man without outside hep. But Jesu!
came into the world for this express
purpose John S:12. IS; Matt. 1:21.
This prophecy means me-" Come
unto me-" was indeed bold proclama
ton. Did they believe? Are yol
making such bold claims for your Mas
ter and Lord? Some will reject, Q
course. but let us remember that "Go'
giveth the increase" ours truly to Wit
ness, to SOW the seed. l. Cor. S:6.
Why this hostility? (D Jealousy
"Jeseph's Son" CD Contempt. wa
he not one Of them? Was this no
also a slur upon his name? CD Hi
snnainn 70 Elijah going outside @