The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-06-28

The lessons for this quarter \.
long for the most part to the wear !,
known as the year of popularity a,
ginning with the great Easter lesson
there is set forth the fact, certaintS
aud meaning of the resurrection !,
our Lord, by which was demonstrates
his fulfilling Of the purpose OF "a
both In his own life and In his WORT
upon the cross whereby was mad
possible the establishment Of the nav
kingdom. Several of these lesson,
r taken from his manifesto to shov
us the application of the law which
he came to fill full with a newer sn5
richer meaning. Speaking Of the ideal
Sabbath as ~contrasted with that nre.
sented by the religious teachers n,
the day, Jesus uses the illustration n
healing and also the plucking Of grain
to show us that man is OF more yalps
than the ceremonial observance Of tha
law. Jesus proceeds in the third los.
son to choose and set apart thosa
who shall share with him In the Is.
t%abllshing Of this new kingdom. This
was the fulfilling of a purpose whers.
In the Jews had failed-Jesus called
these men to have fellowship with
him in fruit bearing.
In the fourth lesson Jesus deplcts
the character necessary for those who
shall share with him In the fulfilling
Of Gods purposes In this kingdom.
The blessings OF poverty and the
danger of riches form the subject mat.
ter Of the fifth lesson wherein we arc
taught a full revelation concerning
life and its true substance. He who
had not where to lay his head and
whose ESTATE" when he left this
world was the object of the rude sol.
dlers' flippant gamble tells us that
like him If we would be great In this
kingdom We too must lay up riches
not on earth but In heaven.
Key to Situation.
The sixth lesson has to do with
love as the secret of the fultllmsnt Of
all that is required, OF all that has
been already stated, or that may
hereafter arise. In this lesson BY o
set Of skilful questions Jesus asks
and answers the fundamental princk
pies Of this law Of love. So deep
does he build and SO high does he
reach that we are compelled to ex.
claim, "Who is sufficient" And 80
it is that the seventh lesson logically
follows the sixth, for in this we find
the key to the whole situation. Begin
ming with the verse that forms the
golden text for today, Jesus goelO On
to show us that what is impossAA
with man is possible with God, Th&
while the law is immutable and It's
penalties therefore still in force, that
he, Jesus, is the one and only one who
keeps the law outwardly and at the
same time Its spirit and intent as
well: hence We have in him and bis
righteousness all that is essential In
this new kingdom. In him W. have
sufficient power.
The eighth lesson still further car.
ries out this teaching by showing US
the fact that In the constant con.
seriousness of God there lies power
that will enable men, independent Of
oaths, in simple truth to fulfill oil
the requirements Of truth.
The ninth lesson is n of the prac.
teal applications of these principles
which Jesus has been setting forth
The ancient high priest with the bells
and pomegranates upon his garment
carried as much fruit as noise into the
holy place. So Jesus, this new high
priest teaches us that though we are
justified in the sight Of God by oli
faith We demonstrate that faith in the
sight Of men by our actions toward
those about us.
If we are truly and properly spirit
ually related to him III aims anc
prayers and fasting will not be ioi
the purpose of attracting the attention
Of men but each disciple will be al
his master who sought only to glorl'
the Father. This Is the mar VINO
builds upon solid ground and whos'
house stands amid the breaking storm
rather than the n whose house no
SO founded goes to pieces amid tnf
storm. This is the tenth lesson,
Dominant Notes.
Following these lessons upon tns
kingdom Jesus Is shown In u'
eleventh lesson as depicting John tns
Baptist's place and significance as tn'
forerunner of himself and because O
that position as being the exalte'
among those born of women yet d
who in humbleness is little shall d.
greater even than John. John reprs
sented the end Of the old and Jesu'
the beginning of the new.
The last lesson affords us a signln
cant view, a radiant revelation, oil ~
compassion and at the same time u'
mercilessly keen discernment 0
Jesus. His dealing with her who CAV
her best as contrasted with Slmoi
who from his abundance gave oni!
d~iscourtesy and friendless criticism
teaches us what should be the rea
heart motive Of our lives. he WIN
came to break the shell OF sell CON
placency glorifed the act OF the slnlu
woman who in contrition broke ne
alabaster box at hts feet; be VINO io'
ing much could forgive much.
There are two or three notes tha
are dominant throughout the lesson
Of this quarter. He, Jesus, who is wv
light, not only sets up high standsru
but at the same time shows men ln'
path of attainment. Again In all :
his work there is a perfect cooper