Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1912-06-13

LESSON TEXT-Matt. l1:2-lo.
GOLDEN TEXT-"Among them that
are born of women there IL none greater
than John: yet he that Is little In tho
kingdom of God is greater than he.'-
Luke 7:2s.
This is the last lesson with the ex.
ception Of one hat we are to have
upon the character OF John the Bap-
fist. Following the Imprisonment Of
John by Herod. Jesus, for diplomatic
reasons, made Capernaum his head.
quarters, and 1t was in Galilee that his
great popular ministry was performed.
Meanwhile John is shut up In the fort.
ress at Machaerus, on the east side OF
the Dead sea For one who had been
80 Intensely active to be obliged to
sit Idly by and walt while another's
name and fame Increases daily was a
sever test of faith. His prototype,
Elijah, had to meet a similar testing
q Kings 10: 3, AZ; why. therefore,
need we wonder that doubts should
arise In the mind of the greatest
born of woman?" Not one of us at
all familiar with the experiences OF
life and the subtility Of temptation
will be surprised when under these
circumstances we read Of Johns ques-
ton, v. 90. This doubt Is so natural
that 1t bears upon its very face the
stamp OF being genuine and that tho
record was not fabricated. 1t Is no
ticable in the form of Johns question
that he had no doubt as to the char
acter of Jesus, the genuineness OF his
was sent of God, but still no qucs.
toned, as this the Messiah?"
John was not envious GJohn 3:27-36),
,e was too great a man to be that,
out yet Jesus had not welded the AK
as he had expected, hence the mes
senger to Jesus and this frank que
ton. John sets us the good example
OF taking his doubts to Jesus, and
Jesus In n most tender way answers
his doubling and OF the same time
turns 1t to his OVID advantage in con.
hrming his claims as tho Messiah.
John Sought Not His Own Glory.
The second half OF the lesson Is the
tribute Of Jesus to the life and char.
acter Of John the Baptist. Jesus has,
as we have just seen, sent his word OF
comfort and cheer to John when he
turns to the multitudes with a highly
eulogistic testimony as to Johns work,
his worth and his greatness, True. his
faith seemed to be shaken for the mo.
ment, but John was o q reed sha.
ken Of the wind" indeed not. John
was not a man seeking his own glory
(Luke 3:16) nor his own comfort
Matt. 81. A.. He was not clad sump-
tuously Uuke 7:25). No, John was a
prophet, a man sent, commissioned, in.
spired Of God. He had authority to
speak for God Luke 1916. 26) in de.
clarlng Gods will to man. Yes, John
Is all OF this and more, for he was him.
self the subject of Old Testament
prophecy (Mal. 81, etc.. This John
was chosen among all men to go be-
fore his face and to prepare a highway
In the minds and hearts Of Israel over
which Jesus the Messiah might enter
and begin the establishing Of this new
Kingdom. 1t was in performing this
service that John filled one of the
highest Offices ever filed by man. In
this eulogy we need to recall the DIFF.
ference In the miraculous births Of
these two men. John super.
naturally born OF natural parentage.
Jesus s%upernaturally born OF woman
but conceived Of the Holy Spirit, hence
the words Of Jesus are to be under.
stood that among purely human beings
mono greater was born of woman"
Went to Christ Himself.
Jesus words fl verse Is are tremen.
dous with import. Literally he says:
Il have told you these things about
John and about my kingdom, now you
who have ears have an obligation rest.
Ing upon you because OF what | have
told YOU" There was need OF their
understanding and accepting an I'm.
portant teaching, but the unreasonable
Scribes and Pharlsees would accept
neither the austere John nor the more
social Jesus. John would not Join in
their gaity. Jesus mourned not but
led a more joyous life, yet they re.
5ected him also. This "Son OF Man"
not Of a man nor the nan but son OF
man, OF humanity. known as friend of
the needy and the outcast, Is himself
cast out by the religious leaders of his
time. Nevertheless In the wisdom of
H. ~ IL rAnl AatL UaL- A. na-