The Holt County sentinel., 1912-06-14

upon the character Of John the Bap.
list. Following the Imprisonment OF
John by Herod, Jesus. for diplomatic
reasons. made Capernaum his head
quarters. and u 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
30 Intensely active 10 be obliged to
sit Idly by and wait while anoiher's
name and fame increases daily was a
severe test Of faith. His prototype.
Elijah, had to meet a similar testing
Il Kings 10: 3. ~: 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 subtiliiy Of temptation
VIII be surprised when under these
circumstances We read OF Johns cues.
ton. v 90. This doubt II so natural
that II bears upon It's very face the
stamp Of being genuine and that the
record was not fabricated. II II mo-
iicable In the form Of Johns question
that he had no doubt az to the char.
acter Of Jesus. the genuineness Of his
miracles, nor any question but that he
was sent Of God. but still he ques.
toned. "is this the Messiah"
John was not envious John 3:27.36).
he was too grent man to be that.
but yet Jesus had not welded the ax
a. he had expected. hence the mes.
senger TO Jesus and this frank ques.
ton. John sets us the good example
Of taking his doubts to Jesus. and
Jesus In q most tender way answers
his doubling and Mt the same time
turns Il to his own advantage In con.
hrming his claims as the Messiah.
John Sought Not His Own Glory.
The second half OF the lesson Ia the
tribute OF Jesus 10 the life and char.
acter Of John the Baptist. Jesus has.
M We have Just seen. sent his word OF
comfort and cheer to John when he
turns TO the multitudcs with n highly
enlogistic Testimony as TO Johns work.
his worth and his greatness. True. his
faith seemed to he shaken Tor the mo-
ment. but John was not reed sha
ken OF the wind" indeed not John
was not man seeking his own glory
Luke 3:i6D nor his own comfort
MAT. 81, ~. He was not clad stump
tuously U.uke 1850. No. John was u
prophet, n man sent. commissioned. In.
spired Of God. lie had authority 10
speak for God luke 1:l6. 26) In de-
claring Gods will to man Yes. John
IL all Of this and more. for he was him.
self the subject Of Old Testament
prophecy (Mal. 81. etcD. 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. II was In performing this
service that John filled one OF the
highest Offices ever filled 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 parentale.
Jesus systematically horn Of woman
but conceived Of the Holy Spirit, hence
the words Of Jesus are 10 be under.
stood that among purely human beings
none greater was born Of woman"
Went to Christ Himself
Jesus words In verse rs are tremen.
| dons 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 I have
told you" There was need OF their
understanding and accepting an I'm.
portant teaching, but the unreasonable
Scribes and Pharisees would accept
neither the austere John nor the more
social Jesus. John would not Join in
their gaity. Jesus mourned not but
led more Joyous life, yet they re-
| jected him also. This son OF Man"
not OF man nor the man but son Of
man. OF humanity, known az friend OF
the needy and the outcast, Ia himself
cast out by the religious leaders OF his
time. Nevertheless In the wisdom of
God luke HAD both John the Hap.
fist. and Jesus the Son OF man and of
Mary, have been sent and the results
| Of their lives and of their teachings
prove them to be a part OF Gods wise
| plan. Gods wisdom IL justified ".
19) by it's workings or as some trans
late It by its children"
Great as was John the forerunner,
yet he that Is In this newer kingdom
Jesus came to establish Ia vastly great.
or than the old Hebraism.
One Of the six Panama commission
ers WAS, a few years ago, cub re-
porter at Ave dollars per week. and
during that time was much perplexed
over the problems of the Christian life
and tormented by bis doubts. Four
successive nights he discussed the mat.
ter with his pastor; on the NTH he
came with radiant face to inform his
| pastor that all his Questi0nings were
| aAttIoN for soiJ hn UI vyAut IN Nhplat