Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-02-28
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson M.-First Quarter, For
March 3, 1912.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Msmory verses, 10, H-Golden Text
Matt. tx. 81, 3S-Commentary Pre-
pared by Rev. D. NJ. Stearns.
According to the harmony Of the COS.
pels. 1t would seem that Jesus returned
to where John was preaching. and az
he cried on two different days. "Be-
hold the Lamb OF Godw two Of John >
disciples. Andrew and probably John.
the brother of James. followed Jesus
and spent some time with Him one
day. after which Andrew found his
brother. Simon, and brought him TO
Jesus, and the inference is that John
brought his brother James. Then
Jesus went into Galilee to Bethsaida.
the city OF Andrew and Peter. and
called Philip 70 follow Him. After
this Philip brought Nathaniel. and
thus we see the first six disciples ac-
cording to John /. 29-51. They seem
to have received several calls before
they left all to follow Him fully. The
lesson today indicates a call to An
drew and Peter as they were casting n
net into the sea. and to james and
John as they were in the ship with
their father mending their nets. The
account Of this incident Is found in
Matt. ". 1892, as well rs in our lesson
verses from Mark. The incident OF
Luke Y. Ill, seems TO have been
wholly different and at a different
time. At that time He used Simon'S
boat as pulpit and then filed both
his boat and that OF his partners.
James and John. with fishes. We
must ever distinguish between Chris
tians and disciples 4 Christian is
one who truly receives Jesus Christ as
his Saviour and thus becomes a child
Of God. justified freely by His grace
GOhn 1. IL; Rom. iii. "a: V u. There
are no degrees in salvation, for all
who are in Christ are equally saved
by His precious blood. He obtaiped
eternal redemption for all, and all who
receive the gift OF God. which is eter
nal life, have 1t without money or
works Of any kind on their part Dis
ciDleShip follows. and as il is so costly
10 the believer few are willing to nav
the price; hence the whole hearted dis
cipleS are comparatively few, and
there are many degrees In discipleship
and many calls to obtain the few. See
Luke xiv. %. 81, SO: Matt. Z, 81, IS:
xvi. "a Having saved us fully. freely
and forever. He desires us to be ever.
only, all for Himself. His -~.n special
property. that He may live His life In
Us and reveal Himself through us 10
the world Q's. iv. 3; Tit. ii. II, II. v;
III TheSs. ", 10, ID. The ministry Of
John the Baptist seems to have been
very brief. and. having been imprison-
ed because hated by a wicked woman.
he was in due time beheaded. and the
Lord Jesus suffered It to be so. al
though He said that no greater was
ever born Of woman Matt. xi, IL. We
cannot understand. but we must have
confidence in God.
After John was put in prison Jesus
began TO preach the gospel OF the
kingdom of God, urging men TO repent
and believe the gospel oversees II, 15).
Both John and Jesus and also the
twelve prea ched that the kingdom was
at hand, the kingdom plainly foretold
by all the prophets. a kingdom OF
peace and righteousness under a right
eOus king. before whom all kings VIII
fall down and whom all nations Will
serve. Then shall the nations learn
war no more. and from a righteous Is
rael at the center. with Jerusalem as
the throne OF the Lord. the earth will
soon be filed with the glory Of the
Lord Qsa. xxi. !. II; H. 4; Jer. iii, II;
Ps. Xxi, III. Truly. 1t is worth while
TO follow such a leader through all
trials to such a kingdom and to walk
worthy Of 1t and Him Matt. xvi, 27;
Thess. ii, 10; Pet. v, 1O. We may
so know Him as to be blind and deaf
TO all but His face and His voice. and
thus He will make us fishers OF men
20 complete His elect church during
this age Of the postponement of the
Kingdom, because they said, I'VE have
no king but Caesar" I'VE will not
have this man to reign over US"
In the latter part Of our lesson we
find Him in the synagogue in Caper-
naum on the Sabbath day and so
teaching that all were astonished at
His doctrine, for He taught with au-
thOrity. The words were not His. but
His Fathers. for He said only what
the Father told Him to say John XII.
80: xiv, 10; vxii. y. Power belongeth
unto God. and where the word Of n
king is there is power Dps. xii. 10
Eccl. will. A.. On the night OF His ar
rest His two words II am" sent the
Roman soldiers to the ground, for 4.
was the same voice which said. LET
there be light" Gen. |. 81. A demon
possessed man was in the synagogue.
and the evil spirit knew Him and call
ell Him Jesus Of Nazareth. the Holy
One of God Verse Oh for the demons