The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-01-01
LESSON FOR JANUARY 4
JESUS AND THE CHILDREN.

JESUS AND the CHILDREN.
LESSON TExT-Mark s:ao-l1; 1o:1s-1s
GOLDEN TExT-"Gird yourselves with
humility. to serve one another; for God
resisteth the proud. but giveth grace to
the humble."-I Pet. IS.
We now return to the New Tesla
ment, and during this year finish those
studies on the life of Christ which
were followed during the year 1912.
Almost as though IL we're an answer
to the question, who are for him, and
who are against him?" that was asked
In the last lesson for that year. we
have presented for our study today,
the relations Of Jesus with children. In
his teachings about children, as about
SO many other things. Jesus stands
unique among all religious teachers.
The events of this lesson occurred
during the summer of A. D. 20, dur
ing the time of his Perean ministry,
which extended from his final depart
ure from Galilee until his triumphal
entry into Jerusalem.
Lust for Power.
| !. A Wayside Dispute, w. 3o-37.-As
though by way of contrast. the lesson
committee has given us this side-light
as to the effect, up to this time, upon
the hearts Of the disciples of those
great truths Jesus had been teaching
them, about the method whereby he
was to establish his kingdom. The
disciples lusted for power, a wrangling
which had not yet ceased. Jesus wait
ed until they had arrived at Caper-
1aum, and Their heat had cooled some
dispute. In response to his question
ng they held their peace. for, after
reflection, they were ashamed of what
lad taken place, v. "a. Jesus then pre-
,ented to them a concrete example Of
what is to be required of all of those
who shall seek to enter into this new
xingdom. That was q more pertinent
question than the one they had just
)een discussing. luke 1S:15-17) tells
Is that these disciples desired to send
he children away, hence the words.
Suffer them to come" Ever after,
when this mean, low. ambition to be
the greatest" came up, there must
rave arisen before them, In memory,
his picture. His appeal to children
meets a well nigh universal response
the hearts of men. Tho fact that
he child was SO near at hand is sug-
FESTIVE of the attractiveness of Jesus.
rhe disciples were seemingly afraid
If him ". 32). not 80. however, the
,hild. For us to receive one who per-
ectly trusts him il to receive Jesus
himself, and to receive Jesus IL to re-
.eive the Father, for he came as the
representative Of the Father, the full
'evelation of God. Col. 2:9. To en-
er the kingdom is of course prelim-
nary to any question of precedence
that kingdom. Jesus taught these
disciples that as little child Is
eachabIe (Matt. 1879, SO must ell be
Who are to follow him.
Thus Jesus contrasts the spirit of
humility with that Of pride which they
rad just shown. The lower we put
ourselves the higher God will exalt US.
Phil 2:6-11. Jesus rebuked his disci-
,les and taught them that rather than
seek the place of authority and leader
hip, they ought to take the place Of
, child, that they may be taught and
% ruled.
q. Authority Denied, w. 38-4f. The
spirit manifested by these disciples
". 3S) is far from having been re-
moved from the earth after all of these
1ears. The ability t. cast out devils
n the name of Jesus was evidence
enough in his mind that such persons
we're for, and not against. him, w. 80.
10. 1t is not, however. the ability to
east out the devils, but rather the
TACT that a service had been perform.
ed "in his name" which bulked large
in his mind. Such Ia the service that
has its reward. v. Al and Matt 1880.
Set Good Example.
~. Angelo In Disguise, 10: 1915.
This attitude of Jesus towards those
children about him (9:36) led others
to bring their children to him, and
among these were the babies. Lake
1915. Try and picture the scene a.
Jesus extended his hands In blessed
benediction. What effect this blessing
may have had upon baby's heart We
are not told, but we can imagine
that q sense of responsibility for Chris
. tian nurture must have remained with
these parents, Eph. ga Those In
charge of these children have set us
good example in bringing them tpus
early to Jesus. To allow children tc
reach the years Of understanding" b
fore teaching them the way Of life
10 as unreasonable as is neglect teach
ing children the habits Of physical
cleanliness. until they are old enough
to understand sanitation. hygiene. o.
the laws Of medical science.
As we look back over these incl
dents We are impressed by the fact
that those who engage in such silly
nay, even wicked discussion as Ia
the matter of preeminence-whether
It be that they had . spiritual or tenn
poral idea OF that kingdom-stood
dumb before him when called upon tc
justify themselves. Those who fain
would send the children away are re-
buked, and II Is revealed to them that
4 A.. La ka N