The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-09-26
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER IT
REVIEW.

REVIEW.
READING LESSON-John 3:14-21.
GOLDEN TEXT come quickly: hold
fast that which thou hast. that no one
take thy crown. Rev. 3:1l.
The lessons of the first quarter OF
this years cycle chiefly present Jesus
as the great teacher. Those of the
second quarter principally concern the
aspect of his saviorhood, whereas dur
ing this present quarter we see him
mainly as the great judge. These les
sons have dealt with matters which
occurred during the last months, we
may almost say the last weeks, OF his
life. During that year Of opposition"
he is met with the Rost determined
hostility and persecution. Neverthe-
less he proceeds against It ALI With
calm assurance, In strict justice ahG
without a shadow of faltering.
This reading lesson contains the
most celebrated and familiar verse In
the bible. In it We see;
A mighty God-"For God"
A mighty motive-"So loved
A mighty scope-'"The world"
A mighty sacrihce-'So gave His only be-
gotten Son"
A mighty escape-"Not perish"
A mighty gift-"Eternal lfe."
We here see Jesus set forth in grace
and while it does not declare that he
came to Judge, yet, in the passage are
set forth those principles upon which
he is constantly the judge, and where
by he will eventually act in the last
and final judgment.
Gods Right
In the first lesson, that of the labor
ers, Jesus taught his disciples the SOW
ereignty of God. God has a right to
do as seemeth best to himself. In this
parable we see the true motive in serv-
ice, viz, fidelity and not for hope of
reward. Jesus thus prepared the way
for his denunciation and judgment, of
the rulers.
Lesson two, which deals with the
self-seeking disciples and the self-sac-
rificing Savior, is intended to teach
that there is but n path to true and
lasting greatness, and that is the path
of sacrifice and service In it the dis
ciple has presented the question of
association with himself in power, and
the method and value of service.
The story of Bartimaeus, lesson
three, is a beautiful and touching ex-
hibition of his activity of mercy even
in the midst of the approaching judg-
ment.
In the fourth lesson is presented the
parable of the pounds and the talents.
Both are spoken to the disciples and
both deal with their responsibilities to
himself in the coming days. Our eter-
nal reward depends upon III acts and
attitudes in the life that now is. We,
are rewarded not according to what
the Lord has bestowed upon us but
rather as we use that which is be
slowed upon US These parallels pre-
eminently deal with our responsible
ties to himself in the days to come.
Thus far the lessons were spoken as
he approached the city. The hour was
approaching, therein, in which he
would declare the verdict and pass
sentence upon the chosen people.
Lesson five presents Jesus as the
Messiah p~rophesied Of in the Old Tes-
lament. 1t deals with the story of his
coming into Jerusalem. Entering thus
in such a manner demands our atten-
ton for it ~foreshadows the time of his
judicial activity with reference to the
people and the nation.
The next five lessons may be said
TO deal with this ministry of judgment
In lesson six we see some of the.
preparatory signs and teaching. The.
blasting of the fig tree and his cleans
ing of the house of God are both SYM
bolical.
Lesson seven teaches us that If we
fail to be faithful in the kingdom
which has been entrusted to US it will
certainly be taken from US. Jesus COM
pels the rulers to define their own fail
ure and to pass sentence upon that
failure. He then most solemnly warns
them that in the economy Of God, his
people Israel had been set aside from
service.
Lesson eight presents the parable OF
the marriage feast in which Jesus IN
folds the plan of Gods invitation and
its human rejection in three stages
Gods kInshlp.
The ninth lesson is a political in.
quiry which our Lord answered by
setting forth all of the important state
relationships according to the funda-
mental fact Of the kingship of God.
Render unto Caesar the things that
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