The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1917-01-11
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
BY M. J. Mclean

January IA, 1917. Text, Johr
1:19, 1884.
Golden Text.-Behold the Lamt
Of God, which taketh away the sin OF
the world.
John the Baptist was a character
of the first magnitude He is count
ed one among the six greatest mer
in the history of the world. Afte,
two thousand years his character
shines with an increasing brilliance
Very likely there are not more than
three thousand printed words in the
Scriptures bearing on his life, but no
human Scripture character has a
niger relative religious value. His
conduct in beginning his life was an
index to true genius. He prepared
himself by leaving his comfortable
home, and going into the wilderness
to steep his mind in the Sacred
narratives and to harden his nature
for any task requiring resolution
and enthusiasm.
On returning to the people he be-
gan preaching a doctrine of repent
ance and return to pious living.
Multitudes evidently flocked to him
under the conviction of guilt and the
truth of his message, and old and
young alike were baptized on the
banks Of the Jordan. The fame of
his work spread throughout the
country. It seemed the beginning of
= new age, the realization of promis-
e. long foretold, the Transportation of
lost hopes, the quickening Of new
faith in God.
This revival aroused the jealousy
Of the Pharisees and they sent a de-
putation from Jerusalem to ask
John who he was, if he was the
Christ or Elias, returned. He was
armed with the prophetic messages
foretelling the coming of the Mes
siah, and repudiated the suggestion
Of the Jerusalem deputation that he
was the Christ, or in their sense,
Elijah, whom they believed would
return to the earth, by citing Old
Testament Scripture with which
they were no doubt familiar. When
asked why he baptized if he was
Christ nor Elijah, John said II
baptize with water; but there stand
eth one among you whom We know
not"
Here is manifested the integrity
Of the character Of John, or Elijah,
or he had desired to emulate him
self. We do not know that he had
seen Christ, or that he had a clear
idea Of what he would be like, the
nature Of his demands and work. He
was on the contrary convinced that
something had happened and it was
his desire to build up in his people
that conviction. There standeth one
among You whom We know not, who
coming after me is preferred be-
fore me, whose shoes latchet l am
not worthy to unloose." Here is
combined true humility with an in
dard lively impulse towards God. A
mans character cannot be deter
mined by his possession Of the at
tributes which constitute character, 4
but by sincere interest in them an
enthusiastic. desire for them. Abso-
lutte character belongs to God alone. /,
John the Baptist betrayed that
weakness common to humanity by
telling his visitors that neither they I
nor he knew the Christ. He was to
be revealed by signs and when these !
Iigns were observed John was no :
onger in doubt about the One for
whom he was preparing the way. It {
nay be sdded in this connection, I
hat men are not always what they |
Ire thought to be. Some are better, {
while others are worse. Johns atti- I
ude to Jesus in assuming that he '
vas what he ought to be may be '
aiken as an high ideal for our esti-
nation Of Others, It is better to as g
ume they are, even at the expense b
{ erring, and prove the assumption 4
rue or false, that to be in doubt. i
Verses 1884 describe the APP o
roach Of Jesus to John and the de- n
cent Of the Holy Ghost upon him. A
Vhen John saw Jesus coming, he .
ERECTED the attention Of those 4
IaAding BY to him and said. "Be- e
ia the Lamb Of God which taketh Y
nv the sin Of the world" This
DsGiption Was very likely inspired A