The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-03
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
February 4th, 1917. Jesus the
Savior Of the World. John 3:1-21.
Ry M. J, Mclean

February 4th, 1917. Jesus the
Savior of the World. John 3:1-21.
BY M. J. Mclean
Nicodemus, ruler of the Jews,
was attracted by the Savior's mira
cles and by them was led to believe
he was a prophet. He was investiga-
ting his work with good motives and
lofty intentions and was planning in
his own mind to cooperate with him
in restoring the Kingdom of Israel.
Being a Pharisee and cautious
man, he went to the Savior by night
and unfolded to him the content OF
his mind. On meeting Christ, he &C
knowledged he was teacher come
from God and gave him assurances
of his sympathy and willingness to
cooperate in every good work.
Christ read the content of the
mind Of Nicodemus and was en-
barrassed that he had failed to
grasp the idea of his character and
the mission of his presence in the
world. Good works will draw the
attention of men, but they are
powerless to change the character
Of men. Christ drew many souls to
him through good works, but on
some occasions he had to rebuke
those following him for no other
purpose than to receive what he
would give them. There are always
followers Of the Christian faith
merely for the temporary benefits
it may bestow on them without any
desire to appropriate its teaching.
The Savior made use Of Nicode-
mus, to teach this important truth.
He did not leave him in doubt about
his nature. He might cooperate
with him and do his good work, but
self-created efforts would brake
down. It was necessary that he be
regenerated If his good intentions
were to hold out.
Il is not easy to understand the
doctrine Of regeneration. Christ did
not try to make Nicodemus under
stand it. He merely showed him he
had q capacity for God and the nee
essity of allowing Him to Occupy His
rightful place in his life. This would
produce, not only change in &C
tons but q change in character and
thought. It was hard for Nicodemus
to understand how this spiritual
birth was to take place. It being a
spiritual and invisible birth, but a
very real one, the Savior sought an
illustration in nature. "The wind
bloweth where it listeth, and thou
nearest the sound thereof, and
canst not tell whence it cometh and
whittier it goeth: so is every one
that is born of the Spirit" Life it.
self is the greateSt evidence of birth,
natural or spiritual.
Most men, like Nicodemus, find
in believing this doctrine.
It will be found that spiritual birth
is like natural in that we are not
born full grown. The infant of the
day has every part Of body and soul.
but does not understand them and !
IS powerless to use them. Likewise,
The second birth impresses upon the
,oul the image of God, but it re-
,uires time and practice to fully de-
,elope the impressions Of God the
,oul has received. This is one Of the
most beautiful doctrine of the saw
or. When the spirit Of God flies in
o man he is made all the more what
le knows he ought to be. He feels
hat his identity and personality viii !,
lot be lost, but perfected.
In the last verses of the lesson,
he Savior guided the attention of
licodemus to himself. For God so
oved the world that he gave his
My begotten Son, that whosoever
elieveth in him should not perish, 7
ut have everlasting life. For God
ent not his Son into the world to
ondemn the world, but that the II
'orld through him might be save" 2
That soul would not like to believe
,ese gracious words, fP
One Ship turns east and another Il
west
18th the same winds that blow: q
il the set Of the sail and not the =
gales 2
'hich tells US the way to 60. = !.
ike the winds Of the sea are the =
ways Of fate
, We voyage along through life:
i the set Of the soul which de-
cides the goal
"a not the calm Of strife"