The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-02-03
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 4
'sSOo TIE SAVIOR OF II
WORLD.


not perish. but have e.e-l.-,ug ii
3.lG
This most famous Interview in
tory occurred probably in >oiae 70
In Jerusalem where jesus WAS N.
a room reached by an outer sjairv
50 that be- could receive visitors
vately.
|. The Teacher of the Jews wv
p. Incidents was m.mhyr Of
Sanhcdrin (Ch. 100. lie belonged
the PhariS"rS who were much deyOI
10 the scriptures, and in whose hI
the political affairs vcrn ard
placed by the Romans There are
eral Reasons why Nicudrmus elmeI
Jesus by night Prudence dictated
crecy. but that he came at AL was
cOuraging. He was more apt 10 4
Jesus at home in the evening. Hen
much that he wished to learn.
needed quiet hour, removed m
the crowd. The things that Jesus
done and taught made &Icodeu
think that Jesus might be the NJ
siah. Ncodcmus wanted ~ kri
how 10 be blessed or happy. He Z
willing to be taught. He was an ed
est inquirer.
". A Teacher From God wv. 81
\ great majority of the disciples
Jesus came from the common peOf
q Cor. :26) Yet for all classes
had the same message, I'VE must
born again" The answer of JED
was according 10 the condition of Il
man before him. the deepest need
his soul. Literally, ne said. Most 1
Suredly. except a man (anyone)
| born again (anew or from above)
cannot enter the kingdom IF heavenI
! To be born anew means 2, be bOk
again. II matters not what your pa
entage may have been. If any ma
could do without n new birth. Md
demuS was that man. He was mori
religious and sincere. The inStrumei
through which this birth IS effectlI
Is the word of God q Peter I'd
James lis; John II ~ and the ad
thor is the Holy Spirit ". 3: Titd
800. Water is symbol of the woH
(Eph. $500. Literally TRANSLATED
this passage would read. Except on
be born Of water and wind" And a
wind "by universal consent refers 4
one factor in regeneration, the SpInj
so the water manifeStly refers to 81
other element of regeneration. hi
word" The main contention is thj
the word is the instrument in the n
generation. Although not expressl
mentioned here, II IS elsewher{
NicOdemuS was n teacher Of IsraeI h
10 X. W and yet he did not know 1
fundamental a truth as the new brit
though the Old Testament taught Il
There is no speculation or guess wo.
about Jesus own teaching. He cou
say, I'VE speak that we do know"
~. He had been In heaven, and
speaking of heaven he spoke Of o.
things which he, himself, had seen
~. The Pupils Difficulty wv. 9-Dk
The works Of the flesh as cOntrastI
with the fruits Of the Spirit Al
brought out in the Epistles, yet. M
NicOdemus, people are asking tods&
How can these things be?" Jed
challenges NicOdemus with the worik
art thou teacher of Israel and d
derstandest not these things?" W.
Jesus said TO Nicodemus wv. ILL
Is true Of the scriptures now. especk
ly of the New Testament. They ID
tify to the facts which Jesus knt
and revealed. he having been
heaven, and come down from heaw
for the purpose Of making the
known. To be born implies that
Is the starting point of n new life. III
we must grow as child grows to 4
a man until It reaches to IN perfe3
man unto the measure Of the status
of the fullness Of Christ" (Eph. 4 :1sk
Many of the best saints cannot ~
when they become Christians. II
proof Is To be observed in the resuI
Of their lives. We cannot put on
fingers upon one day and say. "Sprr4
has come" hut the spring does coma
The religious life must have
growth. that Is an unfolding and Oh
of the powers and possin
tiles of that life.
w. The Lesson illustrated wv. ii
Is, 1S). Jesus believed In obiectiv,
teaching, and he here refers to
event in the early hIstaf
Of the Jews rs illustrating his teadX
Ing. The journey through the wildev
ness to the promised land becar.
weary and dlscouraging. and the d
raelites complained bitterly Of the
complaining against Cd
and against Moses. Punishment CAM
N the form Of fiery serpents. calls.
fiery from the burning. singing sensy
hon caused by their bite. So intens
was the venom of the bites that the
became fatal in n few hours. Thu
made the people realIek
he awful evil of sin. They acknovf<
edged their sin. and prayed for for
yiveness. Moses made a brazen ser
Dent. and carried II through the camp
20 that all could see, and looking be
,ame an act Of faith. implying repent
lnce and return 10 obedience and .
God. Thus our salvation IS Literally
Look and live" believe and han
eternal life; doubt and perish Mar
I8:16; John 3 :3G).
The moment we really look IN Jesu