Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-01-12
LESSON FOR JANUARY IA
JOHN THE BAPTIST AND JESUS
LESSON TExT-John 1:1s-s4.

John began his public ministry in the
summer of A. D. 26 and the baptism of
Jesus probably took place in January,
A. d. %. The delegation from Jerusa-
lem to interview John must have ap-
peared along toward the latter part Of
February.
l. John the Witness (vv. 1913.
Johns ministry created great excite
ment. The people were in expectancy.
All classes were reasoning as to who
this strange but marvelously forceful
man might be. Some thought perhaps
he was the Christ Luke 3:15). To
settle this question a committee was
sent to Jerusalem to investigate.
Malachi, the prophet, has suggested the
coming of Elijah (Mal. A :5) before the
Messiah should come, and another
prophecy Indicated that the prophet
should be like unto Moses (Deut.
1S:16-1S). John freely confesses to
this delegation that hes is not the
Christ nor Elijah nor the prophet pre-
dicted by Moses. How foolish and
silly are those modern ones who pro-
fesS to be the messenger of the COW
enant or some other fanciful title, in
dicating the return of the witness
which is to precede the coming of
Christ. John exercises humility in the
way he states his real position though
he does apply to himself the prophecy
of Isaiah Elsa. 40 :3-5) which sets forth
what his mission was to be. A voice
can be heard but not seen. With our
bodily eyes we never see q spirit. No
man ever saw the soul of his nearest
friend. We do see God, however, in
his works, in his marvellous deliver
ances and his guidance of the world
and his answers to prayer. We can
also see him in the only begotten Son
who has made him to be seen. Who
ever sees Jesus as he was and is has
seen God. Truly blessed are the pure
| in heart for they shall see God"
II. John the, Baptizer wv. 1920.
AS John had denied that he was the
Christ or Elijah, the priests and Lev
ties made bold to question his author
ity at later time (Matt. 21-23), and
still later the authority of the apos-
ties and the priests (Acts :2S). John
answers them with another display OF
his humility. His baptism in water
was nothing to the baptism of the
coming one (See Matt. 3 IL; Acts L :5)
Though Christ was in their midst, they
were blind and did not recognize him
(See Wv. TO- IL; ch. S:19; 1879
Johns baptism of repentance denote:
baptism which a penitent submitted
to that he might receive the pledge
and assurance that his sins were for
given. Baptism meant the cleansing
Of the people from past sins that the!
might be fitted for entrance into thu
kingdom. Baptism is not conversion
1t is a witnessing and a symbol of ,
spiritual truth that we are dead unit
sin, and have risen to newness of lif,
Rom. $3.50. Like John, our voic,
must be not only that of humility bu
it must be really voice with a mes
sage from God, one that sounds an un
mistakable note, one that can be hear,
wherever we go, one that will max
men happier, stronger, Drawer, NOR
like God, to prepare the way for Chris
in the hearts of men.
III. The Witness of the Spirit ",
2S-34). The writer is very explicit
stating the exact time that these thing
occurred, for he was an eye witnes:
John first testifies that Jesus was tn
Lamb of God. referring of course t
the sacrificial lamb, the atoning sacr
fee of the Old Testament (Gen. % :7-S
Elk. II 81; lisa. 53:T). AS the Lamb {
God, Jesus would take away the sin
of the world; thus the thought is pr
marily that of atonement, substitl
ton of another and the deliveranc
from the guilt of sin. The next da
! after Johns witness to the delegatio
from Jerusalem, he saw Jesus comm
unto him, and said to the assemble
| people, "Behold the Lamb of God
This refers not so much to his chara
ter, that of innocence, meekness an
patience, as to his Office. his complete
work of atonement by the sacrifici
death wherein he takes away the sir
of the world. On the, ground of IL
, propitiatiOn for sin which Jesl
wrought Il John 2:2; Matt. 20 :2S;
Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13) sin is remove
, from the sinner as far as the East
: from the West. God dealt in mere
! with men before Christ's time becau
of the lamb which was slain from Il
foundation of the world (Rev. 13 &
Here John says that at first he did n
recognize Jesus as the Messiah, but
il does bear record that he saw t
i spirit descending at his baptism, and
i abode upon him. Luke adds that t
II heavens were opened, and the spil
I'll descended in the form of a dove. The
II is no difficulty in Johns statement,
II knew him not" He lived in Jude
II Jesus lived in Galilee, and it is doul
II full If they had ever met. What Jol
II probably means is that he did 4
Il know him as the coming Messiah, b
Il he that commissioned John in the W
a derness to be the forerunner of t
a Messiah had given John a sign whe
by he should know him, the Son
God. John had waited patiently un
I'll | ILLS SAGl was CIV Clls Lie uAl llOI SIJ6
4 until he had the certificate of God.
Il knew that one was to be made ma
4 fest; therefore he came baptizing w
I water, preparing the way Matt. 8 %
Il As soon as he did see, John gave
/. testimony, land this is the lamb Il
was to take away the sin of the worlC
II literally to bear away and remove I
guilt and punishment of sin.
The work of Christ is for the VIII
i world till all it's sin is removed.
q He provides redemption enough
every man. He pardons our past S
so they are remembered no m,
against us forever.
He is actually removing sin from
- world, and when he comes again,
~ will be banished. Luke's record az
that this same Messiah is to bapt
no with the Holy Ghost and fire.
Christians are to be on fire for G
~ The gift of the holy spirit at Per
90 cost was the first and most manif