Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-12-30
SUNDAY SCHOOL
$ASLESS0N ~
BY BIN NYM.SOr1E

Lesson January 6, Mark 1:l-ll.
Approaching the change from the
old to the new dispensation of Gods
dealings with mankind. John the Bap-
tist stood as the dividing line. lie was
himself more of the old style in man-
ner and teaching, altho the great
burden of his cry was that the time
had arrived for man to meet the Mes
siah, to repent of his sins and accept
the salvation long ago promised for
those who accepted and believed on
the Son OF God. He was an Elijah
returned to awake n sleeping Judah
and stir them up to n consciousness
of the crisis in the affairs OF men.
Good men of old had believed on the
promise of the Messiah and had or
dered their lives in conformity there
with. and this we are told was count
ed to them for righteousness. hut
man was no longer TO be called on
TO have faith simply in promise; the
consummation was at hand. and those
who would be counted among the
chosen of God must prepare TO meet
God in the, flesh and order their lives
directly by his teachings
Thisswas the difference between the
old and new d'spensations-the old
being the reign OF law. with its thou
shalt notsN and the penalties for dis
obedience. Piety was still founded ON
the basis of Moses at Sinai with the
thunderings and terrors OF an angry
Jehovah; was still largely a matter of
/ fear and awe of being far away
from mortal comprehension but with
the power of life and death and the
supremacy of all things. Now the
new order OF things comes in with the
reign of loving Kindness, with the
offer of eternal life TO free agents and
the opportunity for those who wish to
serve the Lord to do so from the mo-
tive of love instead Of fear Likewise
instead Of penalty being something to
follow the breach Of the law, pardon
comes to those who would obey. and
If they are lost the responsibility rests
solely with themselves az Il matter of
choice. Instead of striving to avoid
punishment. the child of God will
exert himself TO please his Lord, as a
child does the father whom be loves
and trusts. John preached the i'm
minence of penalties. hut added that
the time was at hand when the Lord
himself would come to claim his own
and substitute the kingdom. OF love
for the kingdom OF fear.
But John the Baptist was a sermon
! In himself Not only did he take no
given him. but he scorned luxury so
thoroly that he went to the extreme
OF plainness. living on the food of the
wilderness and clothing himself with
primitive apparel. More than that.
he went to no temple or synagogue to
pronounce his proclamation. but re-
mained In the great outdoors and
played the part OF missionary among
the haunts OF untamed nature and
away from the Vaccinations Of man.
so powerful was his preaching that
he did not have to go where he could
| find the men he wished to address.
! but they came to him in great num-
Z bers. His was the last appeal TO a
lost nation to wake up and seize upon
salvation. one more effort was made
/ TO get the people who had forgotten
the prophets and teachers of old by
/ this powerful preacher of whom
! Christ said he was greater than a
| prophet.
And John was modest He was
fearless enough In proclaiming his
message and in denouncing the wick
edness of his day, particularly the
wickedness that existed in the form
and appearance of established reli-
glon but when it came to claiming
greatness he shrank from egotism
Impersonally he called himself
voice" not a great evangelist, not
prophet, not n seeker of n otoriety
He was only the herald going ahead
to announce the apr Oach of his King.
the Lord of heaven and earth. And
when Jesus came to him to receive
the ordinance of baptism, he protested
that he was not even worthy to un-
lace his shoes, too humble to accept
even menial position for one so
great. He was no sensationalist.
striving to get his name on every
mans tongue. But his very life. as
well as his preaching, convinced thou
sands that here was a man who was
utterly sincere and the bearer Of a
divine commission.
Lives make more converts to truth
than the most powerful sermons. The
sermons influence is transitory. We
hear great preacher, admire his ora
tory and his logic, and then go about
our business and forget about him and
what he said. on the other hand,
the constant coming in contact with
man whose preaching is not only
honest. but whose every day of exist
erce evidences the sincerity of his
| heart and his devotion to a great Ideal,
| Is constant sermon dinninB in our
ears and gives visible evidence that
| Christianity is more than q tneory,
more than n creed. more than simply
! n rule Of life-it is an overpowcring
motive that makes man better and
makes him more kind and Just to his
| fellows.
! John was puzzled, doubtless AS
many of us would have been, at the
idea that Jesus should present him
self for baptism. Monarchs require
of their subjects certain ceremonials
TO indicate their reverence and 10y
atty; but no one would expect the
| king himself to observe those reg1Ila-
| tionE. But here was the Lord Of all
things coming to be put thru the
ceremony of baptism in the same
form as sinner seeking pardon,
| The answer of the Savior should set