The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-03-24

man cOmeth unto the fatAeF, but by nc
John li:t.
The purpose of Johns gospel is re-
vealcd in John 20 81. 1t was to prove
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son Of
God. and to prove IT IN such way
that men might believe It in their
hearts, and thus obtain, through that
belief. eternal life In his name. There
fore the best method of review for
the lessons OF the past quarter would
be to go over the lessons one by one,
and find out how ii is that this great
truth, which brings life TO men, is IL
Illustrated in each of the several les
sons. The object Of such Il review
should be TO make Jesus as real to us
as if we were with him and his diSci-
pies, and could realize that the Word
is now dwelling among us, full Of
grace and truth, giving daily of his full
ness and grace for grace" (Ch. l Ii
16). Jesus IS ''the way" the way
to heaven, the way to all that is high
est and best on earth. the way of life,
the way to the Father, the goal Of all
human aspirations, the way out Of all
human darkness and sin, the way to
holiness and to God. Jesus is also the
truth, the revealed truth about God.
He revealed the forgiveness of God for
the sins of men, the right way of liv-
ing. Jesus is the life, the source Of
life, the life itself. the true life here
on earth, and the eternal life which Is
to abide forever. Thus our entire re-
view centerS about Jesus Christ. 1t
would be good to have a map chiefly
of the vicinity of the Sea Of Galilee
to use in this review.
Lesson !. Jesus, the Life and Light
of Men. This is the central truth of
the gospel. Note the pre-eXiStence Of
Jesus Christ as the eternal Word, in
! the beginning with God" Then again
we see it as plainly showing forth or
declaring him to be God. We see him
also as the Creator of all things, the
One In who was life, and he is, was
and ever is and ever shall be the Light
of men. Jesus of Nazareth was the
eternal Word who became flesh, and
the apostles beheld his glory. Point
out on the map the places in Palestine
made most precious by what Jesus did
in them.
Lesson II. John the Baptist. This
is a lesson of Johns testimony to Jesus
as the Son of God; also that Jesus was
| the Lamb of God, eternal, pre-eXistent,
the One who was baptized by the Holy
| Ghost, showing us the real nature Of
| Jesus as the Word Of God. Describe
who and what he was and did that
made him the perfect Savior. John
was the fOrerunner; show in what way
he made known Christ as the Mes
| siah; also refer to why Jesus was
| baptized, and emphasized the value
/ of Gods approval, and the coming of
the Holy Spirit upon him.
Lesson III. The First Disciples of
Jesus. Andrew and Philip discovered
| the Messiah of whom Moses and the
! prophets did write, and revealed him
unto Nathaniel, who discovered in
Jesus the Son of God and the King Of
Israel. Relate how Jesus found these
disciples, their names and their char
acteristics, and why each one was espe-
cially fitted for his particular work.
Lesson w. His Fathers House.
Jesus, manifesting himself as the Son
Of God, the Father, was the Ruler of
Gods house, and drove from 1t those
who deflled it by making that house a
house of merchandise.
Lesson v. The Savior of the World.
Jesus, as the only begotten Son of God,
can give eternal life to those who be-
ueve on him. Describe the character
Of Nicodemus, what 1t means to be
born again, and what Is meant by be-
ing born of water and of the spirit.
Lesson VI. The Woman of Samaria.
Jesus declared himself to this woman
as the Christ, and also as the giver of
eternal life; therefore he was God.
Referring to the last lesson, emphasize
what Jesus meant by his reference to
Moses and the brazen serpent, and
bring out the fact that the water Of
which he speaks is the gift of everlast-
ing life.
Lesson VII. The NobIeman's Son.
Jesus made his glory to be seen a sec
ond time in Cana of Galilee by healing
sickness although not present at the
bedside Of the sick one. Healing and
faith are co-partners. John usually
calls Jesus miracles signs. Signs Of
what? Signs that are to prove that
Jesus is divine, to prove that was more
than a man, and that he could do
things that men cannot do. Bring out
the fact that Jesus appeals to his mir
acles as proof that he Is the Son of
God, but that miracles are not the
breaking of the laws Of nature neces-
sarily. When a man changes q few
trees into a house, he does not break
the laws of nature, but, by the creative
force of his will, accomplishes his pur-
pose. Animals cannot do this, because
an animal has not creative power God
certainly can do what man can do, and
as much beyond as God is greater than
man.
Lesson VIII. The Pool Of Bethesda
Again Jesus manifests his power by
healing by his bare word the man who
had been inf1rm thirty and eight years,
and who was utterly helpless and hope