Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1918-01-04
LESSON FOR JANUARY 6
JOHN PREPARES THE WAY FOR
JESUS.

LESSON TEXT-Mark l:l.li.
GOLDEN TEXT-Behold the Lamb OF
God. that taketh away the sin Of the
world.-John i;29.
PRIMARY MEMORY vERsE-Thou
shalt call his name Jesus: For II Is he
that shall save his people from their sins
Matt. lei
INTERMEDIATE, SENIOR AND
ADULT TOPIC-Heralds OF the king,
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
TEACHERS-lsa 1895 Nal. 3I-3; Luke
l;5-2b; $3.50, Matt, SI-l7 Luke 3I-S; John
lI9-42
The first lesson for this year marks
the Introduction Of The Improved Uni
form series Of International Sunday
School Lessons. This series has grown
out Of several years Of frank discus
sion and the presentation Of many pro-
posed lesson schemes. II is nn effort
TO conserve the benefits Of the uni
form system Of lessons with the desire
to ndnpt the lessons as thoroughly
ms possible 10 the modern pedagogical
idea Of graded instruction for the varl-
Gus departments Of the school: an
attempt TO provide for the whole school
as thorough and rs ieachnble II uni
form lesson idea MS possible.
Special topics and special memory
verses and additional scrlptural ma
terial have been designated wherever
II has been deemed possible whereby
to make the lessons more helpful to
the pupils Of different departments.
II is the beginning Of an eight-yenr
cycle, chosen with the view first, Of
incorporating several short topical
courses In addition to the usual series
on the chronological basis. ind sec
ond the committee had In mind the
deslrability Of more frequent survey
Of the entire Bible with varying meth
DDS Of approach than is possible under
n six-years cycle. Finally. to har-
monte In the period of the cycle the
newly adopted quadrennlal conven-
lions OF the International Sunday
School association Where no topic,
memory verse or additional material
is indicated for lnter.departments of
schools, II is intended that uniform
material should be employed for such
departments.
Occasionally the general title and
lesson may be found to be more help
full than the special topics or addi-
tional material ms indicated for CIV
en- department Sunday school lead
ers frankly acknowledge that this new
plan Is an experiment. 1t Is hoped.
however. that the long continued con-
troversies over graded lessons, extra
biblical material and uniform lessons
may find solution in this newer plan.
Marks Gospel pictures Jesus MS the
servant; therefore, II makes no refer
ence whatever to his genealogy. The
key.word to this gospel Is the word
"straightway," which is used more
than forty times, and it is sugges-
ton us regards the obedience OF n
servant.
|. introduction wv. l.3). The be-
ginning of the gospel is meant the
beginning of the blessed story ms told
by the evangelist, Mark, Note 1t is a
fulhlment of prophecy (Mal. 81; Isa.
60: 80. Mark is here more particular
" referring to Isaiah. This is the
period in the life Of Christ between
his temple experience and the day of
his baptism, when he first entered
publlcaly into the real history of
Israel Jesus must needs have n her
mid. even as an earthly king Is an
nounced before his arrival. Christ
himself is the living word (John I'D.
though the voice which announces him
Is the voice OF man--John the Bap-
tier. The baptism of John was unto
repentance and the remission of sins.
II must not be confused with Christian
baptism Some interesting questions
arise as to the life OF Jesus before
this eyent-hls religious habits Uuke
4 .1G) his attitude toward the word
Of God and its prophecies Quke An
2D; the work he had been doing In
Nazareth MARK 6:3).
u. The Baptizer. wv. 4-9. To
know what kind Of man John was,
we must look up Mark l % and Matt.
3:4. His religious convictions nre in
teresting also. They were matter
of his heart duke 3:S). a thing OF
his daily life duke 3:10. He was n
man who held to Il strict moral stand
ard MARK 8:1S). Ills method and his
message were u protest and a warn
Ing MS well as II preparation. Repent
once il not remission Of sin Il John
| :9). John demanded fruit" which
should accompany repentance Matt
3:S, o.. His message was not ma
tional but individual and his sugges-
ton Matt. 3.10-12) Of future punish
ment for wrong doing Is only exceeded
nv the words of our Lord himself. See
also Luke 310-16. His mode Of life
". 6), and the message he brought,
ms elsewhere indicated, created Il great
stir, but behind II NIL he was looking
for one who should baptize not with
water hut with the holy ghost and
fire. We have In verse nine some in
teresting comments and npprovals up
on whit is known rs The hidden years
in Nazareth" those years In the life
of our Lord which We have no record
ns 60 his conduct (Luke 2:39, 40).
M. The Baptism wv, 10, lD. Bap.
tism Is always an emblem, a symbol.
(See Matt. 3;11 Luke a:G; Mark Is;
Rom. 8:4.) 1t Is a public Identified
ton. n public conservation and confess
sion of faith. Jesus Christ himself
took the place Of sinners I'll Cor.
5.21).
We have I'm this connection Gods