The Elbert County tribune., 1918-01-04
LESSON FOR JANUARY 6
JOHN PREPARES THE WAY FOR
JESUS.

God, that taketh away the sin of the
world.-John 1.29.
PRIMARY MEMORY vERsE-Thou
shalt call his name Jesus: For 1t is he
that shall save his people from their sins
Matt. III.
INTERMEDIATE. SENIOR AND
ADULT TOPIC-Heralds of the king.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
rEACHERS-Isa. 40:3-5: Nal. 3I-3. Luke
I:5-25: $3.50: Matt. s1-17; Luke BIS; John
t:1e-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. 1t is an effort
to conserve the benefits of the uni
form system of lessons with the desire
to adapt the lessons as thoroughly
as possible to the modern pedagogical
idea of graded instruction for the vari-
ous departments of the school: an
attempt to provide for the whole school
as thorough and as teachable uni
form lesson idea as possible.
Special topics and special memory
verses and additional scriptural ma
terial have been designated wherever
it has been deemed possible whereby
to make the lessons more helpful to
the pupils of different departments.
1t is the beginning of an eight-year
cycle, chosen with the view first, of
incorporating several short topical
courses in addition to the usual series
ON the chronological basis, and sec
oud the committee had in mind the
desirability of more frequent survey
of the entire Bible with varying meth
ods of approach than is possible under
six-years cycle. Finally, to har-
monize in the period of the cycle the
newly adopted quadrennial conven-
tions of the international Sunday
School association. Where no topic,
memory verse or additional material
is indicated for inter-departments of
schools, 1t 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 as 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 a solution in this newer plan
Marks Gospel pictures Jesus as the
servant; therefore. it 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 a sugges-
tion as regards the obedience of
servant.
l. Introduction wv. 1-3). The be-
ginning of the gospel is meant the
beginning of the blessed story as told
by the evangelist, Mark. Note 1t is
fulfilment of prophecy (Mal. Il; Isa.
go :3). Mark is here more particular
ly 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
publically into the real history OF
Israel Jesus must needs have a her
aid, even as an earthly king is an
nounced before his arrival. Christ
himself is the living word (John 1 ID,
though the voice which announces him
is the voice of n man-John the Bap-
tizer. The baptism of John was unto
repentance and the remission of sins.
1t must not be confused with Christian
baptism. Some interesting questions
arise as to the life of Jesus before
this event-his religious habits Uuks
4 :16); his attitude toward the word
of God and its prophecies Uuke II
2D; the work he had been doing in
Nazareth Mark 6:3).
II. The Baptizer. wv. 4-9). To
know what kind of a man John was,
we must look up Mark 1 IS and Matt.
a. His religious convictions are in
teresting also. They were a matter
of his heart Uuke 3:S), thing OF
his daily life duke 3:10). He was
man who held to a strict moral stand
ard Mark 6 :1S). His method and his
message were a protest and a warn
ing as well as preparation. Repent
ance is not remission of sin Il John
1 :9). John demanded fruit" which
should accompany repentance (Matt
3:S, 81. His message was not ma
tional but individual and his sugges-
tion (Matt. 3 :1O-12) of future punish
ment for wrong-doing is only exceeded
by the words of our Lord himself.
III. The Baptism wv. 10, ~. Bap-
tism Is always an emblem, symbol.
(See Matt. 8 III; Luke 3 :6; Mark 1 IS;
Rom. 6:4.) 1t is a public identifica-
ton, a public conservation and confess
sion of faith. Jesus Christ himself
took the place of sinners III Cor.
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