Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-01-05
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.

tist not only to revive the order Of the
prophets. but to introduce the new move
ment which marked the elimination OF
all preceding Jewish history, for all the
prophets like John pointed toward the
christ as the coming one who would be
nightier than the forerunner.
John was not A destructive critic for
his preaching contained a constructive
program. He did not fail when he
preached of sin and judgment to fill
the people with hope by pointing out
the way of escape through repentance,
which means change of mind, such as
comes from an afterthought and re-
mission OF sins. that showed them the
gracious disposition of God toward sin
ners. offering them forgiveness. John
insisted upon social demonstration
of their faith by public confession of
their sins and correction of their life.
He sought to eradicate the selfish
'profiteer'ng spirit by insisting that
there should be division of personal
property, both of clothing and food, to
be distributed among those that lack
ed. He condemned the militaristic
spirit that develops an army to make
profit by committing violence and fore
ing anything wrongfulIy. Like the
modern prophet who opens up his cam
paign in Washington the day this les
son will be studied, Johns message
condemns the iniquity Of men and the
unjustihed war aggressions of the
kaiser.
The pungent and pointed preaching
of the Baptist. like Billy Sunday, turn
ed many away from him. John deyel-
oped d mass movement that caused
many Of the conservative leaders and
people Of Judea and Jerusalem to com
ply with his demands for them to be
bap.ized. 1t was God. working through
The Baptist. who reached the con-
sciences and aroused the people TO
their personal sin and secured from
them public confession. The great
ness of the messenger was seen not in
his influence over the masses. but in his
waving aside the applause of men.
they desired to accept John as the
Messiah. He pointed them to the
greater Baptister who would come
baptizing them with the Holy Spirit.
which. when given to men. was pro-
phesied to be one Of the marks OF
1sraers golden age.
John did not know who the Stronger
One was, but he had been given certain
signs by which he could identify the
Messiah. The arrival of Jesus, who had
walked about eighty miles from His
home in Nazareth to the Jordan to be
baptized with John, brought together
two who were closely related. but who
had but little opportunity 10 know each
other. Matthew gives the details of
their personal meeting and of how the
Master persuaded the Baptist to allow
Jesus to be baptized. so that He might
conform to the Will Of His Father. The
baptism Of Jesus was the culnina ting
act Of Johns ministry and the COM
mencenlent Of Christ's public service
The apostles. like Mark. date the in
auguration of the Lords ministry from
the time Jesus was baptized in the Jor-
dan.
The symbolical character of the rite
administered by John was outward
sign of an inward publication of the
subject. Jesus, who had never sinned.
had no need, the Baptist claimed, Of
complying with the requirements laid
down for sinners, because Christ had
no basis for repentance. Jesus desired
to jndorse the work OF John and to
identify Himself with sinners. whom He
came TO redeem. The act Of consecra-
ton the Master performed willingly
and sincerely. not to be seen OF men."l
but in personal devotion to the revealed
VIII of the Father. lin the spirit Of
prayer.
When Jesus had humbled Himself in
His baptism there came from the open
ing heavens the two-fold testimony
of the heavenly dove and the pa
ternal voice that put a divine stamp OF
The appearance of the dove was sign
not only to John. that Jesus was the
Messiah. but to the Master that His act
had the Fathers approval The sealing
Of the Lord with the Holy Spirit was
His amounting for Messianic service
Holy Spirit indicated that He was the
one who baptizes others with the
Holy Spirit. The pateruai voice brought
comfort TO the Christ and conviction
that He was in q unique sense the
Son of God, which ena bled Him to full
fill His Messianic mission as the Lamb
of God. which taketh away the sin Of
the world.