Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1918-04-24
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Lesson '4.-Second Quarter,
April 28, 1918.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES
Text of Lesson, Mark g.: 3o-50-wemory
Verse, I John 4:21-Goiden Text,
Mark s:35-commentary Prepared
by Rev. .. NJ Stearns.


Repeatedly Christ told them that he
should suffer and be Killed, and rise
again the third day (vss. 30-32), but
know of no one who believed il except
Mary of Bethany. They had other
thoughts than his and therefore could
not receive his words. This is no doubt
the reason why so many today cannot
receive the teaching concerning his
coming again to set up his kingdom
on this earth. They have their own
thoughts concerning the kingdom being
within us, and that we are here to win
the world TO Christ, and other tradi-
tons whereby the word of God is made
void, and they know not the thoughts
of the Lord. Paul says, by the spirit,
that Christ died for our sins according
to the Scriptures and that he was
buried, and that he rose again the third
day according TO the Scriptures u Cor.
Is :3. A., meaning the writings in the
Old Testament; but bow few seem to
see these truths in type, and in plain
statement, in Gen. %; Elk. II; Lev.
10; Ps. %; lisa. SO: and elsewhere.
1t might be said TO many today, as well
as to those in his day, aye know not
the Scriptures, nor the power of God"
Pride and ambition were amGng the
sins of the disciples then as now, for
as they journeyed they had been dis
putting as to who should be the great
est (vss. $3.50. By little child whom
he took in his arms, and set In the
midst of them, he taught them the
great lesson of lowliness and humility.
When, on the last passover night there
was strife among them as to who
should be the greatest. he called their
attention to the fact that he was among
them as one who served (Lu. % :24-27).
Ambition to be somewhat is from the
devil who told Eve that If she obeyed
him she would be as God, and this was
his own sin (Gen. 3:5; lisa. IA :13, 14).
Jeremiah's advice to his scribe Baruch
was good, "Seekest thou great things
for myself? Seek them not" Ger,
As :5.) We need to remember that "God
resisteth the proud, and giveth grace
TO the humble" and to consider him
who though he was rich. for our sakes
became poor. Il Pet. 5 IS; 2 Cor. s :9).
According to the harmony Of the
Gospels, the incident of the tribute
money, recorded only In Matt II :24-27.
comes in before this of the little child.
In this matter also there was a bit of
pride on the part of Peter, for when
asked If his master paid tribute. IL
would have been more becoming in him
to have asked Jesus, instead of answer
ing as If he was an authority and knew
it all. Our Lord. rather than give Of
Tense, submitted to paying what Peter
had put him into, but he did not draw
upon the treasurer. Perhaps the treas
ury was empty. This mode of obtain
ing money to pay this bill is to me as
wonderful, If not more so, than the
fish story in Jonah.
The lesson incident of vss. 3S-41, In
dicates another bit of self-importance,
though 1t seemed like zeal for the
Lord, and jealousy for his cause. How
common the word is now, or something
similar to it. HE followeth not u.s."
And the same spirit is all too manifest:
Let US forbid him, or disapprove of him,
or talk him down, because he does not
see as we do, or fellowship with us
Oh, TO have more of his spirit who
said, ''Forbid him not. for he that is
not against us Is on our part" What
surprises there will be when he who
Judgeth righteously shall reward every
one according to his work, and not
even a cup of cold water given In his
name shall have lost its reward.
The remaining verses of our lesson
chapter (42-50) are among the most
awful on record, and three times he
mentions hell, and the fire that never
shall be quenched. He alone knows
what 1t means and he does not want us
to know. for he is not willing that any
should perish. 1t was not prepared for
us, but for the devil and his angels
Matt. % :41). but wherever it is and
whatever 1t is, 1t must be awfully real
Perishing must be an indescribably
fearful thing for "God so loved the
world that he gave his only begotten
Son that whatsoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting
life" When we try to think what IL
must have meant to him to give up his
Son to suffer in our stead, and what II
must have meant to his Son to give up
the glory which he had with the Father
before the world was, and to sojourr
about thirty-four years In a mortal
body, as a poor man. in a world which
he had made, but which would not OWL
him nor receive him; despised and re
jected of men, man of sorrows ant
acquainted with grief, wounded for oul
transgressions, bruised for our iniqui
ties, bearing our sins In his own body
all that we might not perish-then we