Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-01-04
LESSON FOR JANUARY 6
JOHN PREPARES THE WAY FOR
JESUS.
LESSON TEXT-Mark I'LL.

GOLDEN IEAI-BehOld the Lamb OF
God, that taketh away the sin of the
world-John 1:29.
PRIMARY MEMORY vERsE-Thou
shalt call his name Jesus: For it is he
that shall save his people from their sins.
Matt. 1:21.
INTERMEDIATE, SENIOR AND
ADULT TOPIC-Heralds of the king.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
TEACHERS-Isa 1855; NAL 3:1-3; Luke
l:5-25; $3.50; Matt. 3:1-17; Luke 3:1-S; John
1872
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
ldea OF graded instruction for the vari-
Gus departments of the school: an
attempt to provide for the whole school
as thorough and as teachable a uni
AoAAu ACoooH luea as possible.
special topics and special memory
verses and additional scriptural ma
terial have been designated wherever
1t 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
ond the committee had in mind the
desirability of more frequent survey
of the entire Bible with varying meth
DDS of approach than is possible under
a 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 departments of
schools, it 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 a 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-
ton as regards the obedience of a
servant.
|. Introduction (vv 49, The be
ginning of the gospel is meant the
beginning of the blessed story as told
by the evangelist, Mark. Note it is {
fulflment of prophecy (Mal. 81; Isa
6O:3). Mark is here more particular
ly referring to Isaiah. This is th'
period in the life of Christ betweel
his temple experience and the, day o
his baptism, when he first enteret
publically into the real history o
Israel. Jesus must needs have her
aid, even as an earthly king is an
nounced before his arrival. Chris
himself is the living word (John II
though the voice which announces hir
is the voice of a man-John the Bar
tizer. The baptism Of John was unit
repentance and the remission of sins
1t must not be confused with Christia
baptism. Some Interesting question
arise as to the life of Jesus befOr
this event-his religious habits Uuk
4:16); his attitude toward the wor
of God and it's prophecies Uuke 4 IL
21); the work he had been doing i
Nazareth Mark 6 :3).
: II. The Baptizer. wv. 40. T
know what kind of man John was
we must look up Mark 1 :6 and Mat
3:4. His religious convictions are il
teresting also. They were a matte
of his heart duke 3:S), a thing G
his daily life Uuke 3 :10). He was
man who held to a strict moral stanC
; ard mark 6:1S). His method and III
. message were a protest and war;
ing as well as a preparation. Repen
ance is not remission of sin Il job
1:9). John demanded fruit whic
should accompany repentance Mat
, 3:S, 81. His message was not M
/ tfonal but individual and his sugge'
} ton (Matt. 3:10-12) of future punisl
) ment for wrong doing is only eXceede
} by the words of our Lord himself. Sc
also Luke :10-16 His mode of lif
". @, and the message he brOugh
} as elsewhere indicated, created a grea
l stir, but behind it all he was lookin
| for one who should baptize not wit
, water but with the holy ghost an
fire, We have in verse nine some il
teresting comments and apprOvals III
: on what is known as 'the hidden year
, in Nazareth" those years in the lif
3 of our Lord which we have no recOr
| as to his conduct Uuke 2:39, 40).
Ill. The Baptism WV. 10, 11). Bal
tism is always an emblem, symbo
= (See Matt. 3 IL; Luke $50; Mark 1 IS
Rom. 6:4.) 1t is public identifies
ton, a public conservation and confe:
sion of faith. Jesus Christ himsel
, took the place of sinners III Co
SGD.
We have in this connection God
wonderful testimony of the son. TIL
heavens were opened, the spirit d.
: scending as a dove and the audibl
voice heard from out of the ope
] heavens. The spirit took the forl
of a dove. The dove is the only gam
bird which has no gall; no bitterness
? to the spirit. The dove suggests
life of purity and love. All of whic
gives point to the character of spi
T TITLED, guided and possessed discip
of Jesus.
This lesson is lesson of the heral
who preceded our Lord, who came
, nrepare the way and to usher In h
D kingdom. In teaching this lesson W
must emphasize the character of II
king to whom John came to heral