Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-11-25
SABBATH
SCHOOL LESSON
For November 29-Matt. IL, IL
DIR. MARION NTH. HULL

Matthew mas given us lllS SSLlSetI@
ogy of the King, the flight and re-
turn of the King, the herald of the
King, the Inauguration and testing
of the King, the preaching and
teaching of the King, the nantes
ration of the King, the selection by
the King of those to represent Him
and their commission as He sent
them out before Him, and then in a
brief summary tells of the King go
ing throughout all the cities and
villages, teaching and preaching and
healing. How was the King recelV-
ed? This is the next question, very
naturally, and Matthew in the next
two chapters, those which we study
today, let's us know the answer In
fact, the rift, which was first sus-
pected in the eighth chapter. when
the scribes and Pharisees doubted
His power to forgive sins, widens
now into an open breach. The OPP
position to Him increases from this
point on, and as we shall see next
week changes the very character OF
His teachings. In fact, in the ma
t2rial before us today Matthew shows
a turning point in the ministry OF
Jesus, so that it is not henceforth
exclusively to Israel as heretofore,
but begins to include every needy
soul regardless of race or religion
An Unexpected Quarter
Strangely it comes from an wholly
unexpected source-from none other
than His herald, John Baptist. Ian
gushing in the prison at Machaerus'
| this rugged man, who had always
been used to the open began to won
der if he had been mistaken in
| thinking that his cousin, Jesus OF
Nazareth, really was the one whom
| they had been expecting or II there
was yet another to come. He was
| One hut not
quite sure now that He was The
One. He had acted so differently
| from what he had expected. He
| had siad that He would put the ak
| to the root of the trees, but instead
| of crushing the power of Rome and
establishing the Kingdom, here was
His forerunner in the grip of a Ro-
man Vassal, and apparently no steps
were being taken by Jesus, the King
whom he had heralded as coming
| to deliver him. So he doubts. But
he did the right thing for doubtel
| to do-sent directly to Jesus for an
| explanation.
The reply was the occasion for q
new display of Jesus grace and
| love-Go tell John, He said, what
you see-the deaf hear, the blind
see, the lame walk, the poor have
the gospel preached unto them. Thea
| He announced new beatltude-
Blessed is he who shall not stumble
over me. We do rot know the Sc
quel in Johns story, except that
| his head rolled off shortly under the
| headmars AK, but we can be sure
| that he inherited that beatitude. and
I saw in Jesus the fulfillment OF
| Isaiah's prophecy-the servant who
did not strive nor cry, who was sc
! gentle that He would not break d
| bruised reed nor quench smoking
! fax.
The Rejected King
Johns doubt was the occasion fol
Jesus to express His convictions
Him. Don't blame John, He says IN
effect, for this doubt under the cir
cumstances; you are far more culpa-
| BILE He was the greatest Of the
prophets, in fact, he is Elijah, who
| was to come if you will receive it
; but you haven't and, therefore, the
Kingdom is delayed. You act like
petulent children; nothing pleases
you John was sober and I am SO
cial--neither has suited you. Then
| He upbraided the cities in which He
| had manifested Himself for their I'M
belief. Don't think of Jesus as the
effeminate-faced man the artists al,
ways portray. He was longing OF
| love that could not but be felt and
seen.
In spite of Johns doubt, their
I childish petulance and their open UNI
belief, Jesus had cause for thanks
giving, for His Father still ruled and
made no mistakes, and there were
some who were exhibiting the diStfn-
gushing characteristics of babies
helpless and dependent, but able and
willing to draw from another thai
which would sustain and strengthen
and cause growth.
The King, though rejected by those
who should have received Him glad
~, after all the manifestations, OF
Him, still had all things delivered to
Him by His Father, and could still
reveal the Father to whomsoever He
would. Therefore He extends the III
vitation now to all who are weary
and heavy laden, regardless Of race
or religion. If they but come to Him
He will give rest from their labors,
and having come, if they take His
yoke and learn of Him (not about
Him) they shall find rest from their
restlessness. This is turning point
in the ministry of Jesus. Note IL
carefully.
The Opposition Crows
One thing that angered the Scribes
and Pharisees more than anything
else with Jesus was His utter dtsre-
gard for the Sabbath as they viewed
it. So when He justified His discl-
pies for doing what their 1nterpreta-
ton regarded as work they TOOK
counsel how they might kill Him. He
cited David's experience not to MAKE
necessity a justification of it, but
because David was at that time like
He was. a rejected King.
When, therefore. He healed the
blind and dumb man. and the people
began to wonder if He were not the
son of David to inherit the throne,
they sought to win them off by de-
claring Him, in league with BeelzebuI.
They could not gainsay His power
therefore they sought to discredt1
it in that way.
His healing. Of the man with the
Withered hand on the Sabbath only
intensified their opposition to Him
His answers were unanswerab1e
however; and His enemies were al
ways driven to some new attack.
Finally they came seeking a sign
as if the signs He had already given
them were insufficient. But He re-
fused. He desired no such followers
in His Kingdom, for they were like
.u,rxrssas r ~ "A -