The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-11-25
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
Especially Prepared for The Republi.
can by DR.. U. s. Wright.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER. %.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER %.
How Jesus Was Received. Matt. IL:
IL.
Come unto. me, all We that labor and
are heavy laden, and l will give you
rest. Matt. IL: %.
THE TEST OF LIFE.
Matthew is more concerned with
logic than with time and,the events for
our study are widely separated. Run
ming through them is the underlying
basis for all greatness of life for they
are concerned with the reception given
to Jesus by various persons and groups
Bishop Bashford's baccalaureate ser
mon to the class of 1897 in Ohio Wes-
leyan placed the first step toward the
fullest life in receptivity. In the par
able of the talents each received &C.
cording to his ability not to use but to
take and for that very reason the one
talent-man received something he did
not use while the ten talent-man had it
handed over to him because he was the
only one of the group that was able to
add this to his store. In other fields
the same truth holds. Shakespeare
gathered from every source and simply
absorbed the old historic tales that he
atterward wrought over into the plays
that still thrall the mind of the world.
Goethe is reputed the greatest borrow
er of his time. Every other man who
has made his mark has kept his win
dows open to all the breezes that might
sweep thru them. He has welcomed
the comradeshlp of ideas from MANY
quarters and because he has made them
at home with himself they have given
him nf thQIr xuaolth onA do -
with all the power that was theirs.
This is the quality that in every realm
of life characterizes the leader in it. 1t
made Isaiah and John supreme in re-
ligion for they received spiritual ideas
as others did not. And he who is most
receptive to Christ and His truth TODAY
is the person whose growth is most
pronounced. That was precisely where
the leaders of the Jews failed in the
days Of His flesh for they closed their
minds to His appeal and turned their
backs upon His word. They love
darkness rather than light" And the
final depermination of any life lies in
this same attitude toward truth;
whether it runs with the current of
ones desire or across it, it is accepted
and made part of the person who keeps
the open door.
THE INSTRUCTED.
John the discerning who had been the
the first to see the sacrificial nature of
the new Messiah he was herelding had
been for long months in the ward of
Herod's prison east of the Dead Sea.
lmmedlacy.. had been the foremost
note in the prophets preaching and yet
so far as he could see no change had
come. For himself there was nothing
but the prison after the open heralding
of faith in the Man he had baptized as
the Christ. Herod still reigned and
kept his denounced wife. Rome still
stood upon her seven hills and ruled
the world. The temple profiteers still
mulcted the crowd. No chips were be-
ing cut, no chaff was fiying-what was
wrong? Had he been mistaken? Johns
faith had been in method instead of
In Man and when the method failed |
to appear Johns tragedy followed. The |
wilderness Lion no longer roared but
whined dispiritedly. His old directness
that had carried him before Herod's |.
face with his denunciation served him
well in this crisis for he sent as direct
ly to Jesus with his query. Yet Christ |
offered no word of certainty as men do
saying Tell him l am We would |
have made the 81" tremendously en- |
Dhatic. Jesus was more concerned !
with remaking John than He was with
Himself. Johns failure was in the
realm of method and recovery must be
upon that side of him. So the waiting
men who wanted a word saw instead
works of mercy. What they carried
back was the story of other methods
than the one used by the Baptist so
that his eyes were lifted to the living
Lord behind all methods as the real |
road to the entrance of the Kingdom
and it was with that vision in his eyes
that the stern denouncer of the palace
potentate received the executionar.
Jesus had restored the man and broad
ened him in the process. For the Der.
picked there was abundant instruction
that cleared away all doubt from the
inquiring minds.
THE CONDEMNED.
Never were sterner words uttered
than those that fell from the lips that
could be so tender in their smiles and
wlstful in their wooing. That is the
terrific thing in connection with them.
Had it been John there would be no
surprise for that was his stock in trade.
Had threats been the current speech of
Jesus IL would nave been expected. 1t |
is when love grows stern that it is ter
rlble. America, long patient, disbeliey-
ing the intent to injure, presently stood
like flaming angel in the consuming
wrath that sent its fierce heat into the
heart of Europe's and the worlds
struggle. The most appalling phrase
in all John s writing is THE wrath of
the Lamb These cities had seen His
tender ministry to their sick, His gentle
sympathy with their sorrows, His pa
tlent meeting of their questioning, His
quiet mastery over every power for
good or i'll and they had closed their
eyes and ears in refusal to admit Him
to their heart. 1t was the unacceptable
verdict from which there could be no
appeal. 1t is as true today as then.
Youth spends its treasure with utter
ignorance of tomorrow's exactions. He
who had wandered with the wanton de-