The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1922-06-29
w SERM 0 N
by REV. r. J.. SIMONS

Johns first was to declare himself
God in Christ. Christ's second was to
declare himself man with absolute
trust In God, or In other words, some
one else than what he was. Johns
second was to declare, himself the
great prophet Elijah-the man of i'm
plicit faith In God, 1. e. some other
man than himself. Chist's second
temptation came nearer to his human
nature; Johns second was more tenn
pting for he resembled in his makeup
and habits and dress the great phop-
het Elijah. He was clothed In camel's
hair with a leathern girtle about his
loins and his food was locusts and
wild honey. On the other hand he
would naturally recoil somewhat from
the preposterousness of the first
temptation. Art thou the Christ"
The third of Christ's was the more
trying. II appealed most closely to
his human nature. IL was let me
make your fate through life easy.
Fall down and worship me and I'll
give you the whole world. Johns
third was the most temptingl To
say that he was "the prophet" would
not. be easily seer TO be false. and his
way In the world would henceforth be
easy. or all things the Jews and the
sects of the Jews r~everenced Moses
and the Law. To declare himself that
prophet would insure him reverence
and unlimited homage. The Jews
looked forward to the coming Of
Moses and Elias as earnestly as to
Christ. So that denial displayed a
49, H. L.
to remember that Moses and Elias did
indeed come to Christ on the Mount
of TRANSPORTATION. And more than
that Christ said at another time that
ELIAS had indeed chine, meaning
John; tho John certainly did not
claim the distinction as the Jews
meant 1t.
There are two thoughts concerning
the first temptation. The M OF
which overbalances the other and
shows why John did not fall under
the temptations. 1t will indeed ex-
plain his victory over all.
At his first there might indeed arise
before his mind his apparent preem-
inence over Christ for he had baptis-
ed Him and the people had seer him
do IL, and SO 1t would not be SO hard
for him to increase the appearance
and call himself Christ, for as yet
the people knew not Christ. But on
the other hand the coming of Jesus
to his baptism had brought forth from
the Baptist words of the greatest hui
Lmility and self abrigation, The Bap-
fist said II have need to be baptised
of them and contest thou to me?"
II.uo x,o Ah~ Generalization Eos n 40
velopment in the mind OF John that
lifted him for all conflict with tempt
alton.
1t is easy to see how the presence
OF Christ was a great stimulus to the
Baptist acting as he did and speaking
as he did from such earnest and sim
cere motives-not to say-tho' 1t was
doubtless thrue-that he must have
been thus stimulated. The appear
ance Unexpectedly of the one he was
proclaiming was the great proof OF
the correctness of his preaching
1.-THE kingdom of heaven 1t at hand"
Ii a Unexpectedly because John
himself says 81 knew him not
meaning doubtless that he did not
know him as the Christ before this
time. But the perfect understanding
between himself and Christ at this
time proves that he then knew him.
The experience of John at mis- time
and the divine manifestations gave
him food for thot and material for
decision which was nature. During
the forty-one days in which Jesus was
absent the Baptist had much time to
reflect upon this. the most momentous
event of his life And doubtless each
moment Of reflection upon the aspect
person and training OF Jesus at
the baptism: upon the words which
came from his lips; upon the decent
of the spirit, visible to him and upon
the voice from heaven served to corr
vince him of the truth OF his own
! mission; to strengthen him for his
work and against Satan; and lore
than all. to convince him thoroughly
of the Messiahship of Jesus and fit
him to say. when he saw Jesus COM
ing to him. Behold the Lamb OF
God"