The Jasper news., 1922-10-12

| PRIMARY TOPIC-What John Said
About Jesus.
JUNIOR ToPIc--John Preaching and
| Baptizing.
INTERMEDIARY AND sENIoR-TOPIC
"A Fearless Reformer
| YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
I-Repentance: What 1t Is and What 1t
Does.
!. The Deoeneraey Of the Times
(vv. 1, p.
The Jews had sunk to a very low
level Of civil, moral and religious life.
Luke carefully enumerates the civil
and religious rulers in order to show
the profiigacy Of the times, and there
fore the need Of messenger to call
the people back to God and virtue.
Herod, the son Of the Great, was a
murderer. Annas and Caiaphas were
corrupt ecclesiastical rulers. -
H.. The Nature Of Johns Ministry
wv. 3-6).
In the wilderness he underwent a
discipline which fitted him for his
task. Out Of the wilderness he flashed
forth preaching the baptism of re-
pentence for the remission of sins ".
81. This ministry is declared to be a
fulfilment of IsaIah's prophecy. The
message was described as one calling
upon the nation to prepare for the
coming Of the Messiah. This prepara-
tiOn was presented under the figure of
a monarch of the East about to make
a Journey. A servant was sent before
to prepare the highway. Valleys
needed to be filled, mountains and
hills needed to be lowered, crooked
places needed to be made straight and
rough places needed to be made
smooth. Today before the nations Will
receive Christ the valleys need to
be filed with righteous deeds, the ex-
ceeding high mountains of sin and
inlQuity need to be brought low, the
crooked dealings of the business world
must be Strengthened out, and the
rough ways of nations and individuals
must be smoothed out. Men must re-
pent Of their sins before they can
receive Christ.
III. The Content Of Johns Message
wv. 7-1S).,
1. Denunclatlon of Sin wv. Z, 81.
He called them IA generation of VI
pers." This shows that he charged
them with deceltfulness and wicked
ness. Knowing the subtle hypocrisy
of these Jews, he demanded evidence
Of their slncerity-the genuineness of
their repentance was to be demon
strated by their works.
2. Announcement Of Judgment ". !
81. He declared that the axe was laid |
at the root Of the tree and that the |
tree not bringing forth fruit was to be |
hewn down and cast into the fire. |
John made it very plain that for their
sins they should be called into judg-
ment. Pauls preaching Of a judg- |
ment to come made Felix tremhle |
(Acts "a :25).
3. Instructions 20 the Inquirers
(vv. 10l4). U The people (vV. 10,
III. Each man was to turn from his
besettlng sin and show. love ana kind
ness to his fellow men. Clothing and
food were to be given those who had
need. They were to turn from a life
Of selfishness and greed and do unto
others as they would be done by. (2)
Publicans (vv. -, 13). These tax
gatherers who were guilty of greed
and oppression were not asked to give
up their occupation, but TO exact only
that which was appointed by law. (3)
The soldiers ". 14). These were likely
The policemen of that day-at least
men ON military duty. He told them
20 extOrt money from no man, to &C.
,use none falsely, and to be content
with their wages. To all these classes
he made 1t clear that they should
lencefOrth perform their duty from
motive of love Instead of selfish
less and greed.
4. Testimony to Jesus (vv. 1919. |
The people were musing in their
earts as to whether John was indeed
he Messiah. When John perceived
his he with fine humility declared
hat his mission was SO lOwiy in COM
arisOn with Christ's that he would
e unworthy to perform the menial act
( slave in loosing the latchet of
lis shoes. John baptized with water
ut Christ, he declared, would baptize
18th the Holy Ghost and with fire.
Nv. Johns Imprisonment (vv. 10,
D..
Because Of his reprOOt of Herod for
Is wicked lewdness and other sins
1hn went to the dungeon. Thepreach.
OF righteousness must become
artyr Gods faithful prophets are
sually despised by the world, even
ist into prison. burned. or beheaded.