The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1923-06-28
IMPROVED UNiT0hM INTERNATIONAL
Si11E|daySchool E
' Lesson '
tBy REV. p. b. FITZWATER. D. D..
Teacher Of English Bible in the Moody
Bible institute OF ChicagoJ
Copyright. 1873 Western Newspaper Uaioa.
LESSON FOR JULY |
JOHN, THE BAPTIST

(May be used with temperance appli-
cations)
| LESSON TEXT--Luke 1913: 7:24-2s
GOLDEN TEXT--"He shall be great
in the sight of the Lord. and shall
drink neither wine nor strong drink"
| Luke Is
REFER ENCE MATERIAL Matt
Bill l1:2-15; Mai. 3:1-6
PRIMARY TOPIC-The Baby John.
| JUNIOR TOPIC-The Man Who Pre-
pared the Way for Jesus.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-The Herald of the Christ
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-Character and Work of John the
Baptist
John was great man. In an
nouncing his birth the angel said,
He Shall be great in the sight of the
Lord" He was not only great in the
Lords sight, but was great when
measured by the standards of men In
the teaching OF this lesson a survey
should DE made of Johns life and
work.
!. Birth and Ministry Foretold
Matt. 3 3; CT Isa 40:3).
He was thought about and his work
planned long before he was born He
came as Gods messenger His life was
a plan of God He was said to be
mali sent from God (John :6) There
Is sense in which every life is
planned-everyone is sent from God.
Everyone should remember that God
has something to do with his life
II. HIS Character.
1. Humble Luke 3:4). He did not
seek human praise and cOmmendation-
His supreme concern was to proclaim,
the Christ He did not make himself
prominent-was only voice calling
siah. His person and habits were a
protest against the luxury and hypo-
critical formality of his time.
2 Courageous Nluke 3:7), He faced
gSeat multitude and struck hard at
their sins. He did not trim his mes
sage to suit the crowd He even de-
nounced the religious leaders of his
time and demanded OF them fruits
worthy of repentance.
~. His Preaching Muke 1889.
/. Demanded Repentance wv. 36).
Suddenly emerging from his seclusion.
he came into the region of the Jordan
as messenger of God, calling upon
the people to repent in preparation for
the ming Of the Messiah.
Demanded Proofs of Penitence
wv I, 81. He insisted that their false
religions be ahandoned-their sinful
hearts renovated-sh showed them that
the vile passions of their souls must
be urrooted A change of mind, that
is the turning of the soul from sin to
God, was necessary. This Is prepa-
ration which must be made before one
can see and experience the salvation
Of God
~. Jesus Testimony to John Nuke
7.24-2S). Because John did not see
the interval between the "sufferings
of Christ" and the glory that should
follow" he was perpleXed. Therefore
he sent deputation to Jesus for light
The prophets did not see. or at least
did not make clear. the interval be-
tween the crncifxion Of Christ and His
second coming The two events were
so presented AS to appear TO be in close
succession. John in his preaching has
stressed the mighty judgments which
should take place at the appearance of
the Messiah. The turn things were
taking Che himself being imprisoned
with the gloomy prospect of death)'
was in great contrast TO the coming or
the Messiah in fiery judgnent-"the
lot hA Of trQpS"
and "the chaff Is burned up with I'M
guenchable Gre" Matt $40, 12). The
trend of events puzzled him. 1t was
not lack of faith. but confusion OF
mind that prompted his inquiry.
Christ's testimony defended him
against any such an accusation. Christ
vindicated him against vaciliatinS
mind because of the storms OF persecr
ton. He was not like reed shaken
by the wind ". 24). He had lived
life Of self-denial, therefore he did not
deny his faith in Christ because OF the
dungeon ". 25). Jesus declared that
no greater prophet had arisen. That
which perplexed John was the delay In
judgment-the day Of Gods patience
while gathering out the Church. T'hie
was a truth not disclosed to the
prophets-that which Paul made
known--because special revelation
had been granted tEph, 3:3).
v. The Martyrdom OF John tMara
6:14-29).
While John was In prison Herod ntta
frequent interviews with him, john
boldly told him that 1t was unlawtu'
for him to have his brothers VIE he
did not mince matters even win the
King This so enraged the lieeations
Herodias that she caused his death He
sealed his testimony with his blood