Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-01-11
LESSON FOR JANUARY IA
JESUS TEACHING HUMILITY

LESSON TExT-Luke H:4-14
GOLDEN TExT-God resisteth the
proud. and giveth grace to the humble.
/ Il Peter SIS.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-John ls:l-
IL; Phil. 25-11
PRIMARY ToPIc-rhs Story Of .
| JUNIOR TOPIC-Teaching Courtesy.
| INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
| Others.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
| The Spirit of Christian Service.
!. Jesus Dimes With a Pharisee ". IL.
Jesus entered freely into the common
social customs Of the day. We see
Him at wedding, dinner party, In
the home of sickness, and at funeral.
He was truly a man among men. He
was unlike John the Baptist In this
respect. The Christians influence 10
best when mingling with his fellow
men In all right relations and positions
In life, even though selfish and evil
minded persons are found among
them. This does not mean that he
should be a partaker Of their evil
deeds. Jesus in thus moving in all
circles Of human society showed the
divine sympathy. While Jesus was In
society he was not of it. So should
the Christian be. Jesus was in COM
pany Outwardly courteous but inward
ly hostile. Doubtless the motive Of the
invitation was to find an occasion
against Him. This is implied in the
statement they watched Him."
u. Jesus Healing DropsIeai Man
wv. 2-6).
/. Why This Man Was Present wy.
There is no way Of absolutely de-
termining it, but likely 1t was part q
Q plot Of the Pharisees to trap Jesus
by getting Him to violate the sabbath
rules.
2. Jesus Question ". 81. JessS
question was an answer to the thoughts
Of the lawyers and Pharisees who
were watching Him, for they had not
spoken. Before healing this man He
submitted the case to their judgment
They were free on the Sabbath day to
hold feast where their selfish pride
and vanity could be displayed, but they
were Mortified that fellow-man should
be healed on the Sabbath They were
silent because their consciences made
them ashamed of their heartlessness.
3. Healing the Man ". ~. While
they were in state of embarrassment
Jesus nealed the man and let him go.
4. Jesus Rebuked Them wv. 5, g..
He laid bare their hypocrisy by show
ing them that their willingness to show
mercy to a beast on the Sabbath should
induce them to regard as not sinful
to relieve a human being of distress on
the Sabbath. They were again silent,
for they perceived their inconsistency
and inhumanity.
tion wv. 7-10).
l. The Occasion ". D. He observed
that the guests while taking their
places at the table chose the best
seats for themselves. This is still true
of men and women. In the railway
cars, hotels, street cars, etc, they
scramble for the best places. In the
homes even members of the same fam
lily will try to get the best food, etc.
2. Instruction Given wv. SID.
When hidden to a feast, take the low
est place lest you suffer the humilia-
ton of being asked to take lower
seat This is more than a lesson On
courtesy or table manners; it is a
severe rebuke of that selfishness which
fills the human heart, causing it to seek
to be ministered to instead of minister
ing to others. Unselfishness will ex-
press itself in humbly taking tho low
est place. esteeming others better than
ourselves. The fundamental principle
Of the philosophy governing the moral
world, Jesus declares to be: "Whoso-
ever exalteth hirnself shall be abased.
and he that humbleth himself shall be
exalted"
~. The True Motive in Deeds Of
Charity wv. 12-14).
Jesus takes advantage of this social
occasion TO teach d great principle
The Jews, like many of the rich today,
made social Dime occasions for dis
play. They invited only those whose
wealth would enable them to recon-
pense them by inviting them in return.
Jesus took note Of the selfishness thus
displayed and set forth to them the
right principle, namely. that they
should extend their hospitality to the
poor and afflicted. All charitable deeds
should be done with unselfsh motives.
Jesus assured them that compensation
would be made at the resurrection of
the just. This does not mean that
friends and neighbors Of certain rank
should never exchange pleasant hos
pitalities. Wen'h should be used to
confer BLESSINGS upon the poor and
needy instead If ministering to the
pride and vanity Of the possessor.