Evening star., 1923-03-24
Sunday School Lesson

iuSress 10 iiberate and heal was seen
i'll His cure of the ten lepers. Luke
points out that only the healed Sa-
marian leper returned TO give
thanks The grace of gratitude needs
cultivation in our own day. We are
strong on condemning when We see
things in the press. society OF church
that We do not like. but we are very
slow in showing our appreciation of
the helpfulneSs. blessings and aid We
obtain from the same sources. Let
us show our appreciation and ap
nroval Of all that Is good and worthy.
We will if We have an ounce of the
Z race of gratitude such as Jesus COM
mended in the Samaritan leper.
Jesus won His place in the world
as a teacher. lie spake as never man
spake before. Probably it was in
the use of parabies that the Lord re-
v"afed His greatness as A teacher.
our first seven lessons of the quarter
are found only III the gospel Of Luke.
Probably the most familiar, because it
shows the spirit pf the Father toward
the lost. is the parable Of the prodigal
son. 1t is the best illustration of
salvation in the Scriptures. In His
famous para BILE OF the rich man and
Lazarus Jesus pointed out the sins of
Covetousness and seltishuess that ex-
hibited the contrasts between the two
lives in this world and that to come.
The person who refuses to use the
wealth which God has iutIusted to
his keeping as steward when the
cry Of the poor is heard at his gates
may look for condemnation and pun
ishment because he refuses to heed
their plea for help.
His condemnation OF the spirit of
PRAYER of the Pharisee. whose petit
ton fell to the ground" and ap-
proval of that of the humble publican.
who belonged to the despised class.
because it was sincere and sought for
al - -fEh
forgiveness of sins to pray with a
confidenc that God will hear and an
swnr them. jesus never Quailed be
fore the rich man. He knew that in
reality there existd then, az now, no
class more responsive to the gospel
than the two most neglected, the very
rich and the very poor. This parable
served to widen the breach between
Him and His enemies.
The climax of that difference came
after He delivered the parable of
the pounds. that pointed out their
false conceptions Of a kingdom. This
was a rebuke to those who refused to
recognize Him as the Messiah. He
openly challenged them when in the
temple He declared that He was the
Messiah. In a series of public dis
cussionS concerning taxes and giving
He silenced the leaders by His argu-
meutS that held them UP to the ridi-
cuie Of the masses. The result was
inevitable. They had to find a way
to eliminate Christ or be set aside
themselves.
The opposition which started when
the Master deliberately sought the fell
lowship with Zaccheus, the notorious
publican Of Jericho, whose desire to
see Jesus resulted in the Master hon
oring him by inviting Himself to be-
come his guest so that He could win
Zaccheus The publican gave full
proof of his faith. When Jesus re-
fused to set up political and mate
rial sovereignty, although He recog-
nized that all these would be trans
formed and profoundly Influenced by
the spiritual realm that He would
erect upon the cross, they could not
see it and determined to destroy Him
The attitude of Jesus toward the
outcast. the despiSed sinner and the
helpless leper demonstrated that the
great passion of Christ was to save
men. He had to pay the cost in the
expenditure Of mind. muscle and man
hood. The goal from the commence
ment of His earthly life was the
cross. In the darkness of Gethsemane
for help. lest He should break down
ply ysically before He had finished the
work of saving men. The Lord heard
His prayer and power was given Him
20 that He died in accordance with
! the predictions of the prophets. He
was ETuClHGu lOT our lFdHSBTeSSlOnS.
He' had taught men the message OF
| salvation from sin. He instructed
them concerning their duty to Coo
and others. His messages concern
| ing prayer were illustrated by His
! life. Upon the cross He demonstrated
in His prayer and in the three words
| spoken there, which Luke recorded. al
/ that man needed to know. He prayed
| for His enemies. He welcomed the pen
itent malefactor. He revealed His un-
| shaken faith in the Father and his COM
! plete supremacy over death. He died as
i He lived labored and thought, SO thai
| He could save the world. He was cruel
| fed upon Calvary to save men and erect
| His kingdom upon the cross. He
turned defeat into victory. He taught
| men that the way of love was the
! only method of salvation and unifyinE
all people and lands into an everlast.
/ ing kingdom. The message of the
| cross is humanity's hope and only
| means of salvation. Let us proclaim
| 1t and help save the world for His
1 e1ory