Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-09-09
GOLDEN TEXT: He anOinteth
me TO preach good tidingS, Luke 4:18.

me to preach good tidings. Luke Alb.
1t was very natural that early in
His Galilean ministry, Jesus should
desire to go back to His boyhood
home. At Nazareth He had spent
most of His life to this time. Here
were the friends of His boyhood,
youth and young manhood. 1t was
., small village and He knew every
man, woman, and child by name.
He knew every dog, and COW and
ass. It was one of those delightful
situations so often to be repeated to-
day in hamlets and villages Of our
own land. For it is delightful to
know everybody and to have every
body know you in the place you
live. 1t has it's disadvantages, of
course; for there are prying people
everywhere; and Jesus found some
of these when He went back there
to preach. But that did not keep
Him from wanting to give His
home folks the good things He had
to- dispense.
On the Sabbath day He went into
the synagogue, "as His custom
was" His appearance there was
not unusual; in fact, it would have
been unusual if He had been absent.
This habit was one formed in boy
mood which He had not broken. Too
many young men and women are
breaking the habit of church going
formed in childhood, nowadays.
They didn't intend to get cut of the
hablt, but late hours Saturday nights
and the relaxation OF Sundays make
The break and before they know it
Mae habit of a lifetime is gone. If
3sus had the habit and it was
= good thing for Him to keep up it is
worth your while, too, young men
and young women of this genera
ton.
The synagogue service offered an
opportunity to Him. At a certain
time in it the ruler Of the synagogue,
or the leader of the worship offered
any one an opportunity to speak
who desired it. Sometimes q, special
one was appointed to read. Which
OF the two was true st this time we
40 not know; but at any rate, Jesus
stood up to read. 1t was not an
naphazard selection; He knuew the
scriptures from a lifetime study of
Lnem, and when He had opened the
book, "He found" the place where
1t was written-what He wanted to
read.
is interesting TO note that He
turned to what in our Scriptures is
labeled Isaiah 81. There was no
doubt in His mind that it was Gods
word He was reading; nor was there
any doubt that it had been spoken
oy God through Isaiah. You may
Know that the destructive critics
ana their name is becoming legion
In these days; watch for them; thew
are extremely subtle and attractive
otten, but they are the devils
agents-these critics say that all of
the book of Isaiah from chapter 40
on Is spurious. Their opinions vary
from assigning it to a second Isaiah
10 denying its inspiration entirely
Ihat Jesus had no such idea doesn't
Iaze them, for Prof? George Jack.
son, one of their number, is RECENTLY
quoted as follows: cit is now adj
mltted on all hands-the few dis.
sentlng voices do but emphasize the
general consent-that Christ's an
thorlty cannot be invoked to invali.
. cate the findings of modern Biblical
criticism; neither do we explain His
language as an accommodation to
me ignorance Of His contenporar ies
we must maintain the limitations of
the knowledge of Jesus in the in.
terest OF true Christology and of in
teHectual liberty" This is quoted to
snow to what a blasphemous extent
they will CO.
Jesus opened the book and found
the place, and read the words Of God
spoken through Isaiah because He
knew they were God breathed. The
passage from which He read was
th1s' Inc Spirit of the Lord God is
upon me: because Jehovah hath
Amounted me to preach good tidinos
TO the meek; he hath sent me to
oind up the broken hearted. to nro.
claim liberty to the captives and
the opening of the prison TO then,
ethat are bound; to proclaim the ac.
ceptaDle year of Jehovah. and tho
Gay OF vengeance of our God: to com.
tort all that mourn; to appoint un+o
them that mourn in Zion. to Owe
unto them beauty for ashes tbe di1
Oh JOY FOR mourning, the garment of
praise for the spirit of heavinees.
wat they might be called trees Of
lsAteousness, the planting of Teho-
van, tina tile might be glorified"
"a second reading of this passa ee
VIII reveal at least three divisions Of
lone ending with 1.-The accenta bIo
year OF Jehovah, one with "the dav
81 vengeance of our God" and the
Ihlfd the remainder of the PASSAGE
lt IS worth while to note that Jesns
stopped at the end of the first sec.
tlon. He had come to do eyervtbi1,o
lEough proclaiming the accentabIe
OF Jehovah. He stopped thara
PAUSE the day OF vengeance ~
could not come until mnn bad
nad and had>refused the opportunity
10 turn to God. Nor could the third
olV!slon of it be true-comfort for
mourners in zion-until the second
mao come. So Jesus not only knew
the Scriptures, but He rightly al.
Vlaed them as to time of fulfillment
OF the prophetic portions. should
Ills followers all do the Same mncb