Evening star., 1924-07-19
Sunday School Lesson

condemned, but he won the approval
OF the people Probably they nick
nahi"d him The Baptist because he
ADOPTED the ancient Jewish rite of
baptism. which every proseIyte was
itqulred 10 submit to in order to be-
come true jew, as a public testi-
n'ohy or each convert that in his life
I"ere existed the need of not only
d personal repentance Of their sins.
ouI AZ" purifying Of their conduct
Whlie John required the baptism of
dteie ne proclaimed a baptism of
hre. His baptism was an ont
,', 1'o one. and might not be siGniii-'
cam or anything at all unless the
cahdldate baptized had really repent
60 anu confessed his sins. bv being
SUBJECTED to the rite that synboIized
th NE TACT that they had experienced
through repentance the "wash;ne
away of follies and sins !" HE an1l,g han.iI,s,
was but a preparatory one for the
naptlsm Of the Holy Spirit The
messiah, whose coming John nro-
ciaifned, would, according to his for
% luIhtT: baptlze with fire that was
symbolIcal of passion. enthusiasm AND
power. No man could be filled viii viii
the holy Spirit unless he was first
r!eansed from his sins. John recop-
hlZed that his baptism and his work
poth preliminary TO the coming
with hre by enduing them with pow
er from on high" to overcome sin
and serve God. i''
About six months after John had
comm need his ministry. Je,us WHO
probably had walked 100 miIos' f,.o,,,
Nazareth To the place on thn 1or,Ia,
hlFer where John was baptiZjng an
peared among th- number desirinr
10 De haptized. Although the RantisT
vas looking earnestly for the com
iis tis 81 tne Messiah. it is evident from
ms testimony in Johns eospeI tbat
ne did not know that his consin
Jesus. was the Messiah when He an.
plled Tor baptism Possibly they may
Hot nave met before on account or
tne death Of Johns parents and his
Wilderness country Of Judea.
IN that interview. which maria,
1iie 'uimihaling experience in Iohr,l
ministry. the Baptist faced for tbe
ll-sa. 'Iine one who could look the
great preacher in the eye and tIair
mat He was without sin. Jobn 81
S he sIfrendering 10 the superio.
SOU who sought baptism from I'm
" was only in compliance with TIM
fnIfiitirs i"G6iEr Pc pea - that they would b.
righteousness by living uD 10 tbe
prescribed relationship between GnC
ana man that John complied with
m me request of Jesus. 1t was after
Baptist learned that He was the
Messiah. when the Holy Spirit cama
upon Christ in the form of a dovt.
Jesus took his place with sinners
"hen he consecrated Himself for the
work Of saving the lost by being
baptized. He linked Himself with
the movement started by John. His
cedicatIon OF Himself as High Priest
ana Saviour by being baptized
brought to our Lord the commenda-
ton or the Heavenly Father. who as
sured Him that He was we'll pleased
ana gave TO Him the gift of the
spirit The descent of the Spirit
came as Jesus was coming up out Of
the water. If the Lord believed that
He ought to dedicate Himself for His
work. how much more ought we TO
ConSfcrate ourselves to the task tha,
he has assigned TO US in carrying on
His ministry among men. His bap-
ttsr1 was distinctively an act Of
social service for others. Our
spiritual life calls for US to perform
work that Will be beneficial to others
He by His own baptism and His
commanding of il has put His ap-
proval upon baptism as gospel
ordinance. If you are not enrolled
as His follower why not take your
place in His Church by following
His example and obeyine His com
mand that called for all His follow
ers to be baptized.