The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1924-07-31
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Prepared especially for The Republi-
can by Rev. U. S. Wright. D. D.


SUNDAY. AUGUST 8. 1924
THE FIRST DISCIPLES OF
JESUS.
John :35-51.
Jesus Saith unto him, Follow me.
John 1:43.
THE OPULENT JESUS
Much had happened in those weeks
that followed the baptism. John had
been interviewed by the Jerusalem
Committee and crowds still pressed
about him and accepted his leader
ship. Jesus had fought out His prob
lens in the lonely hills and was now
once more among His followers. An
drew with his boy friend, John, were
among the throng and were evident
ly intimate with the Baptizer and had
been accepted as disciples. 1t was
to these that he pointed out Jesus as
He was passing calling Him "The
Lamb of Cod" The spirit seen by
him and taken the form of dove and
incarnated itself in Jesus. The do
minion of the dove and the lordship
of the lamb was strange proclama-
ton to lay alongside the axe and fire
and winnowing fan. One was the
Judgment of John concerning the
character of Jesus and the other was
concerning His work. For the latter
the years were blotted out and the
hills looked so clear that they seemed
near instead of mighty; for the other
the impression seems to have been of
an unspoiled soul-the dove has no
gall-capable of limitless sacrifice.
And a man or nation Of men is
strong just in proportion to the pow
err to sacrifice in the interest of what
is believed right. 1t is the kingship
of conscience and to that the old
world will yet bow the knee.
Andrew and John, hearing such
words from the Baptizer, needed no
urging to follow the moving figure
along the slow-moving river tho they
were too timid to speak to Him. But
He was very approachable and made
the opportunity for them to get ac
quainted. And he who turns and
trails Him today finds Him breaking
into speech. what Seek ye?" was
the first word of the opulent Christ
He who fought the battle to victory
and was fully conscious of His abil-
ity to give them any desired thing.
what is your deepest wish?" was
the question that He meant to light
up their minds and clear them of any
hazy thinking. Master, where do
you live?" Not things but a Person
was the goal of their search and so
He sat by the rivers brink and gave
them Himself until their hearts were
singing for sheer JOY over their dis
covery and they were eager to carry
the news to others.
THE WONDERFUL DAY
1t was ten O'clock-John at Ephe-
sus would use Roman reckoning in
writing the accountant the boy
never forgot thru all the years the
time at which he met Jesus. How
long they tarried can not be told but
they hurried off into the crowd to
find the brothers who must have been
also among the followers of John.
For it was something of the heart Of
Johns message that was used and 1t
was on the same day that they re-
turned for con the morrow" the
company set out for Galilee. John
got his brother there or it wouldn't
have been John but he keeps .himself
too completely in the background to
tell it, only that pointing finger Of
"first fndeth his brother" concerning
Andrew brings James also into view.
Andrew came with that wonderful
brother of his of whom he had been
telling the Master and when Jesus
saw him He introduced him to HIM
self in a perfectly unforgettable way.
His first word was his name which
is a ready enough way to gain q per-
sons attention and Simon's head
came up Immediately. This man knew
him. Given Johns endorsement as so
much greater than himself, reported
the long waited Messiah by his quiet
brother; Rabbi, Teacher, King, He
knew him. Who wouldn't have felt
a bit chesty over such a greeting by
such person? And if that had been
all there is no question of his win
ming the quicksilver character of the
fisherman of His train. But it was
the next phrase that conquered the
heart instead of the feelings of the
man for He said, "You shall be cal
led Rock Simon grinned a bit
sheepishly for his reputation was
known to Andrew but that this stran-
ger should pick out just the name he
really wanted to bear was an uncan-
nv revelation of himself to himself
that thrilled him. And if This Man
believed that of him he would be that
and earn the name and from that
l.