The Republican., 1925-12-31
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Prepared Especially For The Repub-
leans Readers by Rev. U. S.
Wright, D.D.

Wright, DID.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 3, 1926.
THE son OF GOD BECOMES MAN.
John Ills
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt
among us (and we beheld his glory,
glory as of the only begOtten of the
Father) full of grace and truth
John IA.
THE BOOK. WE STUDY.
Last stop" calls the conductor, ad-
ding usually "next stop is -" Johns
Gospel is the last stop of the Heart
R. R. Limited before reaching the ter
minus of the road at home in "The
Fathers House. 1t was latest writ
ten of all the New Testament. Je-
rusalem had been in ruins for half
generation. Paul was long since
dead Christianity had expanded far
beyond the old bounds, had possessed
great territories of life and thinking
entirely uneXplored in the day of its
founderer. 1t was facing situations
differing greatly from those of the
Acts. This book is the product of the
the ripened experience of one who
lived long, thought much and loved
greatly 1t holds the vividness of the
early memories of the aged recOunter
whose keen boy eyes had noticed that
it was a lad with a bit of lunch,-trust
a boy to observe where the eats come
from-had caught the slanting rays
of the sun and knew the hour when
that wonderful Master had first spok-
en- to him, had counted the water-pots
in the Cana home, had seen how the
clay was made for the blind mans
eyes and had muled these and many
more over and over in his mind until
all the rich juiciness Of them had been
pressed into his interpretations More
than any other is it the boys Gospel
and its pages thrill both youth and
age.
In Madison Square Garden meet
ing where the speaker had named
Jesus in the same way that he classi-
fed other great men who declared,
there's nobody else in HIS class" so
this man felt and was determined that
others should come to the same con-
clusion. Chapter 2O:31 states his pur-
pose and tells why the whole structure
is an ordered argument to bring con-
viction to the readers mind. When
one recalls that there is no boyhood,
no temptation, no baptism, no trans
tiguration, no children, no lepers, no
demons, no choosing Of the twelve, no
garden agony, no Galilee ministry,
one realizes how vigorously selective
has been the placing of the material
in its pages. 1t might be a lawyers
brief, debator's argument but in
stead it is a soUl-winner's plea that
uses the skill of both to gain the own
ing of his Master as Lord. A work
able outline may be made in any fash
ion that will interpret the contents to
the user Of them. The following built
upon one by Professor Thomas may
offer a suggestive help: l. Introduc-
ton, ILLS. II, Revelation of the
Messiah to the disciples, to Nicodem-
US, to the woman Of Samaria, etc,
with the beginning of belief and dis
belief. 1:19-6:71. III, The great con-
f1ict. Faith deepens and disbelief
grows into hostility that DEGREES
death. John sums up the case and
Jesus gives His judgement; chapter
7 to II inclusive. ", Culturing be-
lief. That was done thru illustration,
stimulation, information, inspiration
and confirmation that finds conclusion
in that wonderful prayer of the Upper
Room. Chapters 1917. V, Culmina-
ton of disbelief in crucifxion. Chap
ters 18 and 49, VI, elimination of
belief in the declaration of Thomas.
Chapter 20. VII, Postscript.
THE CANDLE OF CREED.
There is but one face that this man
sees no matter in which direction he
turns and this introduction is really
summation of his entire book. 1t
reverses his stated purpose in which
the ordter is Jesus, Christ, God for he
starts with God and run to Messiah
and to Jesus but however the order
there is but one person in his thinking
and he crowns personality as the sup
RENE life of all the worlds. Here in
these verses we have the declaration
of doctrine. Creeds may be empty
things but there was a day when each
phrase was dynamic and dared the
mind and heart to a great adventure.
The lifting Of Jesus to the level of
Deity was a tremendous leap for one
to take For the Jew it was Well-nigh
impossible For the Gentle it was far