Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-31
By REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON

will be from the New Testament. We
commence with this New Years study
series of lessons selected for six
months from the Gospel Of Mark.
that will be followed by six months
course In Acts and the Pauline Eps-
ties. Marks Gospel is the earliest Of
the four Gospels. Justin Martyr calls
1t "The Memoirs Of Peter" because
in all probability he obtained from
Peter his knowledge Of the life and
labor of Jesus. 1t Is the shortest one
Of the four and was proba bly, used
by the others in writing their gospels
1t was evidently written for Gentiles
to read to convince them by the rec
ord of the Masters life. la bor and les
sons that He was the Son Of God. In an
energetic, graphic manner he presents
Jesus az a doer of mighty deeds with
an authority and power that proved
concusively his theme that Jesus
Christ was divine.
Christianity developed from and COM
pleted movement that preceded the
ministry OF it's Founder Mark, with the
sense of a historian, makes 'the be-
ginning of the gospel Of Jesus Christ"
to commence with the ministry of
John the Baptist. A great revival
aroused the whole nation as a result
of the preaching of the prophet. who.
in .fulfilment of prophecy, had sud
denly emerged from the desert to
prepare his countrymen for the com.
ing Of the Messiah. He revived the
prophetic order. gathered up the
teachings Of the past. preached with
such sincerity and power that he
brought conviction of sin to his hear
hV hiC DANA nd Fnr ~ nd
baptism. He required more than a
profession Of change of mind CON
corning their sins. for he insisted that
they should quit their iniquty be
fore he would baptize them Sin the
River Jordan" 1t will repay every
student tn look up in Matthew. Luke
and John. especially the first two.
what they have to say conc. rning
the Baptist who entered upon his pub
lie career as road builder for the
Lord, in response 10 the call OF the
spirit OF God.
The Preachers Personality.
Phillips Brooks has defined preac CHI
ing az the presentation of truth
through personality" II Is the man
behind the sermon that gives a mes
sage power. John the Baptist was a
preacher sent from God. 1t ap-
peared at an hour when the nation
was filled with despair. The religious
life. that conferred in the temple, was
divided The bondage of Roman rule
filed them with sorrow. suffering and
sadness as people. It was in such
an hour that the herald appeared and
stirred the people with the hope of
the Ness.ah's coming. although he
/. arlessly demanded repentance from
all He preached judgment and in
sisted that they prove their spiritual
lie ny social service. He revealed
his insight into human nature, where
S"lhshneSs IL the root III sin. bv de
mandInS division or personal prop.
ertv.
The power % the Baptist as
preacher is not easy TO recocpiz4
especially when one attempts TO ana.
I'VE his personality, which gave his
message power. II was not in his
dress which recalled Elijah by us
coarse camefs hair. but in his earnest.
ness Of spirit. Ills life Of righteous.
ness. integrity and poverty gave great
10 his ministry. He had re
Sponded 10 a divine call that came to
him. when he declined TO take the vow
NJ the priesthood. which position was
his by birth. and became a student OF
lies problems in the solitude OF the
desert There nature smoke its mes.
sage TO him. lie mastered the Old
Testament. which had predicted his
oming. Endowed with the hoiv spirit.
lohn left the desert in response 10 the
tivine call to preach the message nt
judgment, repentance and forgiveness
hat aroused the nation.
II was an easy task To stir the emo.
Ions and passions Of the masses. hut
I was Gods presence and power that
'nahled the prophet evangelist To pro.
luce conviction of personal sin and To
make 81 public confession of IL before
men. John demonstrated his great. /
1ess by recognizing his limita lions. /
that his unfinished task !
would he completed by another. whom /
Ia pointed out 10 the people TO he +,
nightier than himself for he did not ,
cunt himself III 10 unlatch the 81 nCalS I
" the coming One. 1t called for .
of character TO wave aside at /
he zenith OF his popularity as a /
preacher the applause Of the multt. /
uhe by pointing them To the Christ, (
Who had power 10 make men good. /
While John knew that the Messiah /
vas TO appear. the Hartis, did not /
,uow Him personally until lie was
made known unto the prophet AT the /
'aptism of Jesus.
The Baptism Of Jesus.
About six months after John had
commenced tn preach his message OF
repentance and confession
{ sins Jesus laid aside the carpenters
oolS that He had used in obtaining =
wing for the members of the home.
fhiCh for a quarter ot a century had
y its influence. instruction and In. !
piration nodded Ills life, and babe
hem farewell. The news III the great
eVival along the Jordan had reached
,aZareth and convinced Jesus th3t
he baptism ~ John was not oI men,
ut of God, This moved Him 10 leave
he home that lie loved and His work
y carpenter and Nazareth 10 I've
aptixed IT John" This act was the
one of the RaptiSt's min.
airy and marked the opening of the
iasters pubic service. Matthew gives
: the fullest details III the baptism az
eSuS Ivy John and Luke adds some
IMPORTANT Items In reference ~
hrist'S Identification VI Himself with
nnerS hy demanding that Ills cousin,
Ohm. haptise Him. which he did
In refusing 10 fullow the exampls
the l'harisceS aud SrriheS. who re.
'ctcd the baptism az John. Jesus
uts His stamp ~ approval upon the
ST that John made ot the baptism
repentance Unto the remission "
ms In identifNtnG himself with 4