The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-01-15
Lesson for January Is
THE MINISTRY OF JOHN THE
BAPTIST

BAPTIST
LESSON TEXT-Luke 3:7-20.
GOLDEN TEXT-Bring forth there
fore fruits worthy of repentance, and
begin not to say within yourselves,
We have Abraham to our father: for
I say unto you, That God is able or
these stones to raise up children unto
Abraham.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Jesus and John
the Baptist.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Jesus and John the
Baptist
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
1C-A Courageous Reformer.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-The Message of John eSe Baptist.
!. The Degeneracy of the Times
wv. 1, p.
The Jews had sunk to a very low
level of civil, moral and religious life.
Luke carefully enumerates the civil
and religious rulers in order to show
the profligacy of the times and there
fore the need of messenger to call
the people back to God and virtue.
ed, ambitious, cruel, licentious, infa-
nous, inhuman." Civil rule was di-
vided between four of Rome's vas
sails. Pontius PLATE a little later at
tanned notoriety by unjustly and in a
cOWardly manner condemning Jesus
to death. Ierod, the son of Herod the
Great, Was a murderer. Annas and
- Caiaphas were corrupt ecclesiastical
ruleBs.
II. The Nature of Johns Ministry
wv. 3-6).
Out Of the wilderness John flashed
forth, preaching the baptism of re-
pentance for the remission of sins
". 81. The baptism was a sign of
repentance. His ministry is declared
to be fulillment of Isaiah's prOph-
ecy. He is described as one calling
upon the nation to prepare for the
coming of the Messiah. The only hope
for the world is Gods salvation
through Jesus Christ. The valleys of
Righteousness need to be filled. The
mountains and hills of sin need to be
brought low. The crooked ways Of
commerce need to be Strengthened,
and the rough ways of society and ma
lions need to be smoothed. Let men
accept Jesus Christ and all war and
contention will end. Men will then
love each other.
Ill. The Content Of Johns Message
wv. 7-1s).
1. A denunciation of sin wv. Z, 81.
He called the people "a generation of
Yipers." He charged them with being
essentially wicked and deceitful.
Knowing the subtle hypocrisy Of these
Jews, he demanded evidence Of their
sincerity.
2. An announcement Of judgment
". 81 He declared that the ak was
laid at the root of the tree and that
the tree not bringing forth fruit was
to be hewn down and east into the
fire. John made it very plain that for
their sins they should be called into
judgment. To be brought face to face
with judgment has SOLDERING effect
upon men. Paul's preaching of
judgment to come made Felix tremble
(Acts "a :25). While John preached
Sill anu JuuSlACAl, IL
with the assurance Of pardon on con-
dition Of repentance.
3. Instructions to the inquirers wv.
1919. (D The people wv. 10, 11).
Each man was to turn from his be-
setting sin and show love and kind
ness to his fellow men. Clothing and
food were to be given to those who
had need. The people were to turn
from life Of selfishness and greed
and do unto others as they would be
done by. (2) Publicans wv. IL, 13).
These taXgatherers who were guilty Of
greed and oppression were not asked
to give up their occupation, but to ex-
act only that which was appointed
by law. (3) The soldiers ". 14). These
were probably the policemen Of that
day, at least men ON military duty.
They were to refrain from false accu-
sation and doing violence to men, and
to be content with their wages.
A. Testimony to Jesus wv. 1913.
The people were musing in their hearts
as to whether John was indeed the
Messiah. When John perceived this
he, with fine humility, declared that
his mission was so lowly by COMPARE
son with that Of Christ that he would
be unworthy to perform the mental act
Of slave in loosing the lachet Of
his shoes. John baptized with water,
but Christ would baptize with the
Holy Ghost and with fire.
w. Johns Imprisonment wv. 10,
2O).
Because Of his reproof of Herod for
his lewdness and other sins, John went
to the dungeon and eventually was
beheaded. Gods faithful prophets are
usually despised by the world, and
some are even imprisoned, burned, or
beheaded.