The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1932-12-29
Lesson for January l
JOHN PREPARES THE WAY FOR
JESUS

GOLDEN TEXT-Prepare We the way
OF the Lord, make his paths straight.
Mark 1:3.
PRIMARY ToPIc-A Faithful Mes
senger.
JUNIOR ToP1c-The Kings Mes
senger.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Heralds of the King.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
TOPIC-Preparing the Way for the
Christ.
Since the lessons for the first six
months of 1888 are mainly taken from
the Gospel according to Mark, it is
necessary to grasp the central purpose
Of this Gospel. In the Old Testament
is set forth an august portrait of the
Messiah. He is the Branch, the King
(Jer. % :5); the Branch, the Servant
Czech. 3:S); the Branch, the Man
Czech. 6:12); the Branch of the Lord
lisa. 4:2).
The fourfold account contained in
the Gospels. placed alongside the Old
Testament predictions, fits exactly.
Matthew presents him as the King;
Mark, the Servant of the Lord; Luke
as the Observation-Disclosures, and John
as the Son of God. The central theme
of Mark is the gospel Of Jesus Christ,
the Son of God Old. The key verse
is Mark 10 AS, "The Son of man came
not to be ministered unto, but to
minister, and to give his life ransom
for many" The key words are
"straightway," forthwith" "immedi-
ately." The picture of the divine Ser
want theoretically doing the Fathers
work is most beautiful, for the girded
one is as beautiful as the arrayed one.
!. Who Is This Servant ". ~?
This servant who so fully and en-
ergetically executed the divine will is
the very Son Of God.
II. The Forerunner Of the Divine
Servant wv. 2-8).
/. Who he was wv. 2, 81. BE was
John the Baptist who was prophesied
of more than five hundred years before
lisa. 40:3).
2. His mission ". p. 1t was to pre-
pare the way for Christ's coming. He
represented himself as but voice Of
one crying in the wilderness. He was
therefore Gods voice proclaimlng the
divine will and purpose. He was con-
tent to be but a voice.
8. His message wv. 3-S).
a. Prepare We the way Of the Lord
". 81. It was customary for servants
to 60 before distinguished personages
and prepare the way over which they
were to travel In this preparation
the leveling of the surface, etc. Johns
message meant therefore that the peo-
pie should remove from their hearts
everything which hindered the incom-
ing of the Lord. He called upon
them to humble themselves, to bring
down the high places of pride and
straighten out the crooked places and
confess their sins.
b. The baptism of repentance ". ~.
In preparation for the coming of
Christ, people were to repent of their
sins. Those who repented were to be
baptized Baptism was to be admin
istered to those who repented as an
expression Of penitence which led to
forgiveness of sin.
c. The coming of the Messiah wv.
z, 81. The coming one was to be much
greater than himself, so great that
John was unworthy to loose the
latchet of his shoes. The superior
dignity Of Christ was not only In his
person but in the work he was to per.
form. John merely baptized with wa
ter but Jesus with the Holy Ghost.
4. His success ". 81. People from
all over Judea and Jerusalem went
out and were baptized Johns dress
and demeanor were in keeping with
his stern mission. He was clothed
with camels hair and had on a girdle
Of skin. Locusts and wild honey con-
stituted his food. His food and dress
indicated that he had withdrawn from
the world as protest against its
follies and sins.
III. The Divine Servant Baptized
wv. GID.
was Luz DoPIi6SO oSShuSS az
sinned and therefore needed repent
ance, but because he had taken the
sinners place and was about to &C.
complish his work which would con.
stitute the basis Of all righteousness.
He was now defeating himself to the
task of bringing in righteousness
through his sacrificed death. Observe
in connection with his baptism:
1. The opened heavens ". 10Y.
This indicated his connection with
heaven.
2. The descent Of the Spirit upon
him ". 10Y. This was the divine seal
to his work.
3. The voice Of approval from
heaven ". ~. This made clear to
John the fact that Jesus was the
Messiah.
Be Busy
When you are very busy. your be-
liefs like your clothes will wear ont