The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1935-08-15
IMPROVED
UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
CUNDAy
CCHOOL Lesson
BY REV. P. B. FITZWATER, D. D.,
Member of Faculty, Moody Bible
Institute of Chicago.
G. Western Newspaper Union.
Lesson for August Is
MARTHA

LESSON TEXT-Luke 1O:3S-42: John
11:17-2S.
GOLDEN TEXT-Jesus loved Martha,
and her sister, and Lazarus.-John
11:5.
PRIMARY ToPIc-A Home Jesus
Loved.
JUNIOR ToPIc-A Home Jesus Wis.,
tied.
INTERMEDIARY AND SENIOR TOP
IC-How Can I Help at Home?
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-A Home That Attracts Jesus.
The lesson committee designated
Martha as a home maker. That she
was a home-maker is to be conceded,
but to view this lesson only in that
light is to miss its vital point, for
Christs teachings here are equally ap-
propriate to male and female, in the
home, office, shop, schoolroom, farm,
etc.
l.. Jesus Revealing to Martha Her
Supreme Need duke 10 :3S-42).
l. Jesus welcomed into her home w.
3S). Though Jesus had no home OF
his own, he could come into this home
at any time and throw off the re-
straints incident to public ministry.
What a blessed thing it would be if
all homes we're open to receive Jesus.
2. Mary sitting at Jesus feet ".
39). While this was Martha's home,
Mary seemed to have lived with her.
Mary had a peculiar spiritual Insight
which prompted her to sit at Jesus
feet and listen to his words. The real
place to hear Jesus words is 'at his
feet" Let no one imagine that Mary
did not render any service, for the lit
tie word "also" indicates that she had
been serving with Martha.
3. Martha's complaint ". 40). She
was so bent on providing a good meal
for Jesus that she was on the verge
of distraction. Her many assumed
duties had so got on her nerves that
she not only found fault with Mary,
but even censured Jesus for allowing
Mary to sit at his feet while dinner
was being finished. She even assumed
the authority to command Jesus to
send Mary back to help her. The sure
way to serve without distraction is to
first sit at Jesus feet and listen to
his words.
4. Jesus reply wv. al, 42).
a. He rebuked Martha ". 4D. This
rebuke he administered most tenderly,
for he knew that Martha loved him
sincerely. Those who are supremely
occupied with Jesus are anxious for
nothing (Phil. 4:6).
b. He defended Mary ". 42). In
this defense he declared that there was
but one thing needful and that Mary
had chosen that good part which could
not be taken from her. Those who
choose this good part cannot be robbed
of it by friends foes, or circumstances.
II. A Revelation of christ's Love
John II 1850.
l. The sickness of Lazarus wv. l, y.
Even those who are in close fellow
ship with the Lord are not immune
from sickness. Sorrow comes even to
the homes where Jesus is loved.
2. Martha and Mary send for Jesus
". 81. Because they had come to
know Jesus as more than a mere man
they instinctively turned to him when
this shadow fell across their home.
8. Jesus strange delay wv. 49,.
They sent for Jesus because he loved
Lazarus. They said, "He whom thou
lowest is Sick Jesus abode in the
same place because he loved Lazarus
and his sisters ". 81. This mystery
is to be explained by the fact that
Jesus was divine and knew all things
4. Jesus goes to the Bethany home
wv. I'D. His mission in going into
this home was twofold; to minister to
the sisters and brother and to
strengthen the faith of the disciples
wv. 11-15).
5. Jesus teaching Martha wv. 1920.
AS he was nearing the village, Martha
met him with a complaint because of
his delay. He ignored her complaint
and taught her concerning the resur-
recton and the life.
a. "Thy brother shall rise again" ".
23). He is saying these words to ev-
cry sorrowing sister, brother, wife,
husband, child, and parent.
b. II am the resurrection, and the
life" wv. %, 26). He is the source of
life, and all who are joined to him by
living faith are in such vital fellow
ship as to be unaffected by bodily
change.
6. Jesus weeping with Mary wv.
2S-35). In response to the Masters
call Mary fell at his feet, uttering the
same words used by Martha, but, no
doubt, in a different tone of voice and
attitude. Her words we're responded
to with tears. "Jesus wept."
III. Jesus Raising Lazarus wv. 49,
Az.
His great sympathy now expressed
itself in supernatural power. Sym
pathy would be valueless without this
connection with divine power.