The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1936-02-13
IMPROVED
UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
CUNDAyl
ocHooI Lesson
BY REV. P. B. FITzwATER. D.. n
Member of Faculty, Moody Bible
Institute of Chicago
g Western Newspaper Union.
Lesson for February Is
JESUS REPLY TO JOHN THE RAP.
lists QUESTION

LESSON TEXT-Luke 7:1s-2s.
GOLDEN TEXT believe: help thou
mine unbelief-Mark 9:24.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Jesus Answers
Johns Question.
JUNIOR ToPIC-Jesus Answers Johns
Question.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR
ToPIC-Meeting Doubts With Facts.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
iTOP1C-How Jesus Answers Honest
Doubts.
The title, "Jesus Helps a Doubter,"
given by the lesson committee, is not
a good one. John was not a doubter,
though somewhat perplexed. Jesus
specifically defends him against such
a charge (see Matt. II I'll as well as
the present text. It is to be hoped
that no teacher will perpetuate this
error. John was great man. In an
nouncing his birth the angel said, "He
shall be great in the sight of the
Lord" He was great, also, when meas
ured by the standards of men. In
teaching this lesson a survey should
be made of Johns life and work.
!. Johns Birth and Ministry Fore.
told lisa. 40:3; CT. Matt. 3:3).
He was thought about and his work
planned long before he was born. He
came as Gods messenger.
u. Johns Character.
1. Humble duke 3:4). He did not
seek human praise and commenda-
ton, but shrank from them. His su-
preme concern was to proclaim Christ.
2. Courageous duke $50. He
faced great multitude and struck
hard at their sins. He did not trim
his message to suit the crowd.
III. Johns Preaching Uuke 1889.
!. He sounded forth a ringing call
to repentance wv. 3-6). Suddenly
emerging from his seclusion, he came
into the region Of the Jordan as mes
senger Of God, calling upon the people
to repent as a means Of preparation
for the coming Of the Messiah.
2. He demanded proofs Of pen
itence wv. Z, 81. He insisted that
their false prophets had to be aban-
doned, their sinful hearts had to be
renovated, showing them that the vile
passions of their souls must be up
rooted. The turning of soul from sin
to God, was necessary.
w. John Sent a Deputation to
Jesus Luke 1929.
I. Their question ". 10, 20). cart
thou he that should come? or look
we for another?" Because John did
not see the interval between the suffer
ings of Christ and the glory that
should follow-between the cross Of
Christ and his second coming-he was
perplexcd; therefore, he sent deputa-
ton to Jesus for light. This perplexity
was not something culpable in John be-
cause the prophets did not see, or at
least did not make clear, the interval
between the crueifixion of Christ and
his second coming. The Messiah, he
knew, had to be the Lamb Of God
which taketh away the sin of the
world (John 1921. The trend Of
events puzzled him. 1t was not lack
of faith, but confusion Of mind, that
prompted his inquiry. There were
two lines Of predictions concerning
the Messiah; the one set him forth
as the suffering One. as in Isaiah So;
the other as an invincible conquer0r,
as in Isaiah 63. Indeed, in Isaiah 60:1,
the two are Joined together (Luke
4:17-2O).
2. Jesus action ". 21). In that
same hour, doubtless in the presence
of Johns disciples, Jesus cured many
of their infirmities and plaques, and
of evil spirits, and to many that were
blind he gave sight.
8. Jesus message to John wv. %.
23). Jesus said to them, go your
way, and tell John what things ye have
seen and heard"
v. Jesus Defense Of John duke
7:24-2S).
!. He declared that John was not
vacillating like a reed swayed by the
wind ". 24).
2. John was not doubling because
of the hardship of prison life ". 25).
8. John was not mistaken prophet
wv. 1929. He makes John equal to
the greatest of the Old Testament
prophets by declaring that among those
born of women there hath not arisen
a greater prophet than John.
A. The response of the people ".
29). The people who heard this de-
tense, even the publicans, accepted
it as a vlndlcation of John. They justi-
fed God. They not only accepted the
vindication, but were baptized with
the baptism of John.
vi. Johns Martyrdom mark 6:14-
29).
While John was in prison Herod
had frequent interviews with him.
John boldly told him that it was I'M
lawful for him to have his brothers
wife. He did not mince matters even
with a king. This so enraged the
licentious Herodias that she caused
his death.