The Coolidge examiner., 1936-02-14


INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR
TOPIC-Meeting Doubts With Facts.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
TOPIC-How Jesus Answ ers Honest
Doubts.
The title, Jesus Helps a Doubt
err" given by the lesson committee,
is not good one John was not
doubter, though somewhat per-
picked. Jesus specifically defends
him against such a charge (see
Matt. IL I'll as we'll as the present
text). 1t Is to be hoped that no
teacher will perpetuate this error.
John was a great man. In announc-
ing his birth the angel said, he
shall be great in the sight of the
Lord" He was great, also, when
measured by the standards of men.
I. Johns Birth and Ministry
ForetoId Qsa. 40 30; cf. Matt. :3).
He was thought about and his
work planned long before he was
born. He came as Gods messenger.
His life also was plan of God.
He was said to be a man sent from
God (John l :6).
II. Johns Character.
l. Humble (Luke 3:4). He did
not seek human praise and cOmmen-
dation, but rather shrank from
them. His supreme concern was to
proclaim Christ. He did not make
himself prominent; he was only a
voice calling upon people to prepare
for the Messiah.
2. Courageous Nuke SD. He
faced a great multitude and struck
hard at their sins. He did not trim
his message to suit the crowd. He
even denounced the religious lead
ers of his time and demanded of
them fruits worthy of repentance.
III. Johns Preaching Uuke
3:3-S).
l. He sounded forth a ringing
call to repentance (vv. 3-6). Sud
denly emerging from his seclusion.
he came into the region of the Jor-
dan as messenger of God.
2. He demanded proofs of peni-
tence (vv. Z, 81. He insisted that
their false prophets had to be aban-
doned, their sinful hearts had to he
renovated showing them that the
vile passions of their souls must be
uprOOted. A change Of mind; that
is. the turning of soul from sin to
God, was necessary.
w. John Sent Deputation to
Jesus Uuke 1929.
I. Their question ". 19, 20).
Art thou he that should come? or
look we for anOther" Because
John did not see the interval be-
tween the sufferings of Christ and
the glory that should fOllOw-he-
tween the cross Of Christ and his
second coming-he was perplexed {:
therefore. he sent a deputatiOn to
Jesus for light This perplexitv
was not something culpable in John
because the prophets did not see.
or at least did not make clear. the
interval between the crucifixiOn 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 :29). The
trend of events puzzled him. It 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 in
vincible cOnqueror, as in Isaiah 63.
Indeed, in Isaiah COL, the two are
joined together Nuke 4:17-2O).
2. Jesus action ". 2D. In that
same hour. doubtless in the pres
ence of Johns disciples, Jesus
cured many of their infrmities and
plaques. and of evil spirits. and to
many that were blind he gave sight.
8. Jesus message to John (vv.
%, 23). Jesus said to them. Go
your way, and tell John what things
We have seen and heard" In this
he emphasized that which was lack
ing in Johns understanding.
v. Jesus Defense Of John (Luke
7:24-2S).
/. He declared that John was not
vacillating like a reed swayed by
the wind ". 24).
2. John was not doubling be-
cause of the hardship of prison life
". 25).
8. John was not a mistaken
prophet (vv. c5-2S). He makes John
equal to the greatest of the Old
Testament prophets by declaring
that among those born Of women
there hath not arisen greater
prophet than John.
4. The response Of the people
". 29). The people who heard this
defense, even the publicans, accept
ed it as a vindication of John. They
justified God. They not only ac-
cepted the vindication. but were
baptized with 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
unlawful for him to have his broth