The Republican., 1937-02-25


INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
What the New Commandment Means.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Measure of Christian Love.
In the last week of our Lords
ministry on earth many important
events took place, but we pass most
of them in our present series Of
studies. The incident related in our
lesson of today is of interest in and
of itself, but it is of peculiar sig
nifcance because it introduces a
marvelously instructive discourse of
our Lord.
Whatever had prompted their in
quiry, we are delighted to note that
the Greeks came with an earnest
desire to see Jesus.
/. Seeking Jesus (12:20-22).
A man has progressed far on the
road to blessing when he makes
known his desire to see Jesus. Com
ing to him means coming to the
One who has the words of eternal
life.
Note that the disciples were wise
enough to bring the men to Jesus.
The true function of every Christian
worker is to bring men to him. On
the back of the pulpit in one of
Americas greatest churches, direct
ly where the preacher can see them
as he arises to preach, are the
words of our lesson, "Sir, we would
see Jesus" Little wonder that
strong and true gospel is preached
in that church.
ii. Finding the Cross wv. 1888.
The reply of our Lord to the
Greeks and to the disciples who
brought them to him, seems bit
singular at first glance. Did he
not wish to receive them? They had
probably come to see the great re-
igious leader, the King of the Jews
why does he talk about death
why is his soul troubled?
The words of our Lord are clear.
Men do not need an example, a
leader, teacher, they need Saw
Jour. 1t is as sacrifice for sin
that Christ will draw all men unto
himself ". 32).
We need to re1earn that lesson.
Leaders of the church are earnestly
seeking the explanation of the rapid
decline in the influence of the Chris
tian church. 1t is a good sign that
some are beginning to realize that
the difficulty is in the realm of the
spiritual. The barrenness of So
called modern theology has become
apparent to its leaders and they
have begun to talk about "spirit-
ual revival" But unfortunately we
soon find that they use the express
sion to stand for something entire
ly different from real scriptural
revival. "The voice is Jacobs voice
but the hands are the hands of
Esau" (Gen. 27:22).
Let us make no mistake about it,
a real revival will center in the
cross and will manifest itself in
denial of self for the glory of God.
One cannot forego mention of the
fact that the last part of verse
26, eff any man serve me, him will
my Father HONOR was the motto
of the late DR.. James M. Gray,
whose life gloriously exemplified the
truth of the passage. God is willing
and ready to do as much for you
and for me.
III. Loving One Another John 13:
"a, 35).
When these words were uttered
our Lord was two days further in
the last week before he was cruci-
fled. He was alone with his disciples
in the upper room. What message
does he have for them in that sol
emn hour? That they should love
one another. That is a message
that needs renewed emphasis in our
day. The strife which fills the world
has almost engulfed the church, and
there is bitterness and strife where
love should reign.
Let us observe carefully that it
is as his disciples that we are
able to love one another. There are
two erroneous extremes to be avoid
ed. First, we have the out and out
conservative, who proclaims his be-
lief in the Bible as Gods Word, who
is anxious that he be absolutely
correct in doctrine, really saved
man, and who then becomes the
kind of fighting" fundamentalist
who dismally fails God in the testi-
mony referred to in these verses.
On the other hand we have the lib
eral who has abandoned the scrip
tural basis of discipleship and who
then boasts of his great love for his
brethren. Love is no substitute for
regeneration, and regeneration is
no excuse for lack of love.
Courtesy of the Heart
There is a courtesy of the heart,