The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1937-02-04


world: he that followeth me shall not walk
In darkness, but shall have the light of life.
PRIMARY TOPIC-When Jesus Passed
BY.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
How Jesus Is the Light of the World.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Walking in the Light With Jesus.
'The Light of the World Is
Jesus!" Who does not remember
with what delight we as children
sang "Come to the light, it's shining
for thee The Light of the world
is Jesus" How precious was the
truth that thus flooded our souls.
Jesus was the light, and just as the
sunlight shed its glory on an awak-
ening world at dawn, so he shed
abroad the light Of God in the hearts
of men. The writer Of these les
sons pens these words with the
prayer that as this portion of Gods
Holy Word is studied and taught,
the light may break forth on many
a soul caught in the bewilderment Of
this dark world.
Our study centers around three
simple words fraught with beauty
and rich in meaning.
I. Light John 8:12).
The text says, ''Then spake
Jesus" When? Just after he had
silenced the hypocritical accusers
of a woman taken in sin, and had
spoken the word of peace to her
troubled soul. She was to Ego and
sin no more" because she had met
him who is the Light of the
World" They that follow him "shall
not walk in darkness; they are the
children Of light, they have the very
light of life.
ii. Freedom wv. 81, 32).
FreeI Four letters, but what
depth of meaning! Chains have fall
en- off, prison doors are open. The
one who was bound is free.
But here we are concerned with
an even more important liberty, the
freedom of the soul. Many there
are who boast of their independence
but who are naught but slaves.
Jesus said, "Whosoever committeth
sin is the servant of sin" (John
8:34), not it's master.
How shall they be freed? Note
three things in these verses. (D A
condition, eff We continue in my
word" This means not only a pro-
fession of faith but daily appropri-
alton and realization of his truth in
life. (2) A promise, eye shall know
the truth" The PHILOSOPHERS of men
profess to be seeking after truth
but how few there are who look to
the one place where it can be found
lin Jesus Christ. (3) A result,
"the truth shall make you free"
Truth always sets free. Men are
enslaved because, as in some for
eign lands, they have not had the
opportunity to learn the truth 1--WE
have failed to send it) or because
they have rejected it.
HI. Vision (John 9:1-1D.
This is one of the most instructive
passages in Scripture. A man born
blind is seen by Jesus. His dis
ciples note his intent and begin to
theorize on a theological question.
They had learned so little of the
compassionate spirit of Jesus that
they saw in this blighted life only
an illustration of theological the
DRY. May God help us that we may
never be so blind.
Jesus goes at once to work. He
was in the world to do the works of
God. He and the Father always
work. Let us follow his blessed
example. "The Kings business re-
quires haste" Let us work "while
it is day, the night cometh when
no man can work."
By a loving and gracious act,
Jesus stirs in the heart of the man
that faith which causes him to 20,
to wash, and, glory to God, he sees!
Such personal experience of the
divine power of the Son of God
leaves no doubt in the mans mind
that the one who caused him to
see sis prophet" All of mans
doubts concerning the deity of Jesus
Christ disappear when he becomes
his Saviour.
Read the remainder of the chap
ter and note how this mans faith is
victorious in the face of trials, per-
secution, and even of excommuni-
cation; for outside the temple he
met Jesus and takes him as his
Lord. AS DR.. Scroggie puts it, ellis
accommodation was a promotion.
He went from the synagogue to the
Saviour"