Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1939-10-05
THE FORERUNNER OF TIT,
KING

THE FORERUNNER OF THE
KING
LESSON TEXT-Matthew 3.1.,7
GOLDEN TEXT-Prepare vo 49,
Of the Lord. make his paths stra ie way
Matthew 3:3. ''sh''-
When an earthly king visits hi,
oommlons or makes Journey n
another land. great preparations ara
made for his coming. Everythino
is done to expedite his journey and
to assure him of safety and com.
fort. The United States and Can
ada have recently had that interest.
ing experience. The King of king,
and Lord of Lords who in LOVING
kindness and gracious condescension
had come to earth to be our Re-.
deemer had now grown to manhood
and was prepared to enter on His
public ministry. God sent John to
be His forerunner to prepare the
way and to herald His coming.
l. A Herald Prophetically Fore.
told wv. l, 3, A..
The coming of John CASUALLY
called the Baptist was of such vi.
tai concern to God that He had re.
vealed it to His prophets hundreds
of years before (see lisa. 4O:S).
We should study and believe the
message Of the prophets. The same
prophecies that pointed to John the
Baptist and Christ's first coming
also point to the second coming
(Mal. 3:1-6; 4:1-6). We know the
former took place, why should we
doubt the fulfillment of the latter?
We do well to take heed to the
word Of prophecy Qf Pet. LID.
Let US also prepare the way Of
the Lord, not as John did, for his
was special ministry, but by max.
ing ways for the gospel to reach
the hearts Of men. We can remove
hindrances and distractions, prepar.
ing their hearts to receive Him as
Saviour and Lord.
ii. An Unusual Man with Burn
ing Message wv. 2, GID.
What an arresting appearance
John must have made as he
emerged to the edge Of the wilder
ness to present his startling mes.
sage! God had kept him Qike Moses
and scthers) in the quiet Of the des-
sert where He could talk with him,
away from the distractions Of So
called civilization. This simple liv.
ing had made John a striking per-
sonality, quite unusual and uncon'
ventional. The man who strives
for such an appearance to attract at
tention is but a fool, but on the other
hand unconventionality will not de-
stroy ones usefulness if he has a
message from God.
The preaching of John was burn
ing message Of repentance. There
had been no prophetic message
since the time of Malachi, and in
the intervening 400 years the rell-
gious life of the Jews had settled
down into a barren legalistic formal
ity. John'came with simple, prac-
teal, and plain-spoken indictment OF
sin, which led to repentance and
which made religion vital and real
again.
We know that the gospel OF the
grace of God in Christ goes far be-
yond the preaching of John. But we
also know that the Church needs to
get back to the proclamation OF a
vital heart-searching message, ana
some genuine old-fashioned repent
ance. Then we like John will bring
men to Christ for salvation, for sane
LITIGATION, for service.
III. A Humble but Privileged
Servant of Christ wv. 13-1D.
The browning event in the min
istry of John was the recognltlon
Of Jesus as He came to be baptizeu'
He was deeply conscious OF his own
unworthiness for this great work anu
pointed to the coming Saviour as tie
One in whom they should put their
trust wv. II and IA. See also Jonh
1:29). John was not jealous OF MS
own position, nor seeking his own
advancement (see v. 8 and Jonh
$500.
To this faithful and humble serV-
ant came the inestimable privilege
of baptizing the Saviour. The pap,
tism Of Jesus presents a mystery
which we cannot fully solve. IL Is
certain that He did not come to DC
baptized for the remission OF SILL
for He knew no sin. The best ex'
PLANTATION seems to be that In ms
obedience to His Father He was VIII
ing to subject Himself to every oroi,
nance of Coda spirit which Is no'
too common, by the way. among
His professed followers. He was mol
a sinner, but He took the sinner
place, and thus He both entereu
upon His ministry and pointed ioi,
ward to that day when God mace
Him "who knew no sin" to be maui
sin for US" so that 1--WE might DC
made the righteousness OF Goo IL
him" QI Cor. 5:2D.