Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-10-31
JESUS DECLARES HIS MISSION

LESSON TEXT-Luke 4:16-3O.
GOLDEN TEXT-For the Son of man
is come to seek and to save that which
was lost.-Luke 1910.
Ready for service! It's an excit-
ing and suspicious occasion when
the one who has prepared for life
work is ready to set forth on his
mission. Joy and sorrow mingle;
encouragement and opposition both
appear and become his constant
companions. Recognizing God and
following His Word is of greatest
importance on such day.
The mission upon which Jesus en-
tered on the day of our lesson was
important far beyond any service of
man, for, while He set out upon an
earthly ministry of doing good, it
led to the cross where He wrought
out deliverance for the captives Of
Satan. That day found Him back
with His own people in the syna-
gogue in His home town.
1. Prophecy Fulfilled wv. 1920.
1t is significant and appropriate
that Jesus declaration Of Himself as
the fulfillment of Isaiah GIL, 2 was
made in the synagogue on the Sab
bath day. He met with the people
in the house and at the time set
apart for Gods worship. He op-
posed spiritual deafness, the misin-
depreciation of the truth, the distor-
ton Of religious principles; but He
was not, as some would have us be-
lieve, a religious free lance who
despised the established worship Of
His people.
Having been prepared by the
years of silence, and more particu-
larly by the baptism and the tempta-
ton in the wilderness, He appeared
at the synagogue in Nazareth to de-
clare Himself as the fulfllment Of
prophecy.
Those who teach that Sesus was
only young Jewish teacher with a
new philosophy Of life have evidently
not read the Scriptures. He knew
Himself to be Gods Son come into
the world to bring the good news
of salvation by His own blood to
poor, sin-captive, blinded and
bruised humanity. He is the Saw
Jour! 4G
Look at Isaiah GIL. 2 and note
that Jesus stopped reading before
the end of the sentence. ''The day
of vengeance Of our God" will come
when Christ returns. This is the
day Of grace. Sinners are urged to
accept Gods love now, and thus to
escape the terrible day of judg-
ment
III. Faith Recognized wv. 23-2D.
The Jews gloried in the fact that
they were the chosen people of God
and insisted it was through the ex-
ercises of their formal worship that
Gods blessing must be received.
Now this one whom they enormously
call "Joseph's son" ". 22) comes to
disturb them in their self-satisfac-
ton. Seeing their rising resent
ment, He declares by striking words
and example that the benefits and
blessings of God come through faith
and not because of any racial rela'
tionship.
The glory of Christianity is that
its grace and power are to be re
ceived by faith and are fully and
freely available to the simplest anc
poorest of men. Race, position
wealth, education, have nothing tt
do with it. All too often they are
a hindrance, although they ough
rather to be a help.
Every reader of these notes, re
gardless of age, education, wealth
or any other condition or circum
stance of life. stands on an equa
footing before God and has a full
and unlimited opportunity to TAKE
right now, by faith in Christ, al
that God has for him-salvation
spiritual strength and usefulness
joy, peace, and all the other bless
ings of God. Will you do it?
iii. Truth Rejected wv. 28-3O.
Like torch cast into gunpowder
His words set off all the explosiv,
power of narrow bigotry, nationa
pride, jealousy. and they were al
filled with wrath" ". 28).
They rejected not only the truth o
His words, but they rejected Hin
who is the Truth (John 1850. Not
it carefully-in rejecting or neglect
ing His Word, you reject and neglec
Him.
Observe that until the time ha,
come for Him to be delivered
(Rom. 4:25) into the hands of wicke,
men to be crucified they could no
touch Him. There is no NOR
majestic scene than that in verse 8
where the Son of God turned at tn
brow of the hill and, walkin
through the midst Of the CROWD
went His way.
What have l to fear at the hand
of wicked and gainsaying men a
long as follow this all-powerful So
of God? He that is for us and i
us is greater than he (the deviD tina
is in the world Il John 4:4. W
follow the victorious Christ, VIII
quietly but majestically walk
through the ranks of His helples
enemies and goes His way" Wi
you join us-today7
Re TEMPERATE