The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1940-10-17

Four centuries of silence! God
made a loving appeal to His people
through Malachi, the prophet (see
lesson Of June 23), but they failed
to respond, and for about 400 years
no prophet had appeared with an
authoritative message from God.
But now God, who at sundry times
and in divers manners spake in time
past unto the fathers by the proph-
cts" was ready in the ''last days"
to speak by "his Son" (Heb. 1:12).
Before the Lord should come,
however, the prophet Isaiah (40:3-
81 had declared that voice was to
come out of the wilderness to cry,
Prepare we the way of the Lord"
The great honor of that ministry
did not fall upon the religious or
political leaders mentioned in Luke
81, but "the word of God came unto
John in the wilderness" When
God calls a preacher, something
vital and interesting is about to hap
pen.
l. The Preacher-His Call and
Character.
1t is significant that the call of
God for this ministry passed by the
mighty of Rome, which was polit-
ically powerful, holding sway over
the world of its day. 1t is doubly
significant that it passed by Jeru-
salem, the religious center of the
Jewish nation. God was not looking
for influence, prestige, or position.
He was looking for man, and He
found him, though He had to seek
him in the wilderness. Where is
Gods man for our day?
The character Of John is revealed
to us by Scripture as unique and
rugged. He was striking figure as
he came suddenly out of the wilder
ness, but the outstanding qualifica-
ton of John was that he was humble
and obedient to Gods will. Upon
such man the power of God may
fall in all its fullness.
ii. His Message-Its Nature and
the Reaction wv. 3, 8-14).
Repentance, as evidenced by bap-
tism, this was Johns word to his
day. He did not grant them absolu-
ton from their sins, but in repent
ance they were to look forward to
the cleansing from sin by the wash
ing of the blood of Christ who was
to come. John was the forerunner
of Christ. His message of repent
ance was preparation for the COM
inc MESSAGE of redep1Dti0n
The reaction of the people is ex-
pressed in the question, ''What must
we do?" Much more would be ac-
complished for Christ in our day if
that were the response of people to
the preaching of the truth. Instead
of criticizing or commencing the
preacher, or the sermon, let us ask,
what shall do about it?" and
then let us do it.
The answer of John was that each
one should, by his works, show the
reality of his repentance in the de-
tails of his daily work. and life. Of
course, the all-important thing is
that a man should believe in Christ,
and by faith receive Him as Saviour,
but that faith must show itself in
daily living or it is meaningless,
and, in fact, nonexistent. The
world is full of those who need to
answer our Lords own question,
"Why call We me Lord, Lord, and
do not the things which I say?"
duke 6:46).
III. His Ministry to Jesus-the
Baptism and Heavenly Response
wv. 1917, 81, 22).
The fortnight honesty and the hui
mility of John appeared in his i'm
mediate correction of the peoples
mistaken idea that he was the
Christ. He made clear that his bap-
tism with water, indicating their
change of mind concerning sin,
would only have real meaning as
the coming One-his Lord and ours
would change their natures by the
baptism of fire and of the Spirit.
Jesus, who knew no sin of which
to repent, took the place of a peni-
tent sinner and was baptized by
John. Thus He, the sinless One,
entered upon His public ministry
and His work of redemption by TAX
ing the place of fallen humanity.
What infinite grace and condescen-
sion!
AS He prayed, after John had bap-
TIED Him, the heavens opened and
the Holy Spirit, taking the form of
the gentle dove, rested upon Him.
God the Father spoke forth heavens
estimate of our Saviour; He was
declared to be the beloved Son"
of God, in whom the Father was
''wel pleased. -
This attestation of His divinity and
recognition of His spotless life and
character was for Him, but not for
Him alone. 1t speaks to us, even
as it has spoken to all men through
the centuries, of the One who is
Saviour and Lord. ''He is able also
to save them to the uttermost that
come unto God by him, seeing he
eyer liveth to make intercessSon Tor
them. For such an high priest be-
came us, who is holy, harmless,
undefiled, separate from sinners,
and made higher than the heavens"
(Heb. 7:25, 26).