The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-02-04

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 is the
light. Just as the sunlight sheds its
glory on an awakening world at
dawn, SO He sheds abroad the light
Of God in the hearts of men, AS
this portion of Gods Holy Word is
studied and taught, may the light
break forth on many a soul caught
in the bewilderment Of this dark
world.
But that is only one of the great
thoughts around which our lesson
centers. AS Jesus here reveals
Himself as divine, we consider four
simple words, each fraught with
rich meaning.
I. Light ". 12).
The text says: "Then spake
Jesus" When? Just after He had
silenced the hypocritical accusers of
woman taken in sin, and had
spoken the word of peace to her
troubled soul. She was to "go 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 shining in their hearts
and lives.
Not only does Jesus light the be-
LEVERS heart, but this light shines
into all the dark corners of this
wicked world, exposing sin and
hypocrisy, and showing the way
back to God.
ii. Salvation wv $500.
''Who art thou?" That is the ques-
ton every man must ask and an
swer as he considers Jesus. Even
neglect is an ansWer-a rejection.
The answer of Christ in these
verses goes to the very heart of the
matter, for He takes the people
right to the cross of Calvary. When
they had crucifed Him, they would
know. Did not the centurion say:
Truly this was the Son of Cod
(Matt. 27:54)?
1t is true today that no man knows
Christ until he knows Him as the
crucified Saviour. Teacher, Exam
pie, Guide-all these He is-but
they are not enough, for we sinners
need Saviour. May many today
follow the example of verse 80.
III. Freedom wv. 1885,.
Free! Four letters, but what a
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 commit.
teth sin is the servant of SIM
". 34), not its master.
How shall they be freed? Note
three things in these verses:
Cd A condition, IF We continue in
my word" This means not only a
profession of faith, but a daily ap.
preparation and realization of His
truth in life.
(2) A promise, aye shall know
the truth" The PHILOSOPHERS of men
profess to be seeking after truth
but how few there are who look tc
the one place where it can be found
in Jesus Christ.
90 A result, 1.-THE truth shall
make you free" Truth always sets
free. Men are enslaved because
as in some foreign lands, they have
not had the opportunity to learn the
truth or because they have rejected
it.
Men profess to seek truth in their
research and in the process of edu.
cation, but without Christ they can
not have real truth. Educational
systems which rule Him out are
deficient and lead to bondage rather
than freedom.
w. Eternity wv. $500.
Taking up their statement that
they were Abraham's children (see
w. 80, 80, Jesus enters into the
sharpest controversy with the I'M
believing Jews of His entire earthly
ministry. They were claiming kin
ship with great man of faith who
in his day had looked forward to
the coming of Christ ". 56). Now
He was here, and instead of receiv-
ing Him as their Messiah they were
ready to kill Him.
Not only did they claim Abraham
as father, but elso God. Jesus told
them that in their sin and unbelief
they we're of their father the
devil" 1t is possible, then, to be
very religious, to follow the tradi-
tons of ones fathers, and yet to be
children of the devil.
All this led up to their sharp re-
Duke in verse 81, which denied to
Christ anything but an earthly eX-
istence and which led Him to the
statement of His eternity. He iden-
tilted Himself definitely and clearly
with the Eternal One-the great l
AM of Z odus 3:14.
Christ God, and is therefore
"infnite, eternal and Interchangeable
in His being, wisdom, power, hoh-
ness, justice, goodness and truth >
Westminster Catechism).