International S. S. Lessons

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 6, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 39.

International S. S. Lessons.

"So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading." —Neh. 8:8

LESSON VIII.—SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 1894.

THE FIRST DISCIPLES OF JESUS.

[NOTE.—The questions which follow are merely suggestive for the student on the leading points of the lesson; it is presumed that the thorough student will think of many more as he studies the subject. References, where verses alone are given, always refer to the lesson scripture printed above. All other references are given in book, chapter, and verse. The text printed is that of the Revised Version, not because it is especially preferred, but because it is not found in every family, as is the common version.]

Lesson Scripture, John 1: 35-49.

AGAIN on the morrow John was standing, and two of his disciples:
And he looked upon Jesus as he walked, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God!
And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
And Jesus turned, and beheld them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? And they said unto him, Rabbi (which is to say, being interpreted, Master), where abidest thou?
He saith unto them, Come, and ye shall see. They came therefore and saw where he abode; and they abode with him that day; it was about the tenth hour.
One of the two that heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
He findeth first his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah (which is, being interpreted, Christ).
He brought him unto Jesus. Jesus looked upon him, and said, Thou art Simon the son of John; thou shalt be called Cephas (which is by interpretation Peter).
On the morrow he was minded to go forth into Galilee, and he findeth Philip; and Jesus saith unto him, Follow me.
Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter.
Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
And Nathanael said unto him, Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
Nathanael answered him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art King of Israel.

Golden Text: "We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ." John 1: 41.

NOTE.—This lesson evidently comes immediately after the temptation of Jesus, on his return from the wilderness. He came back near to where John was baptizing. Just before this incident in the lesson, also, the Jews had sent a deputation to John to ask him who he was; and John had told them that, while he was not the Christ, he was the voice of one crying in the wilderness, and he was content to be that voice, the voice of God. So will every true servant of God be content. He had also told them that there was One coming after him whose shoes' latchet he was not worthy to unloose. The next day after this he saw Jesus, and said, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!" He declared that Jesus was the One to whom he had borne witness.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

What occurred the next day after the incident noticed in the above note? Verse 35.
What testimony did John bear to Jesus as he saw him?
What did these two disciples do after John had spoken?
As Jesus turned and saw them following, what did he say? Verse 38.
What reply did they make?
What did he then say to them? and what did they do?
Who was one of these two disciples? Verse 40.
On finding Jesus, what did Andrew next do? Verse 41. Note 1.
When he had found Simon, what did he do? Verse 42, first clause.
What did Jesus say when he beheld Peter? Same verse.
Whom did Jesus find on the following day as he started into Galilee? Verse 43. Note 2.
What did he say unto him?
Of what city was Philip a native? Verse 44.
Whom did Philip first seek out? and what did he say to him?
What did Nathanael reply? Note 3.
What wise reply did Philip make? Verse 46, last clause.
What did Jesus say when he saw Nathanael coming? Verse 47.
What question did Nathanael ask? Verse 48.
How did Jesus show to Nathanael that he knew him and could read his heart?
What showed that Nathanael himself also believed? Verse 49.

NOTES.

ANDREW did just the same as every true disciple of Christ who finds Christ to the joy of his heart,—began to preach the gospel. When men selfishly find treasures of earth, they wish to keep them to themselves. When men find the treasures of God in the gospel, they wish to share them with others. The first thought of Andrew was for his brother Simon, and he wished that Simon should share in the same blessed knowledge which had come to him, that of knowing the Messiah. The word "Messiah" means "anointed." The Greek form is "Christ." So, in speaking of Jesus as the Christ or the Messiah, it means the anointed of God, the One anointed of God to do just the work which Christ did, as stated in Luke 4: 18 and Acts 10: 38. "Thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation a stone." "Cephas" was the Aramaic for "stone," the modernized form of the Hebrew language. As the language would not be familiar, John tells us that by interpretation it is a stone. That in the Greek would be "petros," a piece of rock, detached from the living rock. In other words, "Cephas" is the Aramaic or Syriac for stone, while the Greek word, "petros," or "Peter," means the same thing. This, however, is not to be confounded with the word "Petra," referring to Jesus Christ. Peter was a stone; Jesus was the Rock.
PHILIP the apostle is not to be confounded with Philip the deacon. Of his labors and death nothing is certainly known. Tradition says he preached the gospel in Phrygia and suffered martyrdom. He was of the same town as Andrew and Peter.
Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?—First, Nazareth was a small village of but little account. Second, it was not very far from Cana, which was Nathanael's own village, and much more important than Nazareth. Third, Nazareth is not even mentioned in the Old Testament, nor is there any prophecy concerning it, and it was a proverb that out of Galilee ariseth no prophet. Fourth, all Galileans were despised for their want of culture, their rude dialect, etc. Fifth, Nazareth must have been in low repute for morality. Jesus himself was once driven away from it by a mob of its best citizens. These and other things were, doubtless, in Nathanael's mind when he asked the question, "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" But we can see the fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah, "He was a root out of a dry ground." God made the meanest things to praise him; and yet, after all, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in the city of David.

LESSON VII.—SABBATH, AUGUST 18, 1894.

THE LOST FOUND.

Lesson Scripture, Luke 15: 1-32.

Now ALL the publicans and sinners were drawing near unto him for to hear him.
And both the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
And he spake unto them this parable, saying,
What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and his neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.
I say unto you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine righteous persons, which need no repentance.
Or what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she find it?
And when she hath found it, she calleth together her friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost.
Even so, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
And he said, A certain man had two sons:
And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of thy substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
And not many days after the younger one gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country: and there he wasted his substance with riotous living.
And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that country; and he began to be in want.
And he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
And he would fain have been filled with the husks that the swine did eat; and no man gave unto him.
But when he came to himself he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish here with hunger!
I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight:
I am no more worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hired servants.
And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet afar off his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight; I am no more worthy to be called thy son.
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
And bring the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and make merry:
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.
And he called to him one of the servants, and inquired what these things might be.
And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed thy fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
But he was angry, and would not go in; and his father came out, and entreated him.
But he answered and said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, and I never transgressed a commandment of thine; and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends.
But when this thy son came, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou killest for him the fatted calf.
And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that is mine is thine.
But it was meet to make merry and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

THERE is but one subject treated in this chapter, and that is indicated in the title of the lesson. But it is considered under three heads, namely, "The Lost Sheep," "The Lost Piece of Money," and "The Prodigal Son." These are all familiar stories. See how minutely you can relate them.

Who drew near to Jesus?
In what words did the scribes and Pharisees murmur against him?
What did this call forth from Jesus?
Relate the first parable.
How long does the man in the parable seek the lost sheep?
How does he feel when he finds it?
What does he do when he reaches home?
What lesson did Jesus teach from this?
What was the second parable?
What does the woman do when she has lost the piece of silver?
What when she finds it?
What lesson does Jesus teach from this?
Relate the third parable.
What did the younger of the two sons receive from his father?
What did he do with it?
How reduced were his circumstances?
What took place then?
When he came to himself, what did he say?
What did he do?
What took place when "he was yet a great way off"?
Did his father accept him as a servant?
How did he treat him?
What was the general feeling over the returned son?
How did the elder son feel?
What was the father's reply?

NOTES.

"THIS man receiveth sinners." That which the Pharisees uttered as a reproach against Jesus, is his greatest glory. It is a glory to him, and he glories in it. He is not ashamed to receive sinners. "He is not ashamed to call them brethren." Heb. 2: 11. "Behold what maner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God." He receives us when we offer ourselves to him as servants, and makes us sons. "Henceforth I call you not servants; . . . but I have called you friends." John 15: 15. "Wherefore thou art no more a servant but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." Gal. 4: 7.
"THERE is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." If you are not very watchful, you will find yourself reading according to the common way, "There is joy among the angels over one sinner that repenteth." This is doubtless true, but it is not what the text says. "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God." This includes the other thought, and adds infinitely more to it. God himself is not ashamed to exhibit in the presence of the angels his great joy over one repentant sinner. What more could be said to encourage poor wanderers? It is not that God will not cast off the repentant one, but that he is overflowing with joy at his return. He cannot and does not attempt to conceal his great joy when even one sinner repents. He watches for him and rushes to meet him when he is yet a long way off.

"For the love of God is broader Than the measure of man's mind; And the heart of the Eternal Is most wonderfully kind." 3. In studying the parable of the prodigal son, do not lose the preciousness of it by allowing your mind to run off into speculation as to who are indicated by the two sons. Whoever you are, the parable means you. Granted that the hard elder brother represents the position of the Pharisees toward the publicans and Gentiles, we must still remember that the race of the Pharisees is not yet extinct. We are either the prodigal son returning to the Father's house, or else we are the carping elder brother. And the worst of the second case is that we are actually in as hard circumstances as the prodigal, and unconscious of it. See Rev. 3: 17. Let us be content in studying this chapter to feast upon the revelation of the wonderful love of God, that we may be the more closely drawn to him. Let this word concerning Christ be ever in our minds, "This Man receiveth sinners."