p. 12 | The Sunday School

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 16, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 49.

The Sunday School

International Series.

LESSON I.—SUNDAY, JANUARY 2, 1898.

JESUS AND JOHN.

NOTE.—"In studying the life of Christ as reported by Matthew, we need first of all to put in our minds the whole scheme of his life, and keep it there while we are studying the details. See that each lesson finds its place and meaning in the life and work of our Redeemer. . . . The Word, who became Jesus on earth, was the eternal Son of God. By him the worlds were created. From his glorious home he came to this world to reveal to us our Father in heaven, to express his infinite love, to bring us messages of forgiveness and hope, to give his life in atonement for our sins, to redeem the world from sin to holiness and heaven."—Peloubet. Jesus was born in the latter part of the Jewish year B.C. 5, a little over four years before the beginning of the era marked by his name. Study in connection with the lesson scripture Isa. 40: 1-5; Matt. 1 and 2; Mark 1: 1-11; Luke 1-3; John 1: 1-18. For prophecies concerning Jesus, see Isa. 7: 14; 9: 6; 11: 1; Micah 5: 2.

Lesson Scripture, Matt. 3: 7-17, R. V.

7 "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, Ye offspring of vipers, 8 who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth 9 therefore fruit worthy of repentance; and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our Father; for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children 10 unto Abraham. And even now is the ax laid unto the root of the trees; every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good 11 fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; he shall 12 baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire; whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor; and he will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire. 13 "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, 14 to be baptized of him. But John would have hindered him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou 15 to me? But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it now; for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffereth him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water; and lo, the heavens were opened 16 unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, 17 and coming upon him; and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Golden Text: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matt. 3: 17.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) Who among others appeared at the place where John was baptizing? Verse 7. (2) What question did he ask of them? Same verse. Note 1. (3) What test did he give by which they might show their sincerity? Verse 8. (4) In what were they evidently placing their trust? Verse 9. (5) How did John show that God was not dependent upon them for the fulfilment of his promise to Abraham? Same verse. (6) What warning did he give them in regard to the work which was now being done? Verse 10. Note 2. (7) What might those expect who did not heed what is quoted in verse 8? Same verse. (8) With what and unto what was his baptism? Verse 11. (9) What did he say of the One for whom he was preparing the way? Same verse. (10) With what would he baptize? Same verse. Note 3. (11) What would he do with his threshing-floor? Verse 12. (12) How would the wheat and chaff be disposed of? Same verse. (13) Who else came to be baptized by John? Verse 13. (14) What did John seek to do? Why? Verse 14. (15) What reply did Jesus make? Verse 15. (16) What occurred after Jesus had been baptized by John? Verse 16. (17) What accompanied the opening of the heavens and the descent of the Holy Spirit? Verse 17. Note 4.

NOTES.

1. Offspring of vipers.—It was a strong comparison. The viper was the most dangerous of the poisonous snakes of Syria. The Pharisees and Sadducees were in a position to do great harm, and were doing it constantly. They had come (or some of them at least) to be baptized, to go through the form, not that they were repentant or had a desire to change their nature. Compare with this expression of John what the Saviour says in John 8: 44. 2. Ax laid unto the root of the trees.—Ready to cut down the tree if it continued to bear unprofitable fruit. The last special work was now being done for the Jewish nation as a nation. "The forces were already in operation which led to the destruction of the Jewish nation forty-four years later." 3. With the Holy Ghost, and with fire.—The baptism of the Holy Ghost began to be experienced on the day of Pentecost, and its reception is elsewhere mentioned in the records of the early church; but the baptism with fire will be experienced by those who have rejected every ray of light and thereby become cumberers of the ground, or, as in the other figure, the chaff of the threshing-floor. This seems evident from the verse which follows. 4. This is my beloved Son.—Three times did the voice from heaven bear witness to Christ and his work on earth: at his baptism, at his transfiguration (Mark 9: 7), and during his prayer to the Father recorded in John 12. See verse 28. As many times as Peter denied him the Lord indorsed his mission.