LESSON 13.—MARCH 26.—REVIEW OF THE QUARTER'S LESSONS.
Golden Text.—"But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name." John 20:31.
LESSON I.—Christ the Light and Life of Men. John 1:1-18. Golden Text: "In Him was life; and the life was the light of men." Verse 4. Christ was the manifestation of God to the world. No sinful person could look upon God the Father, and live. Hence it is said that "no man hath seen God at any time;" so every appearance of God to men at any time has been through the manifestation of the Son. See verse 18 of lesson scripture.
LESSON II.—The Witness of John the Baptist to Jesus. John 1:19-34. Golden Text: "Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." Verse 29. Had John declared himself to be the Messiah, he could have secured many followers, and a brief career of honor; but he was wise enough to be faithful to his mission, faithful unto death. Thus he won the commendation of His Master (Luke 7:26-28), which was far better than the brief applause of men.
LESSON III.—Jesus Wins His First Disciples. John 1:35-51. Golden Text: "Thou art the Son of God; Thou art the King of Israel." Verse 49. Man's instrumentality is recognized in this initial work of Christ. Two were instigated to follow Him by the testimony of John the Baptist. On being convinced of His Messiahship, one of these, Andrew, sought his brother Simon. Then Jesus found Philip, who was in turn the means of finding Nathanael. So every one who finds the truth should become its messenger to others.
LESSON IV.—The First Miracle in Cana. John 2:1-11. Golden Text: "Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it." Verse 5. Jesus' mother had no thought of His working a miracle; but she knew His accommodating disposition, and thought He might suggest some way to relieve the embarrassment of the host. But He is always "able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think." Eph. 3:20.
LESSON V.—Jesus and Nicodemus. John 3:1-15. Golden Text: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Verse 16. The whole plan of salvation is based on the love of God. In the very nature of things, sin will produce death (James 1:14, 15), and, because of His love for His creatures, God devised a plan, even at the sacrifice of His willing Son, by which believers in Him should be saved.
LESSON VI.—Jesus at Jacob's Well. John 4:5-14. Golden Text: "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Rev. 22:17. Verse 14 of the lesson says: "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up unto eternal life." This indicates that the disciples of Christ are to be channels through which His blessings are to flow out to others.
LESSON VII.—The Second Miracle in Cana. John 4:43-54. Golden Text: "The same works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father hath sent Me." John 5:36. And thus it is that every man is tested by his work. Does your work bear witness that you are God-sent? At last "the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is." 1 Cor. 3:13. As Christ could heal the nobleman's son at a distance from His presence, so the true Christian's influence is not confined to his immediate surroundings.
LESSON VIII.—Jesus at the Pool of Bethesda. John 5:1-16. Golden Text: "A great multitude followed Him, because they saw His miracles." John 6:2. Jesus saw all the afflicted people at the pool, but it is noted of this man that "he had been now a long time in that case," and that he had no man to help him into the pool at the opportune moment. Jesus helps when everything else fails.
LESSON IX.—The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes. John 6:1-14. Golden Text: "I am the living Bread which came down from heaven." John 6:51. Two points are especially made prominent in this miracle, namely, the ability of Christ to provide without limit, and that He makes His disciples co-laborers with Him in His work.
LESSON X.—Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles. John 7:37-46. Golden Text: "Never man spake like this Man." Verse 46. The words of Christ were always His defense. Even Satan could do Him no bodily harm until His work was done, and He was ready to voluntarily lay down His life as the culmination of that work. So the Word of the Lord is the Christian's defense, as well as his only offensive weapon. See Eph. 6:13-17.
LESSON XI.—The Slavery of Sin. John 8:31-40. Golden Text: "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." Verse 34. Men were made sinners through a lie concocted by Satan, namely, "Ye shall not surely die." Gen. 3:4. No one phase of error has so enslaved the minds of men as this doctrine of man's inherent immortality. And as falsehood has enslaved the race, only the truth can set men free. Christ is the truth, and "if the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." He makes men free through His Word, which is truth (John 17:17).
LESSON XII.—Healing of the Man Born Blind. John 9:1-11. Golden Text: "I am the Light of the world." Verse 5. Of all the blind men whom Christ had healed, this was the only one of whom it is said that he was born blind. The fact was well attested, and, as no other objection could be made, Christ was persecuted because He had healed the man on the Sabbath day. The last argument of truth's opponents is persecution.
