STUDIES IN THE
LIFE AND TEACHINGS
OF OUR LORD
By
R. A. TORREY,
D. D.
LOS ANGELES, CAL.
THE BIOLA BOOK ROOM
Bible
Institute of Los Angeles
558 SOUTH HOPE STREET
Copyright, 1907, 1908 and 1909
Copyright owned by the
BIBLE INSTITUTE
OF LOS ANGELES
EXPLANATORY
What This Work Is
A
consecutive, systematic course of studies in our Lord’s life and teachings,
divided into 140 lessons, each complete in itself, and adapted either for
individual or class use.
The Author
Dr. Torrey has had years of experience that particularly fit him to write
such a work. A graduate of Yale University and Yale Theological Seminary, he also
spent some time in study in Germany.
Then followed a ministry of more than twenty years as a pastor. He was selected
by D. L. Moody to be superintendent of The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago in
1889. Since then he has continuously taught the Bible at the Institute, at
Bible conferences, etc. His world-wide experience, in later years especially,
as evangelist and Bible teacher have also shown him how to help and instruct
young converts and other students of the Bible. His helpful books on the Bible
and other themes are well known.
The Method
The
method is workable, and is calculated to develop the student’s own gifts, and
that in direct work upon the Bible text itself. It is not too laborious in
quantity or manner for the every-day Christian. It is the method of modern
science; first a discovery of the facts, and then a classification of the
teachings. The facts are discovered by questions and answers. Dr. Torrey
asks the questions, the student—each for himself or herself—answers the
questions from the open Bible. Dr.
Torrey gives a classification of
the teachings, but each student should carry the discovery and classification
further for himself.
Results
No
subject of Bible study is more vital, fruitful or popular than the life and
teachings of our Lord. Obviously, every young convert ought immediately to get
well acquainted with His person and work, while every Christian is exhorted to
grow in the grace and knowledge of Him.
As a
suggestive commentary on the Four Gospels, it has special value, bringing
together the teachings of Christ on a given subject,
also awakening in the student a desire for personal Scripture research.
Constant use is made of parallel passages and pertinent reference to other
parts of the Bible.
Other Advantageous Features
Personal
applications are made from time to time, thus feeding the student’s soul and
developing him in Christian experience and work. The teacher and Christian
worker will find the lessons full of side studies, suggestions and outlines for
Bible readings and addresses. For the brief notation of such additional matter
the wide margins throughout this book will be found convenient and probably
sufficient.
Outfit
No
outfit is required beyond this volume and a copy of the English Bible. It will
be seen that occasional references are made to the Revised Version, so that the
student is advised to use a copy for reference.
LIST OF LESSONS, THEIR SUBJECTS AND SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
LESSON
1 The Prologue of John’s Gospel. John
1:1–18.
2 The Birth of Jesus the Messiah, and the Visit of the Magi. Matthew 2:1–18.
3 The Birth of Jesus the Prince of Peace. Luke
2:1–20.
4 The Circumcision of Jesus, and His Presentation in the Temple. Luke
2:21–39.
5 The Childhood of Jesus. Luke
2:40–52.
6 The Ministry of John the Baptist. Luke
3:1–18.
7 The Baptism of Our
Lord. Mark 1:9–11.
8 The Temptation of Our
Lord. Matthew 4:1–11.
9 John
the Baptist’s Testimony Regarding Our Lord. John
1:19–34.
10 Our Lord’s First
Disciples. John 1:35–51.
11 Our Lord’s First
Miracle. John 2:1–12.
12 The First Cleansing
of the Temple. John 2:13–25.
13 Eternal Life: What It
is, What It Cost, and Who Can Have It. John 3:1–21.
14 Our Lord and the
Woman of Samaria.
John 4:1–30.
15 Our Lord and the
Samaritans. John 4:31–42.
16 Our Lord Restoring
the Nobleman’s Son. John 4:43–54.
17 Our Lord Rejected at Nazareth. Luke 4:16–32.
18 The Call of the First
Four Disciples. Luke 5:1–11.
19 “A Prophet Mighty in
Word and Deed Before God and All the People.” Mark
1:21–35.
20 Our Lord’s First
Evangelistic Tour in Galilee. Mark 1:36–45.
21 Our Lord Teaching the
Ignorant, Forgiving the Sinner and Healing the Sick. Mark
2:1–12.
22 The Call of Matthew the Publican. Luke
5:27–39.
23 The Healing of a Man
Who Had Been Thirty and Eight Years in His Infirmity. John
5:1–16.
24 Jesus,
the Son of Man and Son of God. John
5:17–47.
25 Our Lord Teaching
Regarding the Sabbath. Mark 2:23 to 3:6.
26 The Appointment of
the Twelve Apostles. Mark 3:7–19.
27 The Sermon on the
Mount. Matthew 5:1–16.
28 The Sermon on the
Mount—(Continued). Matthew 5:17–48.
29 The Sermon on the
Mount—(Continued). Matthew 6:1–18.
30 The Sermon on the
Mount—(Continued). Matthew 6:19–34.
31 The Sermon on the
Mount—(Continued). Matthew 7:1–12.
32 The Sermon on the
Mount—(Concluded). Matthew 7:13–29.
33 The Centurion’s
Servant. Luke 7:1–10.
34 The Raising of the
Widow’s Son at Nain. Luke 7:11–17.
35 John
the Baptist’s Last Message to Our Lord. Luke
7:18–35.
36 Our Lord and the
Woman Who Was a Sinner. Luke 7:36–50.
37 The Unpardonable Sin.
Mark 3:20–35.
38 The Parable of the
Sower. Matthew 13:1–23.
39 The Parable of the
Wheat and Tares. Matthew 13:24–30,
36–43.
40 The Growth of the
Kingdom. Mark 4:26–29; Matthew 13:31–33.
41 Three Parables: The
Hid Treasure, the Merchant Seeking Goodly Pearls, and the Net Cast into the
Sea. Matthew 13:44–52.
42 Our Lord Stilling the
Tempest. Mark 4:35–41.
43 Our Lord and the
Gadarene Demoniac. Mark 5:1–20.
44 Our Lord and the
Woman Who Had the Issue of Blood. Mark
5:24–34.
45 Our Lord and the
Daughter of Jairus. Mark 5:21–23,
35–43.
46 Our Lord’s Second
Rejection at Nazareth.
Matthew 9:27–34; Mark
6:1–6.
47 The Mission of the Twelve. Matthew
9:35 to 10:10.
48 The Death of John the Baptist. Mark
6:14–29.
49 The Feeding of the
Five Thousand. Mark 6:30–44.
50 Our Lord Walking on
the Water. Matthew 14:22–36.
51 Discourse on the
Bread of Life. John 6:22–51.
52 The Results of Our
Lord’s Discourse on the Bread of Life. John
6:52–71.
53 Our Lord Exposes the
Traditions of the Scribes and Pharisees. Mark
7:1–23.
54 The Syrophoenician
Woman. Matthew 15:21–28.
55 Our Lord in Decapolis: Healing the Sick, Opening the Ears of the
Deaf, Giving Speech to the Dumb, Feeding the Hungry. Matthew
15:29–31; Mark 7:31 to 8:10.
56 Our Lord in the Parts
of Dalmanutha and in Bethsaida: Answering the
Pharisees and Sadducees, and Healing a Blind Man. Matthew
16:1–12.
57 Peter’s
Confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the
Living God. Matthew 16:13–20.
58 Our Lord Preparing
His Disciples for His Crucifixion. Matthew
16:21–28.
59 The Transfiguration. Matthew 17:1–13.
60 Our Lord Healing the
Demoniac Boy at the Foot of the Mount of Transfiguration. Mark
9:14–29.
61 Christ
Again Foretelling His Death and Resurrection and Discoursing on Humility. Matthew 17:22 to 18:14.
62 The Duty of Forgiving
Those Who Sin Against Us. Matthew
18:15–35.
63 Our Lord at the Feast
of Tabernacles. John 7:1–24.
64 Our Lord at the Feast
of Tabernacles—(Continued). John
7:25–36.
65 Our Lord on the Last
and Great Day of the Feast of Tabernacles. John
7:37–53.
66 Jesus
the Light of the World. John 8:12–24.
67 Jesus
the One Who Makes Free Indeed. John
8:25–47.
68 “Before Abraham Was, I Am.” John
8:48–59.
69 Our Lord Steadfastly
Setting His Face to Go to Jerusalem.
Luke 9:51–62.
70 The Mission of the Seventy. Luke
10:1–16.
71 The Return of the
Seventy. Luke 10:17–24; Matthew 11:25–30.
72 The Good Samaritan. Luke 10:25–37.
73 Our Lord and Martha and Mary.
Luke 10:38–42.
74 The Healing of the
Man Born Blind. John 9:1–41.
75 Jesus
the Good Shepherd. John 10:1–21.
76 Our Lord at the Feast
of Dedication. John 10:22–42.
77 Our Lord Teaching His
Disciples How to Pray. Luke 11:1–13.
78 The Folly of Laying
Up Treasure for One’s Self and Not Being Rich Toward God. Luke
12:13–21.
79 The Folly of Anxiety.
Luke 12:22–34.
80 The Wisdom of
Watching for the Lord’s Return. Luke
12:35–48.
81 One More Opportunity. Luke
13:1–17.
82 Jesus
Journeying Toward Jerusalem.
Luke 13:22–35.
83 The True Way to Keep
the Sabbath. Luke 14:1–6; Isaiah
58:13, 14.
84 How to Find Honor
Here and Recompense Hereafter. Luke
14:7–14.
85 Man’s Excuses. Luke 14:15–24.
86 Conditions of
Discipleship. Luke 14:25–35.
87 Parables of the Lost
Sheep and the Lost Coin. Luke 15:1–10.
88 Parable of the Lost
Son. Luke 15:11–24.
89 The Unjust Steward. Luke 16:1–18.
90 The Rich Man
and Lazarus. Luke
16:19–31.
91 Mary
and Martha’s Message to Our Lord When
Their Brother Lazarus Was Sick. John
11:1–16.
92 The Resurrection of Lazarus. John
11:17–45.
93 The Conspiracy Formed
Against the Life of Our Lord. John
11:46–57.
94 The Ten Lepers. Luke 17:11–19.
95 Our Lord Teaching His
Disciples to Pray Through. Luke
18:1–8.
96 The Pharisee and the
Publican. Luke 18:9–14.
97 Jesus’
Teaching Concerning Marriage, Divorce, and Children. Matthew
19:3–15.
98 The Rich Young
Ruler. Mark 10:17–27.
99 How God Rewards His
Servants. Matthew 19:27 to 20:16.
100 The Ambition of James and John.
Mark 10:32–45.
101 Jesus and Bartimeus. Luke
18:35–43.
102 Jesus and Zaccheus. Luke
19:1–10.
103 The Parable of the
Pounds. Luke 19:11–28.
104 The Anointing of Jesus by Mary
of Bethany.
Matthew 26:6–16.
105 Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Luke
19:29–44.
106 The Cursing of the
Barren Fig Tree, and the Second Cleansing of the Temple. Mark
11:12–26.
107 The Parable of the
Two Sons and the Unfaithful Husbandmen. Matthew
21:23–46.
108 The Parable of the
Marriage Feast of the King’s Son. Matthew
22:1–14.
109 Christ’s
Teaching Concerning Civil Government. Matthew
22:15–22.
110 The Pharisees and
Sadducees Questioning Christ and Christ
Questioning the Pharisees. Matthew
22:23–46.
111 Christ
Exposing the Scribes and Pharisees. Matthew
23:1–36.
112 The Gentiles Seeking
Jesus and the Jews Rejecting Jesus. John
12:20–50.
113 Jesus’ Prophecies Concerning the Destruction of Jerusalem. Luke 21:5–24.
114 Jesus’ Prophecies Concerning His Own Coming Again. Matthew 24:29–51.
115 The Parable of the
Ten Virgins. Matthew 25:1–13.
116 The Parable of the
Talents. Matthew 25:14–30.
117 The Judgment of the
Nations. Matthew 25:31–46.
118 The Institution of
the Lord’s Supper. Luke 22:7–20.
119 Jesus Washing
the Disciples’ Feet. John 13:1–17.
120 Jesus Predicts that One of the Twelve Should Betray
Him and Another Deny Him. John
13:18–38.
121 Thoughts for the
Comfort of Jesus’ Disciples During the
Absence of Their Lord. John 14:1–14.
122 Further Thoughts for
the Comfort of Jesus’ Disciples During
the Absence of Their Lord. John
14:15–27.
123 “I Am the True Vine,
and My Father is the Husbandman.” John
15:1–17.
124 The Hatred of the
World Toward the Disciples of Jesus. John 15:18 to 16:6.
125 Jesus’ Last Words to His Disciples Before His Arrest,
Trial and Crucifixion. John 16:7–33.
126 Our Lord’s Prayer
for His People. John 17.
127 Jesus in Gethsemane.
Matthew 26:36–46.
128 The Arrest of Jesus and Peter’s
Denial. Mark 14:43–54, 66–72.
129 Jesus Before Caiaphas and
the Sanhedrin. Mark 14:55–65.
130 Jesus’ Trial Before Pilate.
Luke 23:1–25.
131 Pilate’s
Attempts to Release Jesus. John
19:1–16.
132 The Crucifixion. Luke 23:26–38.
133 The Death of Jesus. Luke
23:39–45; Matthew 27:45–56.
134 The Burial of Jesus. John
19:31–42; Matthew 27:61–66.
135 The Resurrection of Jesus. Mark
16:1–11; John 20:1–18.
136 Jesus Appears to Two Disciples on the Way to Emmaus. Luke 24:13–35.
137 Jesus’ Two Appearances and Conversations with His
Apostles. John 20:19–31.
138 Jesus’ Appearance to Seven Disciples by the Sea of Galilee. John
21:1–24.
139 Jesus’ Appearance to the Eleven on the Mountain in Galilee. Matthew
28:16–20.
140 Jesus’ Last Appearance to His Disciples in Jerusalem, and His Ascension from Bethany.
Luke 24:44–53.
LESSON 1
The Prologue of John’s
Gospel
John 1:1–18
DISCOVERY OF FACTS
1. Jesus
the Word of God, vv. 1–3
How
far back does this lesson carry us? What do we find back in eternity? What is
the noticeable difference between verse 1 and Genesis 1:1? Why is our Lord
called “the WORD”? What three facts about the WORD does verse 1 teach us? Is
this doctrine found elsewhere? (Col. 1:17; Rev. 22:13).
Is Jesus Christ called “God” elsewhere? (Is. 9:6;
Ro. 9:5; Titus 2:13, R. V.; 2 Peter 1:1, R. V.; Heb. 1:8, 6). What is the first
work of the WORD that is mentioned? What is meant by the word “by” in verse 3?
(See margin R. V.; Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2; 11:3; Ps. 33:6). What new
idea does the last clause of verse 3 bring in? (Col. 1:17). What comfort is
there in the thought that He made us?
2. Jesus
the Life and Light of Men, vv. 4, 5
Where
is life to be found? (1 John 5:11; John 5:21, 26; 1 Cor. 15:45; 1 John
1:2; John 14:6; 11:25). How then is
life to be obtained? (1 John 5:12).
What is meant by “and the life was the Light of men”? (1 John
1:2; John 8:12; 9:5; 12:35, 46). Where
did this Light send forth its rays? Where ought we to let our light shine? What
was this darkness? To what period of religious history does this refer? How did
the darkness receive the light? (R. V.)
Why did it not apprehend it? (1 Cor. 2:14; John
3:19, 20).
3. A Man Sent from God to Bear Witness of
the Light, vv. 6–13
What
means did God use to bring men to appreciate and lay hold of the Light? What is
God’s usual method in bringing men to appreciate and lay hold of the Light? Was
John the only witness God sent? (John 15:26, 27; 5:36). Upon whom does God bestow that
honor to-day? How did John show his
appreciation of the honor? (vv. 15, 19, 26, 27, 29, 32–34, 36; 3:34–36). How do
you show that you appreciate it? What was God’s purpose in sending John? Why does God want all men to believe? (1 Tim.
2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9). Was John himself the
Light? Were there any who were in danger of thinking that he was? Are there any
to-day who are in danger of thinking the preacher himself is the light? What
sort of a light was it to which John
was to bear witness? How far does that light shed forth its rays? How was the
WORD, the Life, the Light treated by men? (vv. 10–13). Where was our Lord prior
to His incarnation? Did the world recognize Him? To whom did He come? Who were
meant by “His own”? What did they do? Did this hurt Him? Whom did it
hurt? Did all reject Him? What did He do for those who received Him? (R. V.)
To whom does He give this right to-day? What is it to receive Him? What is
God’s definition of “believing on His name”? Who are these men who receive Him?
Where will we find the truth about regeneration more fully brought out? (John 3:1–15; James
1:18; 1 Pet. 1:23). How many of those who believe are born of God? (See Gal.
3:26).
4. The Word Become Flesh, vv. 14–18
As
the WORD was not received in His spiritual presence in the world, what further
did He do? What does “become flesh” mean? (Phil. 2:6, 7; 1 John 1:1, 2). What is the literal meaning of the word
translated “dwelt” in v. 14? (R.
V. margin). Of what promises was
this the realization? What became possible for us through His incarnation? What
was the character of His glory? What was John’s
testimony regarding Him? What was there in Him (v. 16)? What may we do with
this fullness? What is meant by “grace for grace”? What was the difference
between the mission of Moses and the
mission of Jesus? In what sense have
men seen God? (Ex. 24:10; Is. 6:1). How did the apostles themselves see God? (John 14:9). If no man has seen God, how may we fully
know God? (v. 18, compare John 14:9).
CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS
1. Jesus Christ
(1). What He is:
Eternal, 1, 15; eternally with God, 1, 12; in the bosom of the
Father, 18; superior to Moses: Moses gave law, Jesus Christ
incarnates grace and truth, 17; glorious as God, 14; the Life, 4; the true
Light, 4, 9; the WORD, 1, 14; the only begotten, 18; God, 1.
(2). His Work:
Made the world, 10; made all things 3; came into the world, 10;
shineth in darkness, 5; lighteth every man coming into the world, 9; came to
His own, 11; became incarnate, tabernacled among men, alone brings grace and
truth, 14, 17; alone reveals God as Father, 18; alone imparts life, 4; gives to
every one who receives Him power to become a child of God, 12; imparts His fullness
to believers, grace upon grace, 16.
(3). How He was
received:
The darkness apprehended Him not, 5; the world knew Him not, 10;
His own received Him not, 11; received by those born of God, 12, 13; testified
to by John, 15; beheld in His glory by believers, 14.
2. The Father
Eternal, 2; invisible, 18; begat the Son, 14; revealed by the Son,
18; sent John to witness to the Son,
6; wishes all men to believe, 7.
3. The New Birth
(1). Its necessity:
Natural man in darkness, apprehends not, 5; knows not, 10;
receives not, 11.
(2). Its nature:
Not the work of blood or flesh, not of man’s will, God’s work, 13.
(3). Result:
Received Christ, right to be God’s
children, 12.
4. John
(1). Inferiority to Jesus:
A man, not God, 1, 6; not the Light, but a witness to the Light,
8; not the Son, but His messenger, 18, 6; not eternal, subordinate to the Son,
15.
(2). What he did:
What he was sent to do: bore witness, 7; humbled self, exalted Christ, 15.
(3). How he did it:
Earnestly “cried,” 15.
LESSON 2
The Birth of Jesus the
Messiah,
and the Visit of the Magi
Matthew 2:1–18
DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS
1. The Saviour Sought, vv. 1–8 (Matthew 8:11)
Who
were these wise men? (v. 1, R. V. margin, see Esther 1:13; Dan. 2:12). What
notices have we in the Bible of this class? How did these particular “wise men”
show that they were really wise? Do wise men as a rule seek Christ?
(1 Corinthians 1:26). Why not? (Matthew
11:25). Why was Christ born in the days of Herod? What important question about Christ
did the magi ask? Where was the answer to the question sought? Where can we
find the answer to that question?. How had they been led to believe that He was
born? Is there any light outside the Scriptures? What kind of light is it? To
what did the starlight of natural religion lead the magi before it led them to Christ? Why did God reveal the truth to the magi by a star?
How did He reveal it to the scribes? Would it have been wise for the scribes,
who had the Scriptures, to consult the stars? Was it wise for the magi? How did
the magi get more light? How far did they follow the light they had? What did
the magi want of the new-born King? How far had they come? Is it worth while to
go so far and encounter so much discomfort to find Christ?
Do we need to go so far? (Ro. 10:6–8). How did Herod
and the people receive the news of the advent of Christ?
How would you feel to-day if you thought Christ had
come or was coming soon again? Why was Herod
troubled? Why were the people troubled? Did Herod
assist in the search for Christ? What did he want to
find Him for? Was he in earnest in the search? Did it do him any good to seek
for Christ? Why not? From whom did Herod
seek information? Did they know? Did their knowledge do them any good? Why did
they know? Have we any students of prophecy to-day like these scribes? Which
were better off, the magi with only the light of nature which they obeyed, or
the scribes with the light of Scripture which they disobeyed? Are there any
today who point others to Christ but do not go
themselves? What is the conception of the Christ
presented by the prophecy quoted? How does this prophecy fit in with the
purpose of Matthew’s Gospel? How did Herod show his stupidity?
2. The Saviour Found, vv. 9–11 (Jeremiah 29:13)
Did
the magi spend much time in Jerusalem?
Why not? How were they guided to the place where the Child was? What feeling
did the sight of the star produce? Why were they glad when Herod
and the Jews were troubled? What men to-day find exceeding great joy when they
find Christ? (1 Peter
1:8). What did the magi do when they found Christ?
Does this worshipping Him prove that they recognized the deity of Christ?
3. The Saviour Hated of Men, Guarded by Angels, vv. 12–18 (John
15:25; Psalms 91:11, 12)
What
plan had Herod formed? Who stirred him up to this?
What made this plan manifestly absurd? Why is the devil so blind? How was Herod’s plan upset? What ground of assurance have we that
all the devil’s schemes concerning God’s children will come to naught?. (Rom.
8:31). How was Herod’s second scheme foiled? Why was
it certain from the outset that it would fall? Why is the Child mentioned
before the mother in the angel’s charge? How did the angel know that Herod would seek the Child’s life? Was Herod’s
plan formed before or after it was announced to Joseph?
How did Joseph show his wisdom? What
were the characteristics of his obedience? What prophecy was fulfilled by this
descent into Egypt?
(Hosea 11:1). What then was all the devil achieved by his plot against Christ’s life? (Ps. 76:10). Was the verse which Matthew quotes in verse 15 primarily intended as a
prophecy of Christ? How then is Matthew justified in saying it is a fulfilled
prophecy? How many references to fulfilled prophecy are there in this lesson?
How many in the whole Gospel? Why is Matthew
so much more careful to notice the fulfillments of Old Testament types and
prophecies than the other evangelists? When Herod
found that his plan had failed, how did he feel? How do wicked men usually feel
at the miscarriage of their plans? How do good men feel? How did Herod
manifest the intensity of his hatred to Christ? What
was all that was accomplished by this hellish scheme? What does it all show the
devil to be? How much careful painstaking and wise plotting is necessary to
upset God’s plans.
CLASSIFICATION
OF TEACHINGS
1. God
Reveals truth to the heathen, 1; foreknows all things, protects
His children, forestalls His enemies, upsets the best laid plans of the wicked,
12, 13; makes the wrath of men to praise Him, 15, 17; reveals His truth by
nature, 2; by dreams, 12; by angels, 13; above all in Scripture, 5, 6; step by
step, 2, 5, 9.
2. The Devil
His deceitfulness, 8; cruelty, 16; cunning, 4, 8, 16; stupidity,
15, 17; helplessness, 12, 3.
3. The Scriptures
Inspired of God, point to and center in Christ, 5, 6, 15, 17, 18;
superior to other revelations, 2; easy to understand, 5; mere intellectual
understanding of them will not save, 4.
4. Jesus
(1). His nature:
Divine, 2, 11, 13; human, 11, 13, 14.
(2). His office:
King of the Jews, 2, 4, 6.
(3). How received:
With joy by heathen magi, 2, 10; with indifference by the
theologians, 5, 6; with dread by His own people, 3; with hatred by the king,13,
16.
(4). How He should be
sought:
Joyfully, 10; diligently, 1, 8; immediately, 9; for the right
purpose, 2, 13.
When the wise men “saw the star (that pointed to Christ)
they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” When Herod
heard of Christ “he was troubled.” Which are you
like?
LESSON 3
The Birth of Jesus the
Prince of Peace
Luke 2:1–20
DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS
1. The Prince Despised by Man, vv. 1–7 (Isaiah
53:3)
How
many years before, and by whom, was it prophesied that the Christ
should be born in Bethlehem?
(Micah 5:2). What decrees and deeds of man worked together to fulfill this
prophecy and purpose of God? What does this prove? Where did the Prince of
Peace begin His life on earth? Where did He close it? Why did He not begin His
earthly life in the inn? Why did He close it so prematurely? In how many places
is there room for Jesus to-day? Why
have men no room in their hearts for Him to-day? When there was no room for Jesus in the inn, what ought to have been done? What
ought we to do when there is no room in our hearts for Him?
2. The Prince Honored by Angels,
vv. 8–14 (1 Peter 1:12)
To
whom was the announcement of the birth of the Christ
made? Have we any evidence of spiritual fitness on their part? (v. 15). Have we
any evidence that they were waiting, longing and looking for the coming of Christ? (v. 16). What was Zacharias
doing when the angel spoke to him? (Luke
1:8–11). What were the shepherds doing when the angels spoke to them? Why did
God reveal Himself to the shepherds while they were keeping watch over the
flocks, and to Zacharias while burning
incense? Was it very pleasant work to keep watch over the flocks? Did it pay?
What was “the glory of the Lord” that shone round about them? Where alone did
“the glory” manifest itself? Why then was it manifested at the birth of Jesus? Where did the disciples behold “the glory”? (John 1:14; 2 Cor. 3:18; 4:6). What was the effect of
all this upon the shepherds? Why? In what way does the supernatural usually
affect men? Why? What was the angelic salutation? How frequently is this the
message God’s messengers bring? (Look up the words “Fear not” in a
concordance). What cure for fear did the angel propose? What sort of a thing
according to the 10th verse is the Gospel? Is it “good tidings of great joy” to
you? What was the Gospel the angel declared? What was the Gospel Paul preached?
(1 Cor. 15:1, 3, 4). Which is the fuller Gospel? According to man’s notions,
where would He that was to be Saviour, Christ and
Lord be most likely to be found? What strange sign of the advent of the
Saviour, Christ and Lord did the angel give the
shepherds? Did the shepherds need that sign as a confirmation of their faith?
(v. 15). What is all that real faith ever asks for? (Ro. 10:17; John 20:29). How did the angelic world receive the
announcement of a Saviour born? How does this world receive it? What idea as to
the feeling of the angels is suggested by the word “suddenly”? What, according
to the angelic song, would be the result of the birth of the Saviour? To whom
is this peace? (See R.
V.) Who are the
men “in whom He is well pleased”? (Find a Bible answer to this question).
3. The Prince Joyfully Received by the
Believing Few, vv. 15–20 (John
1:11, 12)
How
did the shepherds show their wisdom? What words are suggestive of important
lessons in this resolve? How did they know that the thing announced had surely
“come to pass”? What was their object in going? When any great truth is “made
known unto us,” what ought we at once to attempt to do? What is there in the
text that shows their eagerness to see this new-born Saviour? How many persons
in the Gospel story came to Jesus with
haste? Are many as eager to see Him to-day? What did the shepherds find? How
did they know beforehand that they would find just that? What did they do as
soon as they had seen it? What ought every one of us, to whom the good news of
salvation comes, to do? What did they tell? What did Mary
do with the great truths? What ought we all to do with them? Did the shepherds
remain in Bethlehem?
Why not? What did they do as they went from the place of revelation to the
place of service?
CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS
1. God
(1). Glorified:
By the fulfillment of prophecy, 1, 7; by the birth of the Saviour,
Christ and Lord, 14; by His believing children, 20.
(2). Reveals His truth:
To lowly men, while at their post of duty, 8; if they will only
believe, test, 15; testify, 17; return to their post and praise and glorify
Him, 20.
2. What to Do with the Word
(1). The shepherds:
Heard the Word, 10; believed, tested, 15; testified to, 17;
glorified God for the Word, 20.
(2). Mary:
Kept, pondered the Word, 19.
3. What to Do with Jesus
The shepherds:
Heard of Jesus, 11; came
at once to Jesus, 15; saw Jesus, 16; witnessed concerning Jesus,
17; praised God for Jesus, 20.
4. What Not to Do with Jesus
Have no room for Jesus,
shut Jesus Out, 7.
“What then shall I do with Jesus?”
LESSON 4
The Circumcision of Jesus,
and His Presentation in the Temple
Luke 2:21–39
DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS
1. The Circumcision of Jesus, v. 21
Why
was Jesus circumcised? (Gal. 4:4, 5).
On what day was He circumcised? Why on the eighth day? (Lev. 12:3; Luke 1:59; Gen. 17:12). By what name was He called?
Why? Who gave Him this name? (Luke
1:31). What is its significance? (Matt. 1:21).
2. The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple,
vv. 22–39
How
many days after His circumcision was Jesus
presented in the temple? (Lev. 12:2, 3, 4, 6). What were they obeying in every
detail? Why? Why did Mary offer a pair
of turtle doves, and not a lamb? (Lev. 12:8). What two notable persons did they
meet in the temple? What are the four things told us about Simeon
in v. 25? What does “just” mean? (See R. V.).
“Devout”? “Waiting (looking) for the consolation of Israel”? Was there much outward
sign of the “consolation of Israel”?
What had Simeon to rest upon? Was that enough? In
these dark days, what have we to rest upon? Were there any others looking for
the “consolation of Israel”?
What ought to be the attitude of the believer to-day? (Titus
2:13; 2 Peter 3:12, R. V.).
What is meant by “the Holy Spirit was upon him”? (Num. 11:25, 26, 29; Acts 4:8;
Luke 1:41, 67). In what points ought
the believer to be like Simeon? (Titus 2:11–13; Eph. 5:18). Were the times in which Simeon lived such as were calculated to produce men who were
“righteous,” “devout,” “looking for the consolation of Israel,” and
“the Holy Ghost upon them”? What is the lesson in this for us? In what sort of
times have some of God’s most faithful and believing children appeared? (Elijah, Simeon, Moses, Luther,
Knox).
What
glimpse into the future had already been given to Simeon?
Who can expect such revelations of the purposes of God? (Ps. 25:14). How was
this revelation made to Simeon? How many times in
verses 25–27 is the Holy Spirit mentioned in connection with Simeon?
What proof have we that he was a son of God? (Ro. 8:14). What two things had it
been shown Simeon that he was to see? Which was he
to see first? Was his seeing the Christ any
preparation for his seeing death? Into what place do we see Simeon
going in v. 27? How did he come to go there? What does the expression “came by
the Spirit” mean? (Luke 4:1; Acts 8:29;
10:19; 2:12; 16:6, 7). Can we today expect to be thus led by the Spirit? Into
what place did the Spirit lead Simeon? Is the Spirit
likely to lead a man to “the house of God”? Were the services of that house of
God conducted in a very exemplary manner? Whom did he meet by coming into the
house of God? Whom can we always meet in the house of God even if the singing
is poor and the preaching is dry? (Matt. 18:20). Will that pay us for going?
How
did the child Jesus come to be in the
house of God? Is there any duty to parents suggested in this? How old was Jesus at the time? (Lev. 12:1–6). What did Simeon do with the child Jesus?
What was all the eye of sense could see in the child Jesus?
What did the eye of faith see in Him? What had faith to rest upon? Was that
enough?
Whom
does Simeon first bless? Afterwards whom does he
bless? What does it mean to “bless God”? What does it mean to “bless them”?
(Gen. 14:19). What great contrast is there in the tone of these two prophetic
songs of blessing? Why is the first jubilant? Why is the second sad? What did Simeon say would be the character of his departure? Why
would his departure be peaceful? If our departure would be peaceful, what must
we first see? What did Simeon say this all happened
according to? What did Simeon say his eyes had seen?
Who was it he had literally seen? What else did Simeon
call the babe Jesus besides “God’s
salvation”? Where did Simeon learn all these titles
for Jesus? (Is. 49:6, “Salvation” and
“Light”; 42:6, “Light”; Is. 60:19; Zech. 2:5, “Glory”). In the Old Testament,
who is it that is called “the Glory of Israel”? (Is. 60:19; Zech. 2:5). Who is
it that is so called here? What is the inference? Had the fact that Simeon was a Bible student anything to do with his “looking
for the consolation of Israel,”
“being filled with the Spirit,” etc.? (Compare Mary).
Had Simeon understood prophecy until it was
fulfilled? Had Mary and Joseph understood all this? Were they good people?
What is the lesson? Which was the better Simeon, or Mary and Joseph?
(Heb. 7:1, 7). Which did Simeon particularly
address? Why? How did he know that? What did Simeon
tell Mary about the Child? Where did
he learn that? (Is. 8:14, 15; 53:3). What is meant by His being “set for the
fall, etc.”? Which one of two results always comes to the one who is brought
into contact with Jesus? Why is the
“fall” put before the “rising up”? How would one naturally think Jesus would be received? How was He received? How
will those who best represent Jesus be
received? (John 15:20, 25). What was
told Mary of what awaited her? How
must that have sounded to her in that day of happy motherhood and bright
anticipation? When was it fulfilled? What was the purpose of all this? What is
the final test of the real thoughts and dispositions and character of a man? (John 3:18–21).
CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS
1. Jesus Christ
Born under the law, 21, 22, 23 (Gal. 4:4, 5); of poor parents, 24
(Lev. 12:8); truly human, 21–24; truly divine, 32 (Is. 60:19; Zech. 2:5); the
Christ of God, 26; the salvation of God, 30; the Saviour, 21; anointed by God,
26; witnessed to by the Spirit, 26, 29–32; spoken against by man, 34; the light
of the Gentiles, 32; the consolation of Israel, 25; the glory of Israel, 32;
the salvation of the world, 30, 31; the foundation stone for the believer, the
stumbling stone for the disbeliever, the touch stone for all, 34, 35.
2. Simeon
An example for the believer: righteous, devout, 25; a lover of the
Bible, 32; showed an obedient acquaintance with the law of God, 27; showed a
reverent regard for the presence of God, 28; taught by the Spirit of God, 26;
led by the Spirit, 27; spoke in the power of the Spirit, 25, 29–32.
3. The Spirit
He leads, 27; reveals, 26; inspires, 25; witnesses for Christ, 36, 29–32.
LESSON 5
The Childhood of Jesus
Luke 2:40–52
(Compare
Matthew 2:23)
DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS
1. Growing, v. 40
How
many verses are there in the four Gospels in regard to the boyhood of Jesus? Is this in any way a suggestion of their
authenticity? How much of the Gospel history is taken up with the death of Jesus? Why is that? Why is it that Luke is the one evangelist who dwells upon His
infancy and boyhood? What is the first thing that is told us about His boyhood?
(v. 40). Wherein lies the importance of the fact that He “grew”? What were the
marked features of His boyhood? With what was He filled? With what was He
crowned? What is meant by the grace of God being upon Him? (See Acts 4:33). How
may we know that the grace of God is upon a man? (Acts 4:33–35). How early may
one have the grace of God upon him?
2. Inquiring, vv. 41–50
What
glimpse does verse 41 give into the habits of Jesus’
parents? To put it into modern phraseology, what sort of people were they? What
seemingly reasonable excuse might they have made for staying away from church?
Would they have had Jesus in their
home if they had not been church-going people? What is suggested by this as
being one of the surest ways of getting Jesus
into our homes?
At
what age is it first recorded that Jesus
went to the feast? Why at 12 years of age? Did Jesus
enjoy being in the temple? How did He show He enjoyed it? Why did He enjoy it?
Where did they find Jesus? Did they
expect to find Him there? Ought they to have expected to find Him there? (v.
49, R. V.). Will a true child of God be
often found in the house of God? Was Jesus
often found in the temple during His life? (Mark 14:49).
In
what attitude was He in the temple? Why was He there? What was He doing: For
what purpose was He asking questions? In what way was He a good example for
modern attendants upon Bible classes? What sort of questions did He ask? Did He
answer any questions? What was the effect of His presence in the temple upon
those there? At what were they astonished? Where did He get “His
understanding”? (Ps. 119:99; Luke
24:27; John 3:34).
Who
were amazed besides the bystanders? Had Mary
understood Jesus? What is the tone of Mary’s question? Is it conceivable that Mary with the revelation she had had about Jesus should be so astonished and complaining? Ought Mary and Joseph
to have had any anxious fear about Jesus?
While Mary and Joseph
were surprised at Jesus being in the
temple, at what was Jesus surprised?
What was Jesus’ reply? Was there any
note of regret or apology in the reply? What is the Revised Version of the
reply? Of whom had Mary spoken as His
father? Of whom does Jesus speak as
His Father? In what way was the first recorded utterance and the last recorded
utterance of Christ alike? (See 23:46). Did they
understand Jesus even yet? How long
was it before men understood Jesus?
3. Obeying, vv. 51, 52
Having
made this assertion and given this clear proof of His deity, what did Jesus do next? How were those days in Nazareth spent? Was He
any less about His Father’s business when in Nazareth than when in the temple asking
questions? Ought He to have been at Jerusalem
asking questions and attending Bible lectures when home duties called Him to Nazareth? How many years
longer did Jesus remain in the humble
obscurity of Nazareth?
Did He chafe at all at that commonplace life? When any of us, conscious of
power for larger work, are tempted to chafe at our commonplace fields, what
thought from this lesson ought to enable us to overcome the temptation? What
did Mary do? What was Jesus doing those eighteen years? (v. 52). If we are
in some humble sphere, what can we do there if we cannot do anything else? How
could the Son of God increase in wisdom? (Phil. 2:6, 7; Mark
13:32). What means of growth in wisdom did Jesus
use? (Matt. 22:29). How could Jesus
grow in favor (or grace) with God? Did He grow in any one’s favor beside God’s?
Did growing in God’s favor have anything to do with growing in man’s favor?
(See 1 Sam. 2:26; Ro. 14:18). Is it always so? Whose favor was it He sought? If
even Jesus could grow in wisdom and grace,
what is the lesson for us?
CLASSIFICATION
OF TEACHINGS
1. Jesus
Truly human—He grew, 40, 46, 52; truly divine in His wisdom, 40,
47–49; in His consciousness, 49; in His obedience, 51.
2. A Model Boyhood
Constant growth—physical, intellectual, spiritual, 40, 52; filled
with wisdom, crowned with grace, 40; loving the house of God, 43, 46, 49;
pondering the Word of God, 47; conscious of the divine Fatherhood, 49; obedient
to the human fatherhood, faithful in present work, 51; fitting for larger work,
52.
3. A Three-Fold Amazement
Of the people, 47; of His parents, 48; of Jesus,
49.
LESSON 6
The Ministry of John the
Baptist
Luke 3:1–18
(Compare
Matthew 3:1–12; Mark
1:1–8)
DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS
1. The Voice of One Crying in the
Wilderness, vv. 1–6
What
evidence have we in verses 1 and 2 of the accuracy of this story? Where had John been educated? (1:80). Who was his teacher? What
led him to begin his ministry at this time? From whom had he obtained his
message? What had God told John? (John 1:33). Where did he do his preaching? In what
sort of a building was every great sermon recorded in the Bible delivered? What
did John preach? What is repentance?
(Matt. 12:41; see Jonah 3:8–10; Is. 55:7). What is the baptism of repentance?
(Acts 2:38). Did Paul preach any other
baptism than this? (Acts 19:3–5). What was the exact form of John’s message as delivered by him? (Matt. 3:2). Had
there been any prediction of this ministry of John? By whom? (Is. 40:3–5). How
long before? Had anything seemed to come of this prediction? Why did it come
true at last? (Is. 40:5, last clause). What may we be sure of as regards every
prediction of God’s Word?
2. “O Generation of Vipers,” vv. 7–9
In
what terms did John address those who
came to hear him? Who was it that he especially addressed in this way? (Matt.
3:7). Why did he address them in this way? Is it ever right to speak to men in
this severe way? (Matt. 23:33; John
8:44; Acts 13:10). What is it evident from verse 7 that these men were relying
upon? What other false hope does John
shatter in the 8th verse? What is hinted at in the words: “God is able of these
stones, etc.”? (Gal. 3:28, 29). In what way was a true repentance to be
manifested? What are “works meet for repentance”? (Is. 1:16, 17). Whose else
preaching resembled John the Baptist’s
in thus demanding repentance and works meet for repentance? (Acts 26:20; see
Matt. 4:17). What other delusion of the Jews is shattered in the 9th verse?
What is meant by the ax being “laid unto the root of the trees”? What trees in Jehovah’s orchard are to come down? Is it enough that a man
does not bear bad fruit? For what had Jehovah been
waiting for a long time from His orchard? For what is He waiting from us?
Suppose He does not find it, what then? What is fruit? (Gal. 5:22, 23; Col.
1:10; Ro. 15:28; Phil. 4:17; Ro. 1:13; John
15:16). How can we bear fruit? (John
15:5).
3. Fruit Worthy of Repentance, vv. 10–14
What
was the result upon the hearers of this faithful preaching of John? What is one of the best proofs that a man has
preached well? (Acts 2:37; 9:6; 16:30). What was the substance of John’s answer? Is the spirit of “He that hath two
coats, let him impart to him that hath none” binding to-day? To whom is it to
be given? Why did John give different
directions to publicans and to soldiers? What is the substance of his
directions to the different classes? What suggestions may we draw from John’s words as to our preaching to different classes
of men? What part of John’s preaching
is particularly applicable to laboring men to-day? How much ought a man desire
in order to be content? (1 Tim. 6:8). Is there any gain in this contentment? (1
Tim. 6:6). What part of John’s
preaching is particularly applicable to the capitalist today? (v. 11). Is this
part at all applicable to the poor man? What thought will enable a man to be
content? (Heb. 13:5).
4. “One Mightier Than I Cometh,” vv. 15–18
What
did John preach besides repentance?
(vv. 16, 17). To what temptation was John
peculiarly subjected by his immense popularity? Did he yield to this
temptation? (See John 3:29, 30). What
is the comparison that John drew
between himself and Jesus? Do
professedly Christian men nowadays all think that it is an honor of which they
are not worthy to do the lowliest service for Christ?
Do you think so?
What
contrast between his own baptism and that of Jesus
did John draw? What is the baptism in
the Holy Spirit? (Acts 1:5, cf. 2:4; 10:44–46, cf. 11:15, 16; 1 Cor. 12:4–13).
Is the baptism in water a symbol of the baptism in the Holy Spirit? (Mark 1:4; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Ro. 6:4). What is the
baptism in fire? (Jer. 23:29; 20:9; Acts 2:3; 2 Tim. 1:6, R. V. margin; Is.
4:4). What does fire do that the Holy Spirit also does? (1 Cor 3:13; Mal. 3:2,
3; Ezek. 24:9–11).
What
other offices should Jesus Christ perform? (v. 17).
Who, in the Old Testament, is represented as doing this work? (Micah 4:12; Is.
21:10). What is the significance of this fact? What becomes of the chaff? What
else was cast into the fire? (v. 9). Where else do these two figures occur
together? (Ps. 1). Is the fire literal? (Matt. 13:42). Between what two fires
do we have our choice?
Was
this the whole of John the Baptist’s
preaching? What were some of the “other things” he preached? (John 1:29, 34; 3:29–36). What was the general character
of this other preaching? (v. 18, R. V.).
CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS
1. Jesus Christ
(1). His person:
Divine, 17.
(2). His work:
Gives the Holy Spirit, 16; judges, saves, damns, 17.
(3). Exalted privilege
of serving Him in lowliest service, 16.
2. The Model Preacher
(1). In what he
preached:
Judgment on sin and fruitlessness, 9, 17; heart repentance the one
condition of forgiveness, 8 (see Mark 1:4); holy living the sole evidence of
true repentance, 8, 11–14; the coming Saviour and the necessity of faith in Him
(see Acts 19:4), the dignity of Christian service, the baptism with the Holy
Spirit, 16; the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins, 3; the
eternal security and blessedness of the saved, 17.
(2). In the way in which
he preached:
Outspoken, 7; easily understood, 9, 11, 13; adapted himself to his
audience, 12, 13, 14; fearless, 19; put self in the right place, exalted Christ, 16.
(3). What he got for his
preaching, 19, 20 (see Phil. 3:10).
3. The Scriptures
Their Author—God, the certainty of their fulfillment at last, 4–6.
4. The Holy Spirit
(1). Who bestows the
Holy Spirit:
Jesus Christ, 16.
(2). What the Holy
Spirit does:
Searches, cleanses, consumes, illumines, makes to glow, energizes,
16.
LESSON 7
The Baptism of Jesus
Mark 1:9–11
(Compare
Matthew 3:13–17; Luke
3:21–23)
DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS
For
what purpose had Jesus come all the
way from Nazareth to Jordan?
(Matt. 3:13). Why was Jesus baptized?
(Matt. 3:15; Ro. 8:3; 2 Cor. 5:21). Why was it that God chose just this
occasion to give this wonderful testimony to His Son that is here recorded?
(Phil. 2:6–11, and note the force of the word “wherefore” in v. 9). What light
does the action of Jesus throw upon
the position taken by some that the baptism with the Spirit is the only
important thing and it makes very little difference whether or not one is
baptized with water?
In
what remarkable way did God set the seal of His approval upon this act of Jesus? Did Jesus
in any sense get a deeper realization of His Sonship at this time than He had
before? For whom else beside Jesus was
this descent of the Spirit as a dove a sign? (John
1:33). Was it the work of regeneration that the Spirit wrought when He
descended upon Jesus at this time? Was
this descent of the Spirit in any wise a preparation for service? (Acts 10:38).
Is it a necessary preparation for us? (Luke
24:49; Acts 1:8). Can all have it? (Acts 2:38, 39). What was Jesus doing when the Spirit descended upon Him? (Luke 3:21). Are any other instances recorded when the
Spirit descended upon God’s children as they prayed? (Acts 2:1–4; 4:31; 8:15,
16; Luke 11:13). Why did the Spirit
descend “as a dove”? (Matt. 10:16; Gal. 5:22). What other emblems have we in
the Word of the Spirit and His work? (Matt. 3:11; Is. 44:3; John 3:8). How can we receive the Holy Spirit? (Acts
2:38; Is. 44:3; Luke 11:13; 24:49; John 7:37–39; Acts 5:32; Gal. 3:14; Jas. 1:6, 7). Was
this descent of the Spirit upon Jesus
a temporary matter? (John 1:33). What
Old Testament prophecies were hereby fulfilled? (Is. 11:2; 44:1; 61:1). How is
the word “opened” rendered in the Revised Version? For what purpose were the
heavens “rent asunder”?
What
further testimony from heaven in addition to that of the descending and abiding
Spirit did Jesus receive? In what way
have we the distinction in the personality of the three persons in the Trinity
set forth in verses 10 and 11? What was God’s audible testimony to Jesus? In this declaration what did God Himself
quote? (Ps. 27; Is. 42:1). Why does God quote Scripture? Did God ever say of
any other being, man or angel, what He here says to Jesus?
(Heb. 1:5; 3:5, 6). Is Jesus the Son
of God in a sense that no other being is the Son of God? (Heb. 1, especially
verses 1–6; John 3:16; Mark 12:6, R. V.;
John 1:14, 18). If Jesus is the Son of
God what should be our attitude toward Him? (John
5:23). What is the one who “denieth the Son”? (1 John
2:22, 23). Is there any one besides Jesus
in whom God is “well pleased”? (Heb. 11:5; Ro. 5:1; Acts 13:39; Eph. 1:6). How
“well-pleased” is God with those who are in Christ?
(John 17:23).
CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS
1. The Triune God
(1). The Father:
Speaks to man, heaven the place from which He speaks, bears
witness to His son, the demands of His affections met by His Son in His
obedience, 11
(2). The Son:
His nature—divine, 11; human, 9.
His character—humble, took the sinner’s place, obedient, 9;
altogether lovely, absolutely faultless, 11.
The Father’s testimony to Jesus—My
Son, My Beloved Son, My Son that meets every demand of My nature—“well
pleasing,” 11.
(3). The Holy Spirit:
His personality, 10; distinction between Him and the Father and
the Son, 10, 11; the Father’s gift to the Son, 10.
2. The Bible
Its authority and sufficiency :God Himself quoted it, 11.
LESSON 8
The Temptation of Our Lord
Matthew 4:1–11
(Compare
Mark 1:12, 13; Luke
4:1–13)
DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS
1. The Lust of the Flesh—or The Flesh, vv.
1–4
What
experience on the part of Jesus
immediately preceded that of this lesson? (Mark 1:12). Can a man who has been
baptized with the Holy Spirit ever be tempted again? At what time is Satan most likely to tempt a man? Was the baptism with the
Holy Spirit a necessary preparation for Christ’s
public ministry? Is it for ours? Was the temptation a necessary preparation for
Christ’s ministry? (Heb. 2:17, 18). Is it for ours?
Which do men usually most covet, the preparation of exalted privilege or the
preparation of fierce conflict with the devil? How did Jesus
come to go into the wilderness? (Mark 1:12). Is there any lesson in that? Did
the Spirit do anything else beside lead Jesus
into the wilderness? (Luke 4:1,
R. V.). Was He alone in the
wilderness? Are we ever alone? Over how long a period did this temptation
extend? (Luke 4:2). Did the three
temptations recorded cover all the temptations of this period? What did Jesus eat during all that time? (Luke 4:2). Why did He eat nothing? In what physical
condition was He at the end?
Did
the temptation come from without or from within? Was the tempter a personal
devil? With what did Satan begin his temptation?
With what did Satan begin his first temptation of
man? (Gen. 3:1, 4). What reason had Jesus
for knowing He was the Son of God? (3:17). What did Satan
bid Jesus do? What would there be wrong
in His doing that? (Phil. 2:6, 8, R. V.).
What made it a real temptation? Is there any record of practically the same
temptation coming to Jesus again?
(Matt. 27:40). If Jesus lead yielded
to this suggestion of Satan, whom would He have been
distrusting? When we take ourselves out of the position in which God puts us in
order to relieve our distress, of whom do we show our distrust? Was it any sin
for Jesus to be tempted? At what point
does sin begin? How long did Jesus
harbor the devil’s suggestion in His mind? With what did He meet it? How many
of the temptations did He meet that way? How did Jesus
come to have at hand in the hour of trial just the Scripture that He needed?
What is the best thing that we can do, if we would not be tripped up in the
hour of trial? (Ps. 119:11). Where is the Scripture found which Jesus used to defeat Satan
with? (Deut. 8:3). How does it apply to the case? When can we find comfort in
this verse?
2. The Pride of Life—or The Devil, vv. 5–7
Did Satan give up at this first defeat? What particular trait of
character did Jesus display in a
remarkable degree in the previous temptation? Along what line then does Satan tempt Him now? Is there any lesson in that? What was
the temptation? What did the devil quote to strengthen his case? Does the devil
ever quote Scripture nowadays to lead men astray? Why was the devil’s use of
Scripture illegitimate? Where would have been the wrong in Jesus doing as Satan
suggested? What is the point of difference between trusting God and tempting God?
(To look to God to deliver us from perils that lie in the path into which He
has called us is to trust God; to run into perils in a path of our own choosing
and then look to God to deliver us is to tempt God; to look to God to supply
our bread when in the path into which He calls and in which we cannot make it
is to trust God; to look to Him to supply our bread when He bids us work to get
it is to tempt God.) When can God’s children look to God to fulfill the promise
Satan quoted? Do men who successfully meet the first
and third temptations as recorded in Matthew
(note the order of the temptations in Luke)
ever fall before the second? How did Jesus
meet this temptation? What passage in the same Psalm which the devil quoted is
fulfilled in Jesus’ answer? (Ps.
91:13).
3. The Lust of the Eye—or The World, vv.
8–10
Did
the devil give up the battle after this defeat? Does the devil leave us when we
defeat him on one tack? What does he do? What was the next temptation as
recorded by Matthew? Who else had promised
Him the kingdom of this world? (Ps. 2:8). How is this kingdom to be attained
according to God’s plan? What then was the real essence of the temptation? (To
grasp the dominion that was rightfully His by false means; to avoid the path of
suffering that God had appointed and choose a path of compromise with evil to
gain His dominion). When are we similarly tempted? Did the devil tell the truth
when he said: “All this power … is delivered unto me”? (Luke 4:6; John 8:44;
12:31; 14:30; Rev. 13:2, 7; 2 Cor. 4:4; Ro. 13:1). What was the one condition
of Jesus getting it all? Do men
nowadays ever submit to that condition?
How
did Jesus meet this temptation? Did
substantially the same temptations ever come to Jesus
again? (Matt. 16:21, 23). How far apart in the Scriptures are these three
quotations with which Jesus met the
three-fold temptation of Satan? What did the devil
do when Jesus overcame this last
temptation? What did the devil do before he departed? (Luke
4:13, R. V.). Did he depart forever? (Luke 4:13; 22:28).
Who
came to Jesus when the devil left?
What will always happen if we successfully resist Satan?
Which was better, the angels’ food or bread made out of stones?
To
what did the three-fold temptation appeal? (See 1 John
2:16). To what three-fold conflict of ours did the threefold temptation
correspond? Where may we find a sufficient answer to every suggestion of the
devil? In what are all these temptations one? Did the devil appear to Jesus undisguised? How does he often appear? (2 Cor.
11:14). Did the devil intend to help or hinder God’s cause? What did he really
do? (Heb. 2:17, 18; 4:15, 16). Do we ever get beyond temptation? What was the
shield with which Christ quenched all the fiery
darts of the wicked one? (Eph. 6:16).
CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS
1. Jesus Christ
His divinity, 4, 7, 10; humanity, 2; dependence on the Word,
loyalty to the Word, use of the Word, 4, 7, 10; surrender to the Spirit’s
leading, 1; unquestioning obedience, 10; perfect trust, 4; self-sacrificing
love, 2–4 (cf. Phil. 2:6–8); triumphant victory, 4, 7, 10; matchless sympathy
(cf. Heb. 4:15), sinlessness, suffering, 2–11 (Cf. Luke 4:2).
2. Satan
His reality, 3–10; personality, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10; names—the
devil, the tempter, Satan, 1, 3, 10; daring, 3; cunning, 3, 6; malignity, 3–10;
power, 6, 8, 9; ambition, 9; persistence, 8; defeat, 4, 7, 10, 11;
work—suggests doubts, tempts to sin, 3, 6, 9.
3. The Word
Its divine authority, its sufficiency—a safeguard against unbelief
and sin, 4, 7, 10; its protecting power—the devil’s misuse met by an appeal to
the Word itself (compare verse 6 with verse 7).
Jesus and the Word: He used it as His sole weapon in fighting the
devil, 4, 7, 10; He conquered by it, 11.
Satan and the Word: he quoted
it, perverted it, 6; was overcome by it, 11.
4. Temptation
Its author—the devil, 1.
Its object—even perfect men, 1.
Its time—after most exalted experiences, 1.
Its character—continuous, 2 (see Luke
4:2); multiform, 3, 6, 9.
Its value—preparation for service, 1; leads to angelic ministry, 11.
Its point of attack—our weakest point, 2, 3; our strongest point,
6.
Its agencies—our physical necessities, 2, 3; our desire for
influence, 8; our desire for spiritual attainments, the Word, 6.
Its antidote—the Word of God, 4, 7, 10.
LESSON 9
John the Baptist’s Testimony Regarding Our Lord
John 1:19–34
DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS
1. John’s Testimony Before the Priests and
Levites, vv. 19–28
What
proof have we of the far-reaching impression of John
the Baptist’s work? What was the purpose of the Jews in sending these priests
and Levites to make inquiry of John
the Baptist? What was the first question they put to him? What characteristic
of John comes out in his answer? Who
did the Jews think he might be? (v. 20). If not the Christ,
who did they think he might be? (v. 21, R. V.).
What was the Jewish expectation regarding Elijah?
(Matt. 17:10). Was there any sense in which John
was Elijah? (Matt. 17:12, 13). In what
sense was he Elijah? (Luke 1:17). If not Elijah,
who did they think he might be? Whom did they mean by “that prophet”? (Deut.
18:15–19). Who did John tell them that
he really was? What characteristic of John
comes out in that answer? Where did John
learn this answer? (Is. 40:3–5). To what party did these messengers belong?
What were the characteristics of that party? Of what did they demand an
explanation? (v. 25). What two baptisms did John
compare? (vv. 26, 33). What comparisons did he draw between himself and Jesus?
2. John’s Testimony Before His Disciples,
vv. 29–34
For
what purpose was Jesus coming to John? (v. 37). What was John’s
testimony concerning Jesus? What did John mean by calling Jesus
“the Lamb”? (Is. 53:6, 7, 10; Ex. 12:3, 6, 7, 13). Why the “Lamb of God”?
(1 Pet. 1:18–20; Ro. 8:32; Gen. 22:8). What did John
invite those who stood with him to do in regard to “the Lamb”? What is it the
business of the Christian worker today to invite the world to do? How can he do
this? (1 Cor. 1:23). What is meant by “taketh away the sin”? (Hos. 14:2; 2 Cor.
5:21; Gal. 3:13; Titus 2:14; Heb.
9:26, 28; 1 John 3:5; 4:10; Lev.
16:21, 22; Ps. 103:12). How much sin did He take away? (1 John
2:2). For whom then is the Gospel offer open? (Rev. 22:17).
If Jesus “taketh away the sin of
the world,” why is any man lost? (John
3:18, 19; 5:40; Heb. 10:28, 29). Where did John
get this wonderful view of Christ and His work? (Is.
53:6, 10, 11; v. 33). What previous testimony that he had given concerning Jesus did John
repeat? (v. 30). What did John mean by
saying “He was before me”? (v. 2; 8:58; 17:5; Col. 1:17).
Did John know who was to be the Messiah and the Lamb of
God when he entered on his ministry? What was all that he did know? Did he ask
for any more light at that time? What did he do? (Mark
1:3–5; Acts 19:4). For what was he content to wait before he should recognize
the One for whom he was so faithfully preparing the way? Do we know when Christ will come again? What do we know? (Acts 1:11). If we
were like John what would we do?
What
was John’s further testimony
concerning Jesus? What fact had John emphasized beside that the Spirit of God descended
upon Jesus? To what word in the Old
Testament prophecy does this “abode” in John’s
testimony correspond? (Is. 11:2). Of what was the descent and abiding of the
Spirit upon Jesus a proof to John? Why was it a conclusive proof? What is the only
conclusive proof of any view or opinion that we hold? (Is. 8:20; John 10:35; Matt. 24:35). Had John
had any thought whatever before this that Jesus
was the Christ? (Matt. 3:13, 14). For what did John wait before he proclaimed his view to the world?
What lesson is there here for us? Is the testimony of such a man of much value?
What are you going to do with it? What power on Christ’s
part was connected with the abiding of the Spirit upon Himself? How far can we
impart the Spirit to others? What is it John
tells us that Jesus can do for us? Has
He ever done it for you? Do you want Him to? What will be the effects of that
baptism? (1 Cor. 12:4–13; Acts 1:8; 4:31; Heb. 1:9; John 4:14; 15:26, 27;
16:7–14).
What
further testimony did John give
regarding Jesus? Did John say that Jesus
was a Son of God? How much does that mean? (v. 18; 3:16, 18, 35; 5:22,
23; Matt. 11:27; 26:63, 64; Luke 1:35;
Ro. 1:4; Heb. 1:1, 2, 3, 5, 6). What is God’s verdict upon all who deny the
deity of Jesus? (1 John 2:22, 23, cf. 1 John
5:1, 5). Was John’s testimony founded
upon a guess? (v. 34). Is it worth receiving? Will you receive it? Is there any
testimony greater even than that of John?
(John 5:36).
CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS
1. The Triune God
(1). The Father:
Speaks to man, bears witness to His Son, His clear and sufficient
directions to His obedient servants, leads His servants one step at a time, 33;
the demands of His holiness met by His Son in His atonement, 29.
(2). The Son:
His nature—divine, 34; human, 33.
His character—humble—took the sinner’s place, sinless, 29 (cf. Ex.
12:5).
John’s testimony concerning Jesus (founded upon what he saw, v.
34)—the Lamb of God, bore the sin of the world, v. 29; the Spirit descended
upon Him, the Spirit abode upon Him, 32; the Spirit imparted by Him, 33; the
Son of God, 34.
The Father’s testimony—“He that baptizeth with the Holy Spirit,”
33.
(3). The Holy Spirit:
His personality, distinction between Him and the Father and the
Son, anointing Jesus for His work, the
Father’s gift to the Son, the Son’s gift to us, 32, 33.
2. The Bible
Its authority and sufficiency. John
from the deep study of it became wiser than any of his contemporaries and than
many modern theologians, 33 (cf. Isaiah 53; Micah 5:2).
3. Model Preaching (John
the Baptist)
Intensely Biblical, 29, 30; exceedingly positive, 34; emphasized Jesus’ deity and atonement, 29, 34 the combined
product of Bible study and personal experience, 33, 34.
LESSON 10
Our Lord’s First Disciples
John 1:35–51
DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS
1. Looking Upon Jesus,
vv. 35, 36
What
great preacher do we see in the opening verse? How large a congregation did he
have? Were they very notable personages? Was it worth while for so great a
preacher to preach to so small a congregation of such obscure persons? What was
the sermon John preached? What were
its characteristics? Had John ever
delivered that message before? Ought he not then to have gotten up something
new? How much good of which we know came out of that sermon? What was it that
caused John to burst out with this
earnest cry? What kind of a look was it that he cast upon Jesus
as He walked?
2. Following Jesus,
v. 37
After
looking at Jesus, what did John’s disciples do? Before we can truly follow Jesus, what must we do? By which are we saved,
looking or following? (Is. 45:22; John
3:14, 15; Num. 21:9.) What is the relation of following Jesus
to being saved by Jesus? (Mark 10:52.)
What was it led the two disciples to follow Jesus?
(Compare 4:39, 40.) How did John feel
when he saw his disciples leaving him and going after Jesus?
(See 3:26, 29, 30.) What good example in this matter has John
set to all preachers in all ages? Why is it that some men’s hearers never start
to follow Jesus?
3. Abiding with Jesus,
vv. 38, 39
Were
these men regenerated when they started to seek Jesus?
Will an unregenerated man seek Jesus?
(Ro. 3:11; John 6:44; Luke 7:37, 38.) As soon as they began to follow Jesus, what did He do? What will He always do when we
start in pursuit of Him? (Luke 15:20.)
What is the full force of the word “saw” (see R. V.)?
What question did He put to them? What do men seek when they seek Jesus? (Luke
7:37, 48–50; Mark 10:51; John 6:26, etc.) What are you seeking? What
was their answer? What was the meaning of their reply? By what title did they
address Him? Had they any reason for giving Him a loftier title than that? Why
didn’t they? (Luke 24:25; Matt. 8:26.)
What was Jesus’ reply to their
request? What is always His word to those who wish to come to Him? (John 6:37; Rev. 22:17.)
How did they show their wisdom in the way in which they dealt with Christ’s invitation? Why don’t men today accept Christ’s invitation at once? (2 Cor. 4:3, 4.) Did they do
anything besides go to the house? What did they talk about? Was it a happy day?
Of what future privilege of ours is this abiding with Jesus
a type? (John 14:2, 3.) In how many
points is there a similarity? Is He abiding with you? If we cannot now
abide with Him what can we do? (John
15:4.)
4. Bringing Others to Jesus, vv. 40–46
Who
was one of the two whom John the
Baptist had pointed to Jesus? Who was
the other? What was the effect of that visit with Jesus
upon Andrew? What will always be the
effect upon any true brother of a visit with Jesus?
Why is it so many professedly Christian young men never go and tell their
brothers about Jesus? To whom did Andrew go first? If one desires to preach the Gospel,
where is the place to begin? (Luke
8:39.) What was Andrew’s testimony to Peter? Had Andrew
been sure when he went home with Him that Jesus
was the Messiah? How had he become sure? What is the best way to get assurance
that Jesus is indeed the Christ? (John
4:42.) After he had given his testimony, what did Andrew
do with Peter? Ought we to stop with
giving our testimony about Jesus?
What
was the first thing that Jesus did as Simon was brought into His presence (see R. V.)?
What is the first thing He does when we come into His presence? What kind of
look was it? What did Jesus say to Simon as the result of that gaze into his heart? How
did Jesus know that Simon would become a Peter
(a rock)? (vv. 47, 48; 2:24, 25; 6:70, 71.) What was it that was to transform Simon Peter?
(Matt. 16:16–18; 1 John 5:5.)
What
desire was there in Jesus’ heart next
day? Why did He not wish to remain longer where He was? Why did He wish to go
into Galilee? Whom did He find there? How did
He come to find Philip? Is He looking
for any of us? Will He find us? Was it a good thing for Philip
that Jesus found him? (Luke 22:28–30.) What was Jesus’
invitation to Philip? Does it pay to
accept that invitation? (Matt. 19:28.) How can we follow Jesus
today? (1 Peter 2:21; Phil. 2:5–8.)
What was Philip’s relation to Andrew and Peter?
Had this anything to do with his following Jesus
so promptly?
As
soon as Jesus had found Philip, what did Philip
do? When Jesus really finds a man,
what is that man sure to do? (See 28, 29.) Why is it some of us are so
indifferent about going out and finding some one else? Whom did Philip find? Why did he go to Nathanael
(v. 47)? What was Philip’s testimony?
What made him so positive? Was Nathanael
ready to accept his testimony at once? Why not? What kind of a skeptic was Nathanael? Did he remain a skeptic very long? Will
any honest skeptic remain a skeptic very long? What was Philip’s
answer to Nathanael’s incredulous
question? What is the best answer to any one who questions Jesus’ deity, or that He is the Christ,
or that He has the power to save, or that He is altogether what He claims to
be? How did Nathanael show that he was
an honest skeptic? How do many who claim to be honest skeptics show that they
are not?
5. Coming to Jesus,
Seeing and Hearing Jesus, and Losing
All Doubts About Jesus, vv. 47–51
As Nathanael approached Jesus,
what did Jesus do? As He looked at
him, what did He see? How did Jesus
show that He had penetrated the innermost depths of Nathanael’s
soul? What is it to be “an Israelite indeed”? (Phil. 3:3.) What was the effect
of Jesus’ declaration upon Nathanael? How was his amazement intensified? How did
Jesus know all this? (Ps. 139:1, 2.)
What was Nathanael doing under the fig
tree? What truth flashed upon him at once? Was he justified in his conclusion?
Why did he see it so quickly? (v. 47; 7:17; 8:47.) What was the effect upon Jesus of this ready response of Nathanael’s
faith? What promise did He make him? Why should he see greater things? (Matt.
13:12; 25:29.) Why is it that no greater things are given to some of us to see?
What were the greater things he was to see?
To
what is allusion made in the angels ascending and descending upon the Son of
Man? (Gen. 28:12.) What is meant by their “seeing heaven opened and the angels
of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man”? (Heb. 10:19, 20; Eph.
2:18; Heb. 1:4; Luke 24:4; Matt.
25:31.)
CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS
1. Jesus Christ
(1). His titles:
Jesus, Lamb of God, 36; rabbi, 38; Messiah, 41; Jesus of Nazareth,
Son of Joseph, 45; Son of God, King
(2). His divine
knowledge:
Of what man was, 42, 47; of what man was to become, 42; of events
at a distance, 48.
(3). What Jesus is:
The medium of communication between God and man, the One through
whom God exercises protecting power, 51.
(4). Jesus and sinful men:
He attracts, 37; He looks at, sees through, transforms, 38, 42,
47; He invites, 39; He welcomes, 38, 39–47; He encourages, 42, 50; He saves,
36.
2. Six Steps of Experience
Hearing of Jesus, looking
upon Jesus, 36; following Jesus, 37; abiding with Jesus,
39; testifying of Jesus, 41; bringing
others to Jesus, 42.
3. Seeking
Jesus seeking men, 35, 36, 43; men seeking Jesus,
37, 47; men who have found Jesus
seeking others, 41, 45.
LESSON 11
Our Lord’s First Miracle
John 2:1–12
DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS
1. Jesus
Invited to a Marriage, vv. 1, 2
What
kind of occasion was a marriage in the Holy Land?
(Look this up carefully in the Bible.) What idea does it give us of Jesus’ character that He was “bidden to the marriage”
and accepted the invitation? Did He look upon the mirth and gladness of the
entertainment with disapproval? Did His presence detract at all from the
overflowing joyfulness of the occasion? Who by His presence and blessing saved
the occasion from ending in mortification and disappointment? By reason of His
presence, how did it end (v. 10)? If we wish our social and festive gatherings
to be marked by the deepest and abiding joy, whose presence must we secure? Why
is Jesus so often absent from our
social gatherings? (James 4:2, l. c.)
Do we lose anything by His not being there? Would He like to come?
2. His Help Needed and Sought, vv. 3, 4
When
was the presence of Jesus especially
noticed and appreciated? When are we most likely to think of His presence among
us? (Ps. 107:6, 13, 19, 28.) When “the wine fails” in our lives, what is the
best thing to do? (Ps. 50:15.)
Who
was it thought of going to Jesus in
this emergency? Why was it she who thought of it? Had she ever known of His
performing miracles? (v. 11.) Was she a woman of great faith? (Luke 1:45.) In what way did she make her request? If
we have any need, what is all we need to do? (Phil. 4:6, 7.) Did she get
immediate satisfaction? Do we always get immediate satisfaction when we make
our requests known to Him? Does that prove that our requests will not be
granted? Was the answer of Jesus to
His mother as harsh as it sounds to our ears? (Compare 19:26, 27; 20:13, 15;
Matt. 15:28.) What was the purpose of this answer? (Compare Luke 2:49.)
3. His Help Expected and Prepared for, vv.
5–7
Was
the expectation of the mother of Jesus
at all shaken by His answer? Why not? What wise counsel did she give the
servants? Did she regard herself or Jesus
as the One to whom men should look for direction and blessing? How does this
bear on Mariolatry? How much of what He said were they to do? Of what is this
doing “whatsoever He saith” the indispensable condition? (See 15:14.) Does it
pay? (Luke 5:5, 6; Heb. 5:9.)
What
singular direction did Jesus give the
servants? What was the purpose of this direction? (Num. 21:6–9; Josh. 6:3–5; 1
Kings 17:13, 14; 2 Kings 5:10–14; John
9:7–11, 39, 40; Luke 17:14; Acts
8:26.) How did these servants show they had faith? How did they show the
earnestness and fullness of their faith? If they had filled them only half
full, how much wine would they have had? (2 Kings 4:4; 13:18, 19.) Why is it
that our vessels are not full “to the brim” with the wine of the kingdom?
(Matt. 9:29.)
4. His Help Granted and Appreciated, vv.
8–12
To
what final test did He put the faith of the servants? Was that much of a test?
If these servants had been like many of us, what would they have done? What did
they do? Why? What was the result? At what point was the water made wine? What
sort of power did the turning of water into wine prove Jesus
to possess? Was it good wine (v. 10)? Does Jesus
turn water into wine nowadays? Has He ever turned water into wine for you?
Why not? Will you let Him today?
What
comment did the ruler of the feast make upon the wine Jesus
made? In the worldly life when do you always get the better wine? In the
Christian life, when? (Luke 16:25; Rev. 7:16;
John 4:14.) What did men see in this
miracle that Jesus wrought? (John 1:14.) How did this opening miracle of Jesus’ ministry differ from the opening miracles of Moses’ ministry? (Ex. 7:19–21.) How do you account
for this difference? (John 1:17.) What
was the effect of this miracle upon His disciples? What did they believe? How
many times in this Gospel does John
record the fact that men believed on Jesus?
What is the purpose of this Gospel? (See 20:30, 31.) How does John seek to secure this end? (By setting forth the
facts that wrought faith in him and his fellow disciples, and the effects upon
the disciples of those things they witnessed. John’s
Gospel is a picture of Jesus’ life
with an especial reference to the effect of that life upon the development of
the author’s own faith and spiritual life. This is one thing that gives the
Gospel a spiritual life and power that none of the others possess.)
CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS
1. Jesus Christ
Possesses creative power, 9; superior to human relations, 4; of a
genial disposition, welcome guest on festal occasions, 2; saved the occasion
from disaster, turns misfortune into gladness, 3–10; made the chief
contribution to its gladness, 10; should be looked to when the wine fails,
those who know Him best are quickest to go to Him for help, 3; goes where He is
invited, 2; carries a blessing where He goes, 6–10; never acts until the time
is ripe, 4; puts faith to the test, 7, 8; rewards faith when it shows itself
fitted by standing the test, grants not only necessities but also things that
minister to mirth and gladness, gives the best wine last, 9, 10.
2. Jesus
in Social Life
Sought after, went, 2; needed, appealed to, 3; obeyed, 5–8;
brought blessing, 10.
3. Faith
Seeks help from Jesus, 3; is tested by apparent refusal, 4; is
tested by being given an apparently unreasonable thing to do, does as it is
told, 5–8; asks no questions, gets according to its measure, 7; gets what it
seeks, 9, 10; recognizes the meaning of Jesus’ test, beholds His glory, 11.
4. Mary
Dependence upon Jesus, 3; ignorance of His purpose,
misunderstanding of her relation to Him, 4; unwavering faith, 3, 5; humble
recognition of her true position, 5; abundant reward, 9, 10.
5. How to Get Blessings
Let Jesus know you need
them, 3; be discouraged by no seeming rebuke, 4; believe you are going to get
them, do as you are told, 5–8.
LESSON 12
The First Cleansing of the Temple
John 2:13–25
DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS
1. The Temple Defiled by Man, But Cleansed by Jesus, vv. 13–17
Why
did Jesus go so often up to Jerusalem at the time of
the Passover? (Deut. 16:16; Luke 2:41;
John 6:4; 11:55.) What did He find in
the house of God? For what were the oxen and sheep, etc., needed? (Deut.
14:26.) Was Jesus pleased to see them
there? If He should visit the house of God in our land, would He find anything
like that? Would it please Him? For which is there a better excuse, for these
Jews or for us? What did Jesus do? Was
it the force in the scourge of cords or the display of muscular energy on the
part of Jesus that drove these
defilers of the temple out? (See 18:6; Zech. 4:6, 11; 2 Cor. 10:4.) Did this
purification of the temple prove permanent? (Matt. 21:12.) Does it follow that
because a reformation is not permanent that it is not of God? Why is it that
all reforms wrought among men are of so transient a character? (Jer. 17:9; Gen.
6:5; Ro. 8:7.)
Did
He drive out them that sold doves? Why not? What did He do? In what ways is
God’s house nowadays made “a house of merchandise”? Was there any hint or prophecy
of this in the Old Testament? (Is. 56:11; Jer. 7:11.) When Jesus purged the temple the first time, what did He
say they had made it? When He purged it the second time, what did He say they
had made it? (Luke 19:45 46.) Which is
the worse? Is there any lesson in this? (Matt. 12:43, 45.)
How
does Jesus speak of God? (See 5:17;
8:49; 10:29; Luke 2:49.) Why did He
not say “Your Father” or “Our Father”? (John
3:16.) When did He say “Your Father”? (John
20:17.) How does God become “our” Father? (John
1:12; Gal. 3:26.) Until we believe on Jesus,
what are we? (1 John 3:10.) What did
this action of Jesus call to the
disciples’ mind? What ought all the events of life to call to mind? Why did the
Scripture come so readily to the minds of the disciples? Why does it not come
more readily to our minds? Of whom was this Scripture written? What then did
the disciples, by this act, see Jesus
to be?
2. The Temple Destroyed by Man, But Raised Again by Jesus, vv. 18–22
Who
else recognized in this action of Jesus
a claim to be the Messiah? What difference was there between the recognition of
this fact on the part of the disciples and on the part of the Jewish leaders?
What demand did they make? What similar demand did they make on the occasion of
the second cleansing of the temple? (Matt. 21:33.) Do men nowadays ever try to
stop faithful servants of God who are doing what they themselves ought but will
not, do, by asking: “By what authority doest thou these things”? What is all
the authority a man needs for doing right? (Acts 5:28, 29.) Did these Jews
really wish a sign? (Matt. 12:38, 39.) Do men who today are asking for the
proof that Jesus is the Son of God
really wish proof? Did these men accept the sign when it was really given them?
(Matt. 28:11–13.) What sign did Jesus
propose to them? What was the sign to which Jesus
always pointed them? (Matt. 12:38, 40; 16:1, 4.) What is the great proof that
declares Jesus to be “the Son of God
with power”? (Ro. 1:4.) In these words—“Destroy this temple and in three days I
will raise it up”—of what two great events was there a prophecy? In the shadow
of what then did Jesus conduct His
ministry from the very outset? How was that shadow illuminated?
Who
did Jesus say would raise up the
temple? Did Jesus raise Himself from
the dead? (John 10:17, 18; Mark 8:31; Acts 3:26; Ro. 4:24; 8:11; 1 Cor. 15:3, 4,
12.) Was Jesus understood by those who
heard? Why not? What use of this saying of Jesus
was made at a later day? (Matt. 26:60, 61; 27:40.) Of what temple was He
speaking? Wherein lay the propriety of calling His body a temple? (John 1:14, R. V.
margin; Col. 1:19; 2:9.) What was the relation of the other temples to this? (1
Kings 8:27; see Col. 2:9.) In killing Jesus,
what did the Jews destroy? Was this a serious offence? Is there any way in
which we too can defile and destroy this temple of God?
(1 Cor. 6:19; 3:16, 17, R.
V.) When did the
disciples remember and understand these words of Jesus?
How did they come to remember them? (John
14:26; 16:4; Luke 24:7, 8.) What was
the effect upon them when they remembered these words? What Scripture did they
remember? (John 20:8, 9; Ps. 16:10;
Is. 53:10.) Was theirs a saving faith? What was the basis of it?
3. Men Believing in Jesus,
But Jesus Not Believing in Men, vv. 23–25
What
was the effect of Jesus’ miracles upon
those who saw them? Who is the first recorded illustration of those who were
convinced through Christ’s miracles? (John 3:1, 2; 6:14; 7:31.) Was it a saving faith that
most of these men had? What are the characteristics of saving faith? (Ro.
10:10; John 1:12; Gal. 5:6; Eph. 3:16,
17; Jas. 2:14, R.
V.) Did Jesus believe in those who believed in Him? (In the
Greek, “believe” in verse 23 and “commit” in verse 24 are the same word. This
also illustrates what real faith in Jesus
is. It is “committing” one’s self unto Him. See 2 Tim. 1:12.) Is it wise to
trust in man? (Jer. 17:5.) Why did Jesus
not believe in these men? How deep was Jesus’
knowledge of men? (John 1:42, 46, 47;
5:42; 6:64; 16:19, 30; 21:17.) What did this knowledge of men show Jesus to be? (Jer. 17:9, 10; 2 Chron. 6:30.) How
alone can we know men? (Acts 13:9–11.)
CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS
1. Jesus Christ
His deity: consciousness of Sonship, 16; divine knowledge, 24, 25
(2 Chron. 6:30); divine foresight of His own death and resurrection, 19; divine
power to raise from the dead, 19; divine fullness, 21 (Col. 2:19); deity proved
by His resurrection, 19 (Ro. 1:4).
His humanity, subject to death, 19.
The Messiah, 17 (Ps. 69:9).
The subject of prophecy, 17, 22.
The substance of whom Old Testament types were the shadow, 21.
Obeyed the law, followed parental example, sought needy
multitudes, 13.
Displeased with the degradation of His Father’s house into a place
of gain, drove the polluters out of it, 15.
2. Man
Unworthy of confidence, 24; misunderstands Christ, 20; turns
godliness into gain, 14; tries to hinder Jesus’ work, 18; heart fully set to do
evil, his reform transient, goes from bad to worse, 15, 16 (Luke 19:45, 46).
3. The Disciples and the Word
Studied, remembered, believed, were saved through the Word, 17, 22
(John 5:24).
LESSON 13
Eternal Life: What It is, What It Cost,
and Who Can Have It
John 3:1–21
DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS
1. Eternal Life Man’s Greatest Need, vv.
1–13
Why
did Nicodemus come to Jesus at all? Why
did he come by night? (John 12:42,
43.) How many times is he spoken of in the Bible as “he that came to Jesus by night”? Is that a very flattering title? Are
there any nowadays that deserve it? Will those who never come out openly on Christ’s side be saved? (Ro. 10:10; Matt. 10:32, 33.) What
did Nicodemus recognize in Jesus? On
what ground? Was he right in thinking that the signs Jesus
did were conclusive evidence that He was “a teacher come from God”? (John 5:36; 9:30–33; 14:10, 11; Acts 2:22.) Why is it
then that men reject Jesus as such in
face of all these miracles? (John
12:37–40; 15:22–24.) What was all that Nicodemus recognized his need of at the
outset? What did Jesus show him that
he needed? What sort of man was he? And yet, what did he need before he could
see or enter the kingdom
of God?
What
is it to be “born again”? (John 1:13;
2 Pet. 1:4; 2 Cor. 5:17.) How can a man be “born again”? (John
1:12; 3:14; see Num. 21:8). How had Nicodemus tried to dodge the searching
force of Christ’s word? What is unbelief always
asking? Did Jesus tell him “how”? What
did He tell him? How do we know that Jesus
regarded this teaching as of more than ordinary importance?
Are
we to understand from verse 5 that it is necessary for a man to be baptized in
order to enter into the kingdom
of God? (See Luke 23:39–43.) Are we to understand that it is
through baptism that men are begotten again? (Compare 1 Cor. 4:15 with 1 Cor.
1:14.) What is the “cleansing water” of which a man must be born in order to
enter into the kingdom
of God? (John 15:3; Eph. 5:26; James
1:18; 1 Pet. 1:23.) Who then is the agent in regeneration according to verse 5?
What is the instrument the Spirit uses? What is the sinner’s part in the new
birth? (John 1:12; 5:24.) What is the
preacher’s part in regeneration? (1 Cor. 4:15; Ro. 10:14.)
Why
does every man need to be born again (v. 6)? (Ro. 8:7, 8; Gal. 5:19–21; Ps.
55:5; Gen. 6:5.) Is it enough to cultivate and refine and reform the flesh (vv.
6, 7)? (Gal. 6:15; Matt. 7:16; 12:33.)
By
what figure does Jesus illustrate the
operation of the Holy Spirit (v. 8)? What are the three points in which the
operation of the Spirit is like “the wind” (v. 8)? (1 Cor. 12:11.) Did
Nicodemus understand? Should he have understood all this before the Saviour
told him? (Deut. 30:6; Ps. 51:5, 6, 10; Jer. 31:33; 32:39, 40; Ezek. 11:19;
18:31; 36:25–27.) Why didn’t he know all this? (Matt. 22:29.)
Was Christ’s doctrine about the Holy Spirit and the new birth
mere guesswork and speculation (vv. 11, 32)? (7:16; 8:38.) What did He say was
done with His testimony (v. 11)? Have men changed any in this respect? What
have men done in all ages with God’s testimony? (Is. 53:1; John 1:11; 3:32; 5:29, 40, 43, 44; Matt. 23:37; Acts
7:51, 52; 28:23–27.) Why do men treat God’s testimony in this way? (2 Cor.
4:4.) What thoughts about Jesus does
the 13th verse give us?
2. Eternal Life Purchased by the Death of
the Son and Fully Offered to All by the Father, vv. 14–17
How
was man’s need of life met? What is meant by “lifted up”? (See 12:32.) What
word shows the absolute necessity of the death of Jesus
if men are to have life? (Luke 24:46;
Heb. 9:22; Gal. 3:13; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:24.) What are the points of
resemblance between Christ and the serpent lifted up
by Moses in the wilderness? (1—Ro.
6:23, compare Num. 21:6; 2 and 3—Ro. 8:3, compare Num. 21:8; 4—“Lifted up,”
Gal. 3:13, compare Num. 21:8; 5—Is. 45:22, compare Num. 2:18; 6—Acts 4:12,
compare Num. 2:19; 7—“Whosoever,” compare Num. 21:9.)
What
change does the Revised Version make in verse 15? What is its significance?
Where did the sacrifice of the Son have its origin? How comprehensive was this
love of God? Did it take in sinners? (Ro. 5:6, 8.) What little word sets forth
the greatness and character of that love? What is the character of God’s love
as set forth in the 16th verse? The measure of it? Which made the greater
sacrifice, the Son in humbling Himself (Phil. 2:6–8) or the Father in giving
His only begotten Son? What more could God give? Of what is the giving of His
Son a pledge? (Ro. 8:32.) What was the purpose of God’s love in giving His Son?
Who would have perished if He had not given His Son? (Ro. 3:23; 6:23; Gal.
3:10.) Who can have life eternal now that He has given His Son? Whom does
“whosoever” mean? (John 6:40; Is.
45:22; John 6:37; 1 Tim. 1:15.) What
does every one who believes get? How soon does he get it? (John 3:36; Acts 13:39.) What is eternal life? (John 10:28; 6:40; 17:3; 1 John
1:2; 5:20.) How is it to be obtained? (John
3:36.) What was God’s purpose in sending His Son? (See v. 17 especially, R. V.)
In what sense is the whole world saved by Him? (1 John
2:2, R. V.; 1 Cor. 15:21, 22; Ro. 5:18.) Who alone
are saved by Him in the fullest sense? (1 Tim. 4:10.) Why are not all men saved
by Him? (John 1:11; 5:40; Matt. 23:37.)
3. Eternal Life Accepted by Believers,
Rejected by Unbelievers, vv. 18–21
Into
what two classes does the 18th verse divide all men? Is there any middle ground
between those who believe and believe not? What is the present standing before
God of all who believe? (John 5:24.)
Will those who believe ever be condemned? (John
10:28; Ro. 8:33, 34.) What is the present standing of those who believe not?
Why are they condemned? What is the one sin that brings condemnation upon men?
(John 16:9.) Are men eternally lost
because they have sinned? Why then are men eternally lost? Why is it that men
do not come to Christ (v. 19)? What is the greatest
proof of the badness of the human heart and its love of evil “darkness rather
than light”? If a man does not come to Jesus
as “the Light of the world,” what does it prove? What lies at the root of
unbelief? Why do men hate the light? Why do men hate Jesus?
(John 7:7.) Why don’t you come to the
light?
CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS
1. The Triune God
(1). The Father:
His love—
(a) Its character;
universal, holy—demanding and providing an atonement, self-sacrificing, saving,
self-imparting, infinite, 16.
(b) Its object: the
world, 16.
(c) Its measure: “gave
His only begotten Son,” 16.
(d) Its purpose: to save
and impart life, 16.
(e) Its effect: all who
receive get eternal life, 16.
(2). The Son.
Deity, 16; humanity, 14, 16; pre-existence, heavenly origin,
omnipresence, humiliation, 13; divinely accredited, 12; an atoning Saviour must
die that man might live, 14, 16; the light of the world, hated by the world,
19, 20; the touchstone of character, 19–21.
(3). The Holy Spirit.
His work—
Author of the new birth, 5; sovereign—
“Where it listeth,” mysterious—“Not tell whence it cometh,”
effectual—“Hearest the voice,” 8.
2. Man
Lost by nature, 3–6; can be saved only by a death, 14; ignorant of
the Word, 10; always wants God to explain, 4, 9; will not accept God’s
testimony, 11; hates light, 19; deeds evil, 20; redeemed by Christ’s death,
14–17.
3. The New Birth
Necessity: universal, 3, 5, 7; because man is by generation only
“flesh,” 6.
Nature: impartation of the divine nature, 6.
Author: the Holy Spirit, 5.
Instrument: the Word, 5.
Method: looking unto and believing on the Saviour lifted up,
14–16.
4. Nicodemus
Moral, religious, orthodox, zealous, 1, 10; high aspirations,
earnest seeker after truth, 2; and yet he must be born again, 3, 5, 7; loved
the praise of men more than the praise of God, 2.
LESSON 14
Our Lord and the Woman of Samaria
John 4:1–30
DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS
1. Jesus,
a Weary Pilgrim in a Hostile
Land—“Despised and
Rejected of Men,” vv. 1–6
Why
did the report that reached the ears of the Pharisees that Jesus “was making and baptizing more disciples than John” make His departure into Galilee
necessary? (c. 10:39; 11:47–54; Mark
3:6, 7.) To whom did His rejection by Judah
bring a blessing? Of what coming dealing of God with Jew and Gentile was this a
hint or prophecy? (Acts 13:46; Ro. 11:11.) Was there any deeper reason why Jesus “must needs pass through Samaria”
than that that was the shortest route through Galilee?
(Luke 2:49; 15:4.) What drew Jesus more irresistibly than anything else on earth?
(Luke 19:10; Matt. 14:14; Mark
6:31–34.) In what physical condition was Jesus
when He reached Jacob’s well? Was He
often weary and hungry and thirsty? (Matt. 8:24; 4:2; Luke
9:58.) For whose sake did He endure this fatigue and want? (2 Cor. 8:9.) For
what did this endurance of human need and suffering prepare Him? (Heb. 2:16–18;
4:15, 16.) When we are hungry and weary, and tempted to be discouraged in the
Lord’s service, what is the best thing to do? (Heb. 12:2, 3.)
2. Jesus,
the Bestower of Everlasting Life, vv. 7–15
What
occurred to make Jesus forget all
about His weariness and hunger? What was the first thought Jesus had as He saw the woman drawing near? What is
the first thought a Christian ought always to have as an unsaved sinner draws
near? What was the woman coming for? Did she get water? How much water did she
come for (v. 28)? How much did she get (v. 14)? Was it a very likely time of
day for a woman to come for water? How did she happen to come out at that time
of day? (John 6:44, 37.) Did her going
out at noon to draw water seem like a very important circumstance in that
woman’s life? How much really hung upon it?
What
was Jesus’ object in asking her for a
drink? When Jesus asks a small favor
of us, what is always His object? What are the lessons for a Christian worker
to learn from the way in which Jesus
approached this woman? What sort of a woman was she (vv. 17, 18)? Did the fact
that she was vile repel Jesus from
her? Why had Jesus an excellent
opportunity to deal with the woman? Did the woman respond very readily to Jesus’ request for a drink? What light does her answer
throw upon her character? Did Jesus
get at all the drink He asked for? What sweeter refreshment did He get (v. 34)?
What two things did Jesus say she
needed to know (v. 10)? What is the “gift of God” to which Jesus refers here? (v. 14; Luke
11:13; Acts 1:4; 2:33, 38.) What else is spoken of in the Word as “the gift of
God”? (Ro. 6:23; John 3:16; Ro. 8:32.)
What was the reason why this woman had not “asked of Him” instead of He of her?
What is the reason why all men do not “ask of Him” today? What ought our main
business then be if we want men to ask and get “living water” (vv. 28, 29)?
What did Jesus say was all that was
necessary to get this “living water”? (Luke
11:8–13.) What is this “living water” that Jesus
gives? (Is. 44:3; John 7:37–39.) Why
is the Holy Spirit spoken of as “living water”? (Ezek. 7:9; John 6:63 with v. 14.)
Did
the woman comprehend at all what Jesus
was talking about? Why not? (1 Cor. 2:14.) Did she seem to be a very hopeful
case to deal with? If Jesus had been
like most of us, what would He have done after such an outburst of stupidity
and spiritual ignorance? Of what was there a mixture in the question in the
12th verse? Did Jesus give her up?
What did He do?
Of
how many wells is it true that every one that drinketh of them shall thirst
again? (Eccl. 2.) How many of those who drink of these wells will remain
unsatisfied? How many wells are there of which if a man drink “he will never
thirst”? Where is this water to be had? Who can have it? (John
7:37; Rev. 22:17; Is. 55:1.) How many will this water
satisfy forever? Why will they never thirst? How full will this “well of water”
be if one really gets it in his soul? (7:37–39.) What had Jesus
told Nicodemus in the previous lesson was his great need? (3:5.) What does He
here tell the woman is her great need? Did the woman of Samaria and Nicodemus seem very much alike?
Was there any essential difference between them? (Ro. 3:22, 23.) Did the woman
understand Jesus yet? What was the
matter? Did Jesus give her up? What
was it the woman desired? What ought she to have desired?
3. Jesus
the Searcher of Hearts, vv. 16–24
What
was the next tack upon which Jesus
approached the woman? What was Jesus,
object in telling her to call her husband? Before sinners can see the beauty of
Jesus as Saviour, what must they first
see? Why had not Jesus gone to work
the very first thing to awaken conviction of sin? Is there any lesson here for
Christian workers? What was Jesus’
ultimate object in wounding her guilty conscience? How did Jesus know she had had five husbands? (1:42, 47, 48;
2:24, 25; Heb. 4:13; Rev. 2:23.)
What
did the woman recognize in Jesus when
she saw that He had read her heart? Was her conclusion warranted by the facts
in the case? What did she come to recognize in Jesus
later (v. 29)? How had the woman tried to avoid the close personal dealing of Jesus (v. 20)? Did she succeed in this way in
escaping the penetrating heart-searching to which Jesus
was subjecting her?
What
was it she sought to find out about worship? What did Jesus
show her was a more important question than “where” shall we worship? What is
His answer to the question: “How shall we worship”? What is it to “worship the
Father in spirit and in truth”? (Ro. 8:26; Eph. 6:18; Phil. 3:3, R. V.; Jude
20; Lev. 10:1, 2; compare 16:12; 9:24; 1 Cor. 15:13.) By what words did Jesus point out the Father’s earnest desire for such
worshippers?
4. Jesus
the Messiah, vv. 25–30
What
did the woman say she knew? What didn’t she know? What startling announcement
did Jesus make to her? What was the
effect of that revelation upon the woman? When Jesus
reveals Himself to any one as the Christ, what will
he at once desire to do? (See 1:41, 45.) Why did she leave her water pot? What
was her message? Was that a good sermon? Was it effective? Did the labor spent
on this apparently hopeless case pay? Who can preach such a sermon as that?
What would be the result if every one who had found Christ Himself went about
inviting people to “come see a Man who told me all things that ever I did”?
CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS
1. Jesus Christ
(1). His humanity.
Weary, 6; thirsty, 7; hungry, 8.
(2). His deity.
The divine searcher of hearts, 17, 18; the divine bestower of
living water and eternal life, 10, 14.
(3). His compassion.
“Must needs pass through Samaria”
because of the perishing souls there that needed Him, 4.
(4). His loving
severity.
He wounded that He might heal, 16.
(5). His offices.
A heart-searching Prophet, 19; a compassionate Priest, 6 (compare
Heb. 2:16–18; 4:15, 16); a divinely appointed King, 26.
(6). His justice and
mercy.
Leaves the place where He is not wanted and goes where He is
wanted, 3, 4.
(7). His love for souls.
Hunger, thirst and weariness all forgotten in the joy of leading a
soul to Himself, 6, 7.
(8). His method of
dealing with the unsaved.
Had compassion on the vilest, 17, 18; eager to save, 7; sought one
out, 4; on the alert for opportunities to deal with her, 7; took her alone with
Himself, 8; sought a small favor that he might grant a great one, 7, 10; first
gained attention and confidence, 7–15; then aimed directly at conviction and
conversion by piercing the conscience, 16; held to the main point, 20, 21;
deftly turned every question, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 24; exercised
great patience, 9, 11, 12, 15, 20, 21; revealed Himself, 26.
2. The Woman of Samaria
Vile, 17, 18; mean, 9; ignorant, 10; full of questions, 9, 11, 12,
20, 29; incredibly stupid, 11, 12, 15; unsatisfied, 13, 15; wanted the gift,
but not the Giver, 15; convicted, 17; tried to dodge the convicting truth, 20,
21; got a view of Christ, 26; came to get a pitcher of water and got an
everflowing and overflowing fountain, 7, 10, 14; left her pitcher, 28; preached
Jesus—“Come see a Man,” 29; brought a whole city to Him, 30, 39.
3. The Woman of Samaria and Nicodemus Contrasted
|
A woman
|
A man
|
|
A Samaritan
|
A Jew
|
|
A prostitute
|
A teacher of Israel
|
|
Came at noon day
|
Came by night
|
|
Confessed Jesus
at once
|
A secret disciple for
years
|
|
Brought a whole city to Jesus
|
Brought (?) to Jesus
|
|
A
common need—the Holy Spirit, John 3:5; 4:14. “There is no difference.”
|
4. True Worship
Not where, but how, 21–24; God the object, 24; the Spirit, the
inspirer, 23; the Word, the rule, 23; everywhere. the place. 21.
LESSON 15
Our Lord and the Samaritans
John 4:31–42
DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS
1. “My Meat is to Do the Will of Him that Sent Me and to Finish His Work,” vv.
31–38
As
soon as the woman of Samaria
left Jesus, what did the disciples do?
What word in verse 31 shows that Jesus
was in very deep thought after the departure of the woman? What about? Did Jesus yield to the earnest request of the disciples?
In what physical condition had the disciples left Jesus
when they went into the city? (vv. 6, 8.) Was Jesus
really a-hungered now? Why not (v. 32)? What insight into the condition of the
disciples at that time does verse 32 give? Are there many disciples today who
do not know this food of which Jesus
speaks? How did the disciples further reveal their stupidity (v. 33)? Are there
any disciples today as dull as these?
Had
the disciples spoken the question in verse 33 to Jesus?
How then did Jesus know their
question? What does this show about Jesus?
What was Jesus’ answer to the question
that they put to one another? What did Jesus
mean by saying: “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me and to finish
His work”? (compare Ps. 40:8; Is. 61:1–3; Luke 15:4–6; 19:10). What does verse
34 teach us as to the relation between Jesus
and the Father? For what purpose did Jesus
come into this world? (John 6:38.)
What was all that Jesus sought to
accomplish (v. 34, R.
V.)? What was the
Father’s work that Jesus sought to
accomplish? Did Jesus accomplish it? (John 17:4.) What ought to be every disciple’s meat?
What
time of year was it? How long was this before the harvest that the Jews had
their eyes upon? What harvest did Jesus
have His eyes upon? What was the condition of that harvest? What is the
condition of that harvest today? Which harvest does it pay best to reap? What
will one get if he reaps that harvest? (Dan. 12:2; Ro. 1:13; 6:22; 1 Cor. 3:14,
15; 9:19–23; Phil. 2:15, 16; 1 Thess. 2:19; 2 Tim. 4:7, 8; James 5:19, 20.) What kind of fruit does he gather?
What two persons can rejoice together? Do the sowers and the reapers always
rejoice together? Why not? When any one reaps this harvest, with whom ought the
credit to be shared? What had Jesus
sent the disciples to reap (v. 38)? Of whom is that true today? Does the reaper
always recognize this fact?
2. A Great Revival, vv. 39–42
What
was the effect of the woman’s testimony upon the Samaritans? How many were
influenced by her testimony? What reason was there why her testimony might not
be expected to count for much? What was it in the woman’s testimony that
particularly convinced the Samaritans? What does the 39th verse teach about the
power of testimony? Why are there not more persons won by the testimony of
those who have seen and heard Jesus?
If this woman’s testimony had so much power, who else’s testimony might have
power?
Having
believed because of this woman’s testimony, what did the Samaritans next do (v.
40)? What request did they make of Jesus?
What reason did Jesus have for not
yielding to their request? Why did He yield to it? With how many persons will Jesus abide today if they will only ask Him? (Rev. 3:20.)
How long did He abide with the Samaritans? How long will He abide with us? What
was the effect of Jesus’ visit with
them? Why did these believe? Which is better, the faith that is built upon
hearing testimony about Him, or the faith that is built on listening to Him?
Upon what is your faith built, upon listening to some one else’s
testimony about Him or listening to His own voice? How does true faith come?
(Ro. 10:17, compare Heb. 11:1–30.) What did the Samaritans tell the woman that
they had heard that was better than her testimony? What was the result of
hearing for themselves? What did the Samaritans say that they knew?
CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS
1. Jesus Christ
His humanity, 31; His deity—He knew what the disciples were
talking about though they had not spoken to Him, 33; His subordination to the
Father, His love for the Father, His very meat to do the will of Him that sent
Him and to finish His work, 34; His love for man, even the outcast, 40; the
power of His word, 39, 41; the Saviour of the world, 42.
2. The Disciples
Knew not the meat that Jesus ate, 32; their spiritual dullness,
33; blind to the fact that the fields were white already for the harvest, 35;
sent to reap a harvest upon which they had bestowed no labor, entered into
other men’s labors, 38; exhorted by Jesus to lift up their eyes and behold the
harvest that was already ripe, 35; received wages for reaping the harvest,
gathered fruit unto life eternal, 36; called to rejoice together with the
sowers, 36, 37.
3. The Samaritans
Many believed because of the testimony of the woman, 39; having
believed in Jesus, came unto Jesus, besought Jesus
to tarry with them, 40; heard Jesus
for themselves, 41, 42; many more believed because of His own word, 41; when
they heard Jesus, were quick to
recognize in Him the Saviour of the world, 42.
LESSON 16
Our Lord Restoring the Nobleman’s Son
John 4:43–54
(See
also Matthew 14:3–5; 4:12–17; Mark 6:17, 18; 1:14, 15; Luke 3:19, 20)
DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS
1. A
Blessing Sought and Faith Demanded, vv. 43–50
When
the two days in Samaria were past, did Jesus go to Nazareth?
Why not (v. 44)? What is meant by “His own country”? (Luke
4:23, 24; Matt. 13:53, 54.) Why does a prophet have no honor in his own
country? Ought a prophet to have honor? Why? Is the honor due to God’s prophets
often denied them? (Acts 7:52.) Ought a servant of God to feel badly when the
honor due him is denied him? (Matt. 5:12; Luke
6:22, 23.) Where is the honor due to a prophet most likely to be denied him?
Did Nazareth
gain anything by refusing Jesus the
honor that was His due? (Matt. 13:57, 58.) Do men lose anything today by not
receiving Jesus as they ought? Did any
one receive Jesus (v. 45)? Did they
gain anything by receiving him? What do those who fully receive Him gain? (John 1:12.) Why did these Galileans receive Him? Was
that a good reason for receiving Him? What similar reason have we for receiving
Him today? How did they come to see these miracles? Did they do right to go up
to the feast? Was much trouble involved in their going up? Did it pay? Is there
any lesson for us in this?
To
what particular town in Galilee did Jesus go? Why did He go there? What proof have we
that His going made a good deal of a stir? Was the nobleman a person who would
have been likely to seek Jesus? What
would have kept him back? What brought him to Jesus?
What is it usually that brings men to Jesus?
(Matt. 9:18; 15:22; 17:14, 15; Luke
7:27–38.) What is the most effective way to induce men to overcome the obstacles
that lie between them and Jesus? How
sick was the nobleman’s child? Ought such an extreme case as that be taken to
the Lord? (Gen. 18:14; Luke 8:49, 50.)
Is it extreme cases of sickness alone that should be taken to Jesus? (1 Tim. 1:15; Eph. 2:1; Heb. 7:25.) Why did
this nobleman come to Jesus?
Why is it that men come to Jesus for
spiritual life? (John 6:68.) What then
is one of the important things to show men if we would induce them to come to Jesus? (Acts 4:12.) Does Jesus
wish men to come to Him with their troubles? (Ps. 50:15; Matt. 11:28.) Who may
this “nobleman” or “king’s officer” (margin, R. V.)
have been? (Luke 8:3; Acts 13:1.) How
did he know that “Jesus was come”?
Before men call upon the Lord now-a-days, what must some one do? (Ro. 10:14.)
If some one had not told that nobleman that “Jesus
was come,” what would have become of his boy? Unless someone tells the
perishing millions at home and abroad that “the Son of Man is come to seek and
to save that which is lost,” what will become of them? Who can deliver that
message? What was the most important work that the one who told the nobleman
that “Jesus was come” did that day?
What is the most important work any of us can do any day? (James 5:20.)
What
was the first thing the nobleman did as soon as he heard that “Jesus was come”? Why did he go to Jesus so promptly? Why is it that so many delay when
they hear that Jesus is come? If men
realized their need of Jesus, what
would they do as soon as they heard He had come?
Having
come to Jesus, what was the next thing
the nobleman did? If we want anything of the Lord, what is the way to get it?
(Ps. 50:15; Ro. 10:13; Luke 11:13.) As
what did the nobleman come to Jesus?
How must high and low come to Jesus if
they come at all? What did the nobleman think it was necessary that Jesus should do in order to heal his boy? Did any one
ever come to Jesus with a greater and
more intelligent faith than that? (Matt. 8:8–10.) What was Jesus’ answer to the nobleman’s request? Why did Jesus say this? Why was there not more haste on Jesus’ part to grant the request? What was more
urgent than the healing of the nobleman’s boy? Is there any better faith
than one that rests upon signs and wonders that we see? (v. 42; 20:29; 1
John 5:10, 11; 2 Pet. 1:17–19.) Are
there any who will not believe even when they see signs and wonders? (John 12:37.) With whom was Jesus
contrasting the Jews in His own mind when He said: “Except ye see signs and
wonders, ye will in no wise believe”? (vv. 29, 41, 42.) In what light was it
the Samaritans regarded Him and sought Him (v. 42)? In what light was it the
nobleman regarded Him and sought Him (v. 47)? Does Jesus
desire more to be sought as “healer” or “Saviour”? Did the nobleman allow
himself to be put away by Jesus’ first
answer? Why not? Ought we to cease asking when we do not get what we ask the
first time? (Luke 18:1–8.) What was
the result of the nobleman’s persistence? Did he get just what he asked? Why
didn’t Jesus go down? Why did He yield
to the nobleman’s request at all? What is implied by the nobleman’s saying,
“Come down ere my child die”? Could not Jesus
help even if the child were dead? (Mark
5:35–42.)
2. Faith Exercised and the Blessing
Granted, vv. 50–54
Just
what did Jesus say to the nobleman?
How did the word sound to the nobleman? What similar sweet words is Jesus ready to say today? What was the first thing
the nobleman did when he heard Jesus’
word? Did the word that Jesus spoke
seem probable? Was it wise for the nobleman to “believe the word that Jesus spake”? (Titus
1:2; Matt. 24:35.) What is the sole ground he had for his faith? Was that
enough? Is that enough for you? How did the man prove that he “believed the
word that Jesus spake”? By what did
the nobleman walk from Cana to Capernaum?
(2 Cor 5:7.) Does Jesus ever demand of
us today to walk by faith? If he did not believe Jesus,
what would he have made Him? (1 John
5:10.) Do you ever make God a liar? Did the nobleman’s faith prove to be
well-founded? How did it all turn out? How will everything turn out? (Acts
27:25; Josh. 23:14.)
When
had the improvement in the sick boy begun? How do you account for that? (Ps.
33:9; 107:20.) Who was He at whose word sickness fled away? Was the healing
affected by the influence of the boy’s mind upon his body? Was the healing
instantaneous? Does God always work a complete work in a moment? (Mark 4:28.)
What was the effect upon the father when he learned that the boy began to grow
better at the very time that Jesus
spake? What was the difference between the faith of the nobleman mentioned in
verse 50 and that mentioned in verse 53? Did the nobleman believe alone? Is it
to be expected when a man believes on Jesus
that his family will believe also? (Acts 16:15, 31, 34; 18:8; 2:39.) Why are
there so many instances where men believe but their families do not?
CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS
1. Jesus Christ
Draws the afflicted to Him, 47; can help when all human help
fails, 46, 47; His help must be sought by prayer, 47–50; answers believing
persistent prayer even though the faith is very imperfect, 50; grants the
substance, though does not always grant the letter, of the request, 47, 49, 50;
desires to be recognized and sought as Saviour and not merely as Healer, 48;
desires the faith that is satisfied with His own bare word, though it sees no signs,
48, 50.
2. His Word
Banishes disease, begets faith, never fails, 50–53.
“Truly this was the Son of God!”
3. The Nobleman
(1). His high position,
suppliant attitude, sore distress, 46, 47; imperfect faith—(a) believed Jesus
could heal near at hand, but not at a distance, 47, 49—(b) believed He could
heal the sick but not raise the dead, 49; earnest prayer, 47, 49; searching
rebuke, 48; undaunted persistence, 49; unquestioning obedience, 50; abundant
reward, 51, 53.
(2). He needed Jesus,
heard of Jesus, believed in Jesus, came to Jesus, 47; prayed to Jesus, 47, 49;
held on to Jesus, 49; obeyed Jesus, 50; received the blessing from Jesus,
51–53.
(3). Three steps in the
nobleman’s faith.
(a) He believed in Jesus’
power, 47;
(b) he believed in Jesus’
word, 50;
(c) he believed in Jesus Himself, 53
LESSON 17
Our Lord Rejected at Nazareth
Luke 4:16–32
DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS
1. Jesus’
Love for the House of God, v. 16
Where
is the scene of this lesson? Why did Jesus
go to Nazareth?
In what way had the expectation in regard to Him been awakened in the hearts of
the people (v. 23)? What glimpse does the 16th verse give into Jesus’ habits? Why was Jesus
in the habit of going to church? (2:49, R. V.; John 18:20.) By what other teacher was this custom
followed? (Acts 17:2.) What is the first thing He is recorded as doing in the
synagogue? Did He do this by invitation?
2. Jesus’
Familiarity with the Word of God, vv. 17–27
What
Book was handed Him to read there? Was He familiar with that Book? How did He
know just what place to turn to? Is there any suggestion here for us? What is
suggested as to who Jesus was by the
Greek word for “anointed” (v. 18)? What is the Hebrew word? By applying this
then to Himself, what did Jesus
proclaim Himself to be? Why must this have been peculiarly startling to the
persons to whom He made the proclamation? With what was Jesus
anointed? (Acts 10:38.) What follows in Isaiah immediately after the place
where Jesus closed the quotation? Why
didn’t Jesus quote those words too?
What
is the first thing Jesus said He was
to do? To whom was He to preach the Gospel? What does “Gospel” mean? Is this
thought, that it was “the poor” to whom the glad tidings belonged, found
elsewhere in the Bible? (6:20; 7:22; Is. 29:19; Zeph. 3:12; Zech. 11:11; Matt: 5:3; 11:5; Jas. 2:5.) What are these good
tidings? What was the next thing He was to do (R. V.)?
Captives to whom? Released from what? (John
8:34, 31, 32.) If we desire liberty, then to whom must we go? What was the
third thing He was to do? What kind of “blind”? (John
9:39.) If we want sight to whom must we go? (1 John
5:20.) What was the next thing Jesus
was to do? “Bruised” by whom? (Gen. 3:15.) Can you give a Scriptural
illustration of Jesus doing these four
things? To what Jewish custom does verse 19 refer? (Lev. 25:8–13; 50–54.) Of
what was the year of jubilee a type? What is the view of man’s natural
condition which these words from Isaiah imply? What is the only way of
deliverance from this sad condition? In whom did Jesus
say these words were fulfilled? How must this have sounded to His hearers? Whom
did Jesus always preach? Should we
imitate Him in this? (2 Cor. 4:5, first half.)
What
does the record indicate as to Jesus’
manner as He spoke these startling words? Did He have the attention of His
audience? How did He get it (v. 18, 32)? How was His audience at first affected
by His words? Did that look promising? Was this early promise realized? What
was the next thought that came into their minds? What was the meaning of that
query at just this point? What was the next thought that Jesus
saw stealing into their minds (v. 23)? What does that thought imply? In what
proverb does Jesus sum up His
treatment? Why is it that “no prophet is acceptable in his own country”? What
thought comforted Jesus in His
disappointment at rejection by His own (vv. 25, 27)? What is it we always find Jesus quoting in every emergency?
How
was it that Jesus was so ready with
Scripture? What was the point of the quotations here?
3. Jesus’
Rejection by the People of God, vv. 28–30
What
was the effect of these words upon Jesus’
hearers? Do men ever get angry at the truth nowadays? At which are men most
likely to rage—at truth or error? Why? (John
7:7.) If you hold truth up to men, will they always accept it? Why not? (John 3:19, 20.) What was it in this particular case
that made the hearers rage? (Compare Acts 22:21–23.) How many of His hearers
were “filled with wrath”? Does it prove that a man is not preaching as he
should when all his hearers get mad? How mad were they? How far did they get
Him? What happened then? How did He do that? (John
18:6, 7.) Did He ever go back to Nazareth?
(Compare Mark 1:21–34 with vv. 31–46
and Mark 6:1–6; Matt. 4:13 with
13:54–58.) What were the steps in the rejection of Jesus
at Nazareth?
(1—Wonder and admiration, v. 22; 2—doubt, v. 22; 3—unbelief, v. 23; 4—anger,
rejection and hate, v. 29.) What is the lesson in that for us?
Did Jesus give up preaching because Nazareth rejected Him and imperiled His life?
What did He do (v. 31)? What is the lesson in that for us? (Matt. 10:23; Acts
14:1, 2, 6, 7, 19–21; 17:1–3, 10.)
CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS
1. Jesus Christ
(1). His person—human,
29; divine, 18, 21.
(2). His
character—affectionate, church-loving, 16; Bible-loving, 17, 25–27; gracious,
22; compassionate, 18; patient, 29, 31; awe-awakening, 30.
(3). His work—to teach,
31, etc.; to preach the Gospel, to open blind eyes, to set at liberty Satan’s victims, 18: to inaugurate the Christian year of
jubilee, 19.
(4). His preaching—to
the poor, 18; Scriptural, 18, 25–27; in the Holy Ghost, 18; gracious, 22; with
power, 32; comforting, 18; convicting, 28; awakening anger, 29; its
subject—Himself, 21.
(5). His
reception—admiration, doubt, 22; unbelief, 23; wrath, 28; murder, 29.
1. Man
(1). By nature—poor,
captive, blind, bruised, 18.
(2). By grace—rich,
free, seeing, redeemed, 18, 19.
LESSON 18
The Call of the First Four Disciples
Luke 5:1–11
(See
also Matthew 4:18–22; Mark 1:16–20)
DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS
1. Listening to Jesus,
vv. 1–3
Does Luke follow the chronological order? (Compare Matt.
4:18, etc.; Mark 1:16.) Why not? Did Jesus
have much of an audience? What was it that they were after? Are there
multitudes today who are eager for “the Word of God”? Was this crowd eager for
“the Word of God” a welcome sight to Jesus?
What did He look around for? Where did He find a pulpit? Was that a very
attractive pulpit? What other pulpits did Jesus
use during His lifetime? Is there any lesson in that for men who are looking
for pulpits today? What was Peter
doing when Jesus asked the loan of his
fishing boat? Was that proper work? Was he willing to leave it at Jesus’ request?
2. Obeying Jesus,
vv. 4–7
Did Jesus ask His disciples to keep hearing sermons all
the time? When they had heard the sermon, what did He tell them to do? Was Peter just as pleasing to Jesus
when he went fishing as he was when he sat listening to the sermon? In how much
of our business and ordinary life is Jesus
interested today? Of what was Jesus’
command a test? (Compare Mark 3:5; John 2:7; 11:39; 21:6.) What was there that made the
command look foolish? What was the only thing in favor of letting down the
nets? Was that enough? How many objections of our reason and commonsense ought
the word of Jesus to outweigh? Why did
Jesus tell Peter
to launch out into the deep? How did Jesus
know just where the fish were? (Ps. 8:6, 8.)
What
is the first thing Peter says in
answer to Jesus’ command? Do we ever
have such thoughts arise when Jesus
commands us? Is the fact that we have tried and failed any reason for stopping
trying when Jesus bids us let down our
nets? Suppose Peter had given way to
his discouragement, what would have been the consequences? How is it when we
surrender to our discouragement? What was Peter’s
second thought and word? What is there in Peter’s
reply to Jesus that would make a good
motto for every Christian worker? How many of His commands will a true disciple
obey? (John 2:5; 15:14.) What was the
result of Peter’s obedience? What
always awaits the obedient? (Deut. 11:27; Is. 1:19.) When was it they enclosed
the fishes? When is it always that we get the blessing? Did they get fishes
enough? What does that illustrate? What did Peter
do in his emergency? Is there any lesson in that? If Peter
had been like a great many men what would he have done? Was there enough for
both? What would always become of some of our boats if God should load them as
fully as we wish? How did Peter’s
empty boat become so full?
3. Following Jesus,
vv. 8–11
What
did Peter then do? What was it made Peter cry to the Lord to depart—the sight of the
great catch of fishes, or the sight of the sinking ship? What did Peter see in Christ in the
light of this miracle? (“Master,” v. 5; “Lord,” v. 8.) Was that right? What did
Peter see in himself in the light of
this miracle? Was that right? Where then was Peter
wrong in his cry? If we truly know ourselves and truly know Jesus, will our cry to Him be to depart? Did the time
ever come when the recognition of who Jesus
was drew Peter to Him? (John 21:6, 7.) What was the effect of the miracle
upon all who beheld it? At what were they astonished in the last chapter?
(4:32, 36.)
Did Jesus go away because Peter
asked Him to? Does He always go away when we wish Him to? Why not? What is Jesus’ answer to Peter’s
“Depart”? (Compare also “Follow Me,” Matt. 4:19.) Would it have been a good
thing for Peter if Jesus had departed when Peter
asked him to? Would it be a good thing for us if Jesus
departed when we ask Him to?
For
what did Jesus take that day’s fishing
as a symbol? When did Peter make a
bigger catch than that day? (Acts 2:41.) Where is the similarity between
winning men and catching fish? What was there about Peter
that gave promise of his becoming a successful fisher of men? (vv. 2, 8, 5,
11). How might Peter know that he
would be a successful fisher of men?
How
did Peter and the others show that
they believed Jesus’ promise and
appreciated His call? Was it right for them to forsake all? Did it pay?
(18:28–30.) How much does it pay to forsake for Christ?
(Phil. 3:7, 8.) Did they do right in forsaking the fish business? Did Jesus call Peter
to forsake his business the first time He met him? (John
1:40–42.) Was the forsaking of all the important thing they did? When, then, is
it right to forsake all? In what sense must every one who would be a disciple
of Jesus forsake all? (Luke 14:33, R. V.
and Greek.)
CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS
1. Jesus
His deity, 4, 8.
His humanity, 3.
His knowledge—of what is in the sea, 4; of what is in man, 10.
His compassion—for the ignorant, 3; for the unsuccessful, 4–7; for
the sinful, for the fearful, 10.
His sympathy with man in his earthly occupation, 4.
As a preacher—preached the Word in the open air, drew crowds, 1;
always ready, thought more of His audience than of His pulpit, preached
instructively, 3.
2. The Essential Conditions of Success in
Fishing for Men
Faithfulness in our secular calling, 2; a sense of personal
sinfulness, a recognition of Christ as Lord, 8; unhesitating faith,
unquestioning obedience (“Nevertheless at Thy word”), 5; fearlessness founded
upon the divine promise, 10; forsaking all, following Him, 11.
LESSON 19
“A Prophet Mighty in Word and Deed
Before God and All the People.”
Mark 1:21–35
(See
also Matthew 8:14–17; Luke 4:31–41)
DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS
1. Jesus’
Power as a Teacher, vv. 21, 22
What
do we find Jesus doing on the Sabbath,
in the first verse of this lesson? Did He often do this? (Luke
4:16.) Was the synagogue worship very spiritual and inspiring? Ought He not
then to have utterly withdrawn from it? Ought a person to withdraw from a
church because it is full of formalism, ignorance and error? (Acts 13:14; 17:2;
18:4.) What was the effect of Christ’s teaching upon
those who heard? Did it have a similar effect upon other occasions? (Matt.
7:28; 13:54; John 7:46.) What was it
about the teaching that astonished them? Just what does that mean? How great
authority did Jesus claim in His
teaching? (Matt. 5:21, 22, f. c., 33, 34, f. c.; Luke
11:32; John 3:3.) If we are to teach
with genuine authority, how must we teach? (1 Peter
4:11, f. c.)
2. His Power Over Demons, vv. 23–27
Who
was there in the synagogue that especially needed the help of Jesus? What does “a man with an unclean spirit” mean?
What was the effect of the presence of Jesus
upon the unclean spirit? Why did he not keep quiet? What is always the effect
of the presence of Jesus upon the
devil or demons? Is it a bad sign to have the devil rage in a community or a
church?
What
did the demon cry? What is it the devil most wants of Christ?
Will Christ let the devil alone? (1 John 3:8.) What did the demon think Jesus had come for? Was he right? (Heb. 2:14.) Who
had the most correct and extensive knowledge about Jesus
of any one in the synagogue? Did that knowledge save him? What sort of faith is
it that saves? (Ro. 10:9, 10; Gal. 5:6.) What is all that the faith of devils
does for them? (Jas. 2:19.) What was Jesus’
answer to this orthodox confession of the demon? Did Jesus
ever allow the demons to tell who He was? (v. 34; 3:11, 12.) Why not? (vv. 44,
45; Matt. 16:20; Acts 16:17.) Did the demon want to come out of the man? Did he
come out? Why? (Luke 11:21, 22.) Did
he come out without a struggle? Does the devil usually make a struggle before
giving up his hold upon a man?
What
was the effect of this miracle upon those who saw it? What was it that awakened
their amazement? How had they been astonished earlier in the day (22)? Were any
of them converted? Did anything beside demons obey Him (4:4)?
3. His Power Over Sickness, vv. 28–34
What
was the effect of this miracle? Were the people used to miracles? Where did Jesus go next? What did He go there for (31)? Did it
pay that family to invite Jesus home
to dinner? Does it usually pay? How can we invite Jesus
home with us? (Matt. 25:37, 40.) What affliction did they find in the house
when they got there? What did they do about it? Did Jesus
like that? Does Jesus want us to bring
our sorrows to Him? (Matt. 11:28.) What will be the result if we make all our
wants known unto Him? (Phil. 4:6, 7.) What did Jesus
do? Is Jesus ready to take the sick
and sinning by the hand today? (Heb. 13:8.) What did Peter’s wife’s mother do
as soon as she was healed? What ought each of us to do as soon as Jesus blesses us?
What
was the next scene? What time of day was it? Why did they wait until evening?
(3:2.) How many of the sick did they bring? Was that wise? Why did they bring
them? In what way do they set us an example? How many came together? Were these
people as anxious for spiritual blessings as for healing? Are people today? How
many of those who came did Jesus heal?
(Luke 4:40.) Did Jesus
heal just to show that He was the Messiah? (Matt. 8:16, 17.) Are we to
understand from this verse that Jesus
came to save from sickness as well as from sin? Did those great blessings and
wonderful manifestations of the divine power of Jesus
in Capernaum
result in the spiritual regeneration of the place? (Matt. 11:23, 24.)
4. His Power with God, v. 35
After
the multitude and the exhausting labors of the day, what would have seemed to
have been the chief need of Jesus? Did
He on that account spend long hours in sleep? Why not? Have we any other
instance in which Jesus sorely needed
sleep in which He spent the time in prayer and not in sleep? (Mark 6:31, 34,
46.) How did He find rest on another occasion of weariness? (John 4:6, 31.) Where shall we seek rest? (Matt.
11:28, 29.) Is there much danger of our putting time into prayer that ought to
be put into sleep? Is there much danger of our putting time into sleep that
ought to be put into prayer? (Luke
22:46.) What was Jesus’ unvarying
method of preparing Himself for the great emergencies of His life? (Luke 6:12, 13; John
6:15; Luke 22:44, 53.) What answer is
there in verse 35 to those who think that they do not need long seasons of
prayer? To those who think they can do all the necessary praying at their work
or by the way? To those who think their lives are too busy to spend much time
in prayer? For what was the prayer of those early morning hours a preparation?
(vv. 36–45.) If one is to have power with man and power over Satan,
with whom must he first have power? (Gen. 32: 28; Eph. 6:12, 18.) What does the
35th verse teach as to the most suitable time and place of prayer?
CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS
1. Jesus
His power—over men, 21, 22; over sickness, 29–34; over demons,
23–28, 34; with God, 35.
His compassion—for the ignorant, 21, 22; for the sick, 29–34; for
the devil’s victims, 23–26; for the sorrowing, 29–31. If you have any sickness,
sorrow or sin, bring it to Jesus
(Matt. 11:28).
His love for the house of God, 21.
His contempt for human precedent, 22.
His separation from unholy alliances, 24, 25.
His attractiveness for the suffering, 32, 38.
As a teacher, 21, 22; healer, 23–24; helper, 31; man of prayer,
35.
He taught as a prophet, 21, 22; he interceded as a priest, 35; he
commanded disease and devils as a king, 27, 31.
2. The Devil
His supernatural power, unnatural malignity, 23–26; his
supernatural knowledge, cringing cowardice, abject fear of Jesus, 24; his
absolute subjection to Jesus, 27, 34; his great rage when he knows his time is
short, 26.
3. Man
His wretched condition, 23–27, 32, 34; his mighty helper, 26, 31,
34; his bounden duty to use the strength received from Jesus
in ministering to Jesus, 31.
4. Prayer
Brings refreshment better than sleep, refreshment of exhausted
spiritual energy, 35 (see context); prepares for conflict with Satan,
35, 40–45.
The man who would work much for God must pray much to God, 35.
If you must rise early to work, rise still earlier to pray, 35.
5. Jesus and Peter’s Wife’s Mother
She was helpless; they told Him of her; He took her by the hand;
He raised her up; she ministered unto Him, 30, 31.
LESSON 20
Our Lord’s First Evangelistic Tour in Galilee
Mark 1:36–45
(See
also Matthew 4:23; 8:1–4; Luke
4:42–44; 5:12–16. Read Leviticus 12)
DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS