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the forgiveness spoken of in Matthew is conditional, as being suited to the character of this Gospel, which stresses our Lord’s right to earthly kingship, while the for giveness in the Gospel of John is absolute, in accord with the character of that book. Governmentally, there can be no forgive ness for those who refuse to forgive. But we must be careful that we do not teach that eternal life depends upon the measure of our forgiveness of one another. Lesson 4. “Our All for the Kingdom” (Mdtt. 19:16-30). In this lesson, we found the amazing teaching of our Lord that one who would enter into and enjoy the king dom must first sacrifice all outer good, such as was represented by the rich man’s wealth; and second, he must sacrifice all inner good, such as was represented by the rich man’s morality. The obtaining of eternal life is not dependent upon giving up certain evils, but upon the exchange of the whole sinful nature which man pos sesses, for the new nature which the Lord Jesus Christ imparts. Our Lord was not trying to take something of value away from the young man, but He was trying to give something of infinite value to him. In the natural realm, there is the possibility of holding a dollar so close to the eyes that the glory of a dawning day or the beauty of a sunset is entirely obscured. Likewise in the spiritual realm, the love of money may hide eternal values. Lesson 5. “Christ’s Standard of Great ness” (Matt. 20:17-28). In this lesson, the Lord Jesus Christ gave one of seven an nouncements of His approaching death. He plainly told the disciples what lay before Him and before them, but they failed to understand the import of His words. In stead, they were, occupied with bickerings among themselves as to who should have the chief places in the coming kingdom. They were filled with such unholy ambi tion that they could calmly brush aside the Lord’s announcement of His approaching death, while all their attention was focused upon the attainment of high places for themselves. Then our Lord instructed them by pointing out that true greatness did not lie along the path of human ambition, but was found in the path of true humility. The proud heart must give way to the humble spirit, and meekness must take the place of arrogance. Lesson 6. “Jesus Acclaimed as King” (Matt. 21:1-14). In this lesson, the Lord .Jesus Christ actually presented Himself to the nation as their King, as the prophets had said He would dp when He came. He came into the city riding upon an ass, in fulfillment of the prophecy uttered hun dreds of years before. The rulers were well aware of the significance of this ac tion. They also recognized the greatness of the issues involved when the people began to acclaim the Lord as the King for whom they had waited, and when, in the words of the prophets, they acknowledged that at last the King who had been prom ised had arrived. Christ’s claims to being the promised One (John 5:39) were fur ther proved by His actions in cleansing the temple and in healing the sick—deeds which the prophets declared would be per formed by the King when He came. In spite of all that He did, however, the rulers were settled in their unbelief and opposi tion, and nothing could move them. Lesson 7. “Christianity and Patriotism” (Matt. 22:15-22, 34-40). This lesson con cerned a day when various parties among the Jews attempted to catch Jesus in His speech, in order to have something of which they might accuse Him to the author ities. But Jesus revealed His divine knowl edge and wisdom by turning their questions
to “Go,” He did not send them empty- handed. He gave them His life and light, just as this blue candle which represents Him is giving the light to the white one. He said to His disciples-: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” This black candle represents those people who have black skin. Some who call them selves Christians are saying that we have enough to do at home without going to Africa with the gospel. They forget that Jesus said: “Go ye into all the world.” When it is lighted, the black candle burns as brightly and clearly as the white one. The yellow candle represents the people of China and Japan. Some people think that these nations have their own religions and should be left- alone. They have re ligions, but they do not have Christ, the Light of the world, and so they are lost in darkness. Now the yellow candle burns brightly, as the black one does. This red candle represents the Indians, who have red skins. Many believe that the Indians are hopelessly settled in their snake worshiping and other forms of idolatry, but the red man, too, can receive Christ and shine for Him. No matter what the color of the skin may be, people in every land can receive Christ and let their lights shine for Him, if only some one will take the light to them. The blue candle is still burning, even though it has been out of sight behind the pulpit. Some day Christ is going to return and gather the saved of all nations to Him self, just as the boys and girls who are holding the lighted candles are now plac ing their candles around this blue one. We will then be glad that we have had a part in giving the Light of the world to the people of other lands.
Jesus Living Again M atthew 28:1-20 Memory Verse: “Behold, I am alive for evermore” (Rev. 1 :18). Approach: On the third day, Jesus did rise from the dead, as He had said He would. An angel descended from heaven
and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon it. Le s so n S t o r y : The angel was there when Mary Magda- lene and the other Mary came to the sepulcher. The angel told them not to be frightened, for Jesus was risen. They were amazed
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and ran to tell the disciples. On the way, Jesus Himself met them. He said: “All hail.” And they fell at His feet and wor shiped Him. But He would not let them stay. They must go and spread the news. Jesus showed Himself to His disciples and friends. But He did not stay with them a long time. He stayed just long enough to show them that it was truly He, Jesus, who was risen from the dead, and He told them to go and tell others. Soon He was going to heaven to be with the Father. He was going back to prepare a place for His friends. . Before He left them, He called His dis ciples together. He had work for them to do, and He must tell them about it. He explained that all power had been given to Him, and He said that as His fol lowers, they too should have power. They were to use this power to go into all parts of the world, baptizing the people in His name and teaching them the things that He had told them. Then He made them a promise that they were never to forget. It was' to help them over all of the hard places. He said: “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. The work which Jesus sent His disciples out to do, He has sent us to do, too. How glad we are that His promise is for us as well! Object Lesson W hite L ights from C olored C andles Objects: Five candles—red, yellow, black, white, and blue. The blue one should be longer than the others. ■ ; Lesson: When Christ told His disciples Lesson Text: 1 Cor. 1:18-25. Golden Text: “Of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Lk. 1:33). Lesson 1. “Confessing and Following Christ” (Matt. 16:13-26). In this lesson, four great truths were presented for our consideration. First, the person of the King: To the great majority, the Lord Jesus Christ is some great prophet, possibly the greatest of all, but nothing more than a prophet. To His own, He is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Second, the purpose of the King: Concerning the church, His purpose is to build it, so that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Third, the program of the King: This He said was to include the deliverance of Himself to His enemies, His crucifixion on the cross, and His bodily resurrection from among the dead. Fourth, the profession of the King: Those who profess to belong to the King would need to experience the
JUNE 24, 1934 REVIEW
denial of self and the enthronement of Christ as supreme. Such a profession of course would mean taking up the cross and following Christ. Lesson 2. : “The Child and the Kingdom” (Matt. 18:1-6, 12-14; 19:13-15). First, the child’s greatness was to be seen in its humbleness, dependence, teachableness, and above all, its trustfulness. The Lord de clared that except we become as little chil dren we shall not enter into the kingdom. Second, the child’s value was illustrated by the ¿one lone sheep, which went astray—the one for whom the shepherd left the ninety and nine within the fold, and went out into the mountains to seek “that which is gone astray.” Third, the child’s place was re vealed in the rebuke of the Lord to His disciples who attempted to hinder thè chil dren in their coming to Him. Lesson 3. “Jesus Teaches Forgiveness” (Matt. 18:21-35). We were reminded that
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