T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
December, 1933
436
extending from an envelope four inches deep by twelve inches long, opened across the top, and allowing the colored ends to show.) These slips represent the pleasures of the world. On this lavender one, the word “ Shows” is written. As it is pulled out, the color changes. It is black. The pleasures o f the world are false, and they lead to sin. Written on this slip we find “Unclean Thoughts; Unclean Life, and Crime.” As the slip is pulled farther out, you will see that it has an empty heart. (Cut a heart-shaped hole near the bot tom.) The orange slip is marked “ Card Playing.” This, too, is a false pleasure, leading to gambling, dishonesty, and other sins. The heart is still empty. The purple slip is marked “ Smoking.” It leads to un cleanness, a dull mind, ill health, and an empty heart. The green represents “ Danc ing.” It leads to sin, sorrow, divorce, and an empty heart, “Whiskey” is written on the blue slip. It leads to drunkenness, broken homes, and sorrow. The heart is still empty. Put all the pleasures of the world together, and still you have an empty heart. This white card is marked “ The Chris tian Life.” It is white because God wants our lives to be clean. The red cross re minds us of Christ’s death. Written on this card are the words, “Love, Joy, Peace, and Happiness.” The heart is filled with a star, which represents Christ, the “bright and morning star.” Unsaved people often think that Christians do not get much out of life, but notice that this slip is twice as long as it appeared at first. The back is yellow, telling us of the golden streets on which we are to walk some day. righteousness. There was no hint of the presence of sin in His baptism (cf. 2 Cor. 5 :21; Heb. 4:15; 7:26; 1 Pet. 2 :22; 1 John 3:5 ). The duty of baptizing Jesus was necessary and incumbent upon John as the herald of the old dispensation, and it was necessary and incumbent upon Jesus as the One whom that dispensation heralded. Hence Jesus said, “ Thus it becometh us.” It was not a question as to what was right, but of what was becoming, in the matter of righteousness. The meaning o f Christ’s baptism was, in the second place, to dedi cate Himself, or to formally accept the office o f King, Prophet, and Priest. This dedication required the full surrender of Himself to the Father and the full identi fication o f Himself with sinners. This identification must be in His death, and the baptism was the first step toward the cross. Finally, the meaning of the bap tism was the formal consecration o f Him self by the Father (vs. 16, 17). The ac ceptance o f the surrendered Sacrifice is indicated by the expression of God’s de light in Him. Jesus was the first Man on
fishing boat, when I heard a splash in the water. I was out of my berth in a minute, for there was a fishing craft not far away, and I guessed that the man in the boat, in trying to get out, in a drunken condition, had fallen overboard. I jumped into my boat and rowed with all my might, and prayed God to help me. Presently I saw him, and getting hold of his arm, I pulled him into my boat and took him to his own. I worked with him and rubbed him till life again appeared, then made him comfort able and left him. “Next morning he was leaning over the side o f his craft, when I pulled over to see how he was. ‘How are you this morning?’ I asked. ‘What’s that to you?’ he said. “ ‘Why,’ said I, ‘I can’t help taking an interest in you. I saved your life last night.’ ‘Get out,’ said he, and he cursed me and called me a liar. My heart was like a thing broken, as I pulled away. O, my blessed Lord Jesus,-1 am sorry for Thee, I know how Thou dost feel! That is how the world is always treating Thee. I am terribly sorry for Thee, dear Lord.” — S elected . Object Lesson T h e P leasures of t h e W orld Objects: Five pieces o f stiff black paper, 2}£x6 inches, and a piece o f white paper 2J4xl2 inches. Cover 2J4 inches of the top of each black piece with different colored papers. Cover the back of the white with yellow. Fold the white to make it the same length as the black slips. Lesson: How beautiful these slips of paper look ! (Arrange them side by side, Lesson Text-. Matt. 3:13-17; 4:1-11. Golden Text: “Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren” (Heb. 2:17). Outline and Exposition I. T h e B a p t is m (3:13-17). h e word “then” is important. Notice should be taken o f the time notes in these records. The baptism lies at the entrance to Christ’s public ministry. John’s preaching had aroused the whole country, and crowds had gathered from every hamlet and village and city. All classes were represented before him, Phar isees, Sadducees, soldiers, publicans, and others, all were listeners to his preaching. John was closing the Old Testament econ omy. “ The law and the prophets were until John” (Lk. 16:16), and at last his testimony was completed (vs. 11, 12). The Old Testament economy was marked by the continuous promise o f the Coming One. John introduced that promised One and his work was complete. Then (v. 12) Jesus came to John to be baptized. There was a definite time and purpose and meaning. His waiting, through the slow-moving years, for the time re ferred to in verse 13, was now at an end. The hour had come for Him to leave His home and to publicly enter upon His Father’s business. From now on, He was to meet new scenes, new sorrows, and new experiences. The meaning of the baptism is seen in verses 14 and 15. Then (again note the time), He came, not as others needing re pentance, but to fulfill all righteousness. He is the Righteous One fulfilling all
earth, since Adam, upon whom God could look with any degree o f complacency. The conduct o f Jesus during the thirty years just passed was acknowledged perfect, as was also the character from which that conduct sprang. There was in the conse cration also the equipment for service to be rendered: Having become Man by voluntary choice, the Spirit came upon Him to equip Him for all His service (Lk. 4:16-24). Once again, He will come to the earth, clothed with this same power and wisdom and might (Isa. 61:1, 2). Moreover, there was in His baptism the acknowledgment of Sonship: “Thou art my beloved Son.” The Father whom He had recognized and acknowledged eighteen years previously was now recognizing and acknowledging Him. II. T h e T e m pta tio n (4:1-11). 1. The timeLf“ then" (v. 1). In Christ’s baptism, His own purpose was followed. Now He was being “led up,” or “driven,” by the Holy Spirit. Surely He went gladly, immediately, but not until the S p i r i t g u i d e d Him. From the hour of His baptism, He lived His life upon earth guided at all times by the Holy Spirit. As soon as Christ yielded Himself for ser vice, then Satan tried to hinder that service. As soon as the voice declaring His Son- ship was heard, then Satan tried to ruin the assurance of that Sonship. As soon as the office was accepted, then Satan dis puted His moral right to that office. As in the case o f Jesus, so in the case of every child of God, the battle with Satan begins with a “then.” When the. Christian yields himself for service, or attempts to enter up on the service indicated, then comes Satan’s challenge. But the challenge is always ac cepted by God; hence Jesus was permitted to be led by the Spirit into the wilderness for the express purpose o f being tempted by Satan. Thus the temptation of our Lord became in reality the testing of Satan’s wiles and devices and power, all o f which are revealed as being without effect, when met as Jesus met them there. 2. The manner (vs. 2-11). Verses 2 to 4 show Him tempted as Man, concerning the Word o f God, which He was tempted to put to a test, to prove its truth by demonstration. The one who actu ally believes the Word o f God has no need to put that Word to any test. He believes it, and that settles the question. One who needs a demonstration of the truth o f the Word of God is one who does not believe it, and such a one would not believe, though there should be a demonstration given (Mk. 15:32). Verses 5 to 7 show Christ tempted as Messiah, concerning the ways o f God, which He was tempted to ques tion. Here again faith needs no p roof; while it never presumes, it simply accepts. Verses 8 to 11 show Christ tempted as the Son o f man, concerning the will o f God. But the perfect Man could not be tempted by any desire for human glory. The first temptation was met by simple faith, the second by a refusal to seek for signs that would change faith to sight, and the third by a solemn refusal to com promise in the slightest degree. 3. The purpose. It was to prove to Satan, and hence to all the universe, the moral right and the sufficiency o f Jesus to assume and occupy the position of Prophet, Priest, and King, superseding all who went before Him. Jesus could not succumb to any tempta tion, but He could feel all the weight of every temptation that Satan can ever pre sent to any Christian.
JANUARY 14, 1934 BAPTISM AN D TEMPTATION OF JESUS M a t t h e w 3:1-17; 4:1-11
BLACKBOARD LESSON
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