179
May, 1945
SUNDAY
Outline and Exposition B. B. S utcliffe - Points and Problems H omer A. K ent Golden Text Illustration A lan S. P earce Childrens Division , M ildred M. C ook Object-Lesson G ladys B owman , I llustrator
SCHOOL
LESSONS
LESSON FOR JUNE 3
Lesson material is based on outlines of International Sunday School Lessons, copyrighted by International Council of Religious Education; used by permission.
From Malachi to Jesus
and the right exaltation of God (vs. 16, 17). For these the Lord had a book of remembrance. The Lord never overlooks anything that places Him first in the hearts of the people. This little group came together from time to time and, instead of railing against conditions, they “thought upon His name.” There will come a day in which these faithful ones will be sig nally honored and become the Lord’s “ peculiar treasure,” which is the real meaning of “jewels.” II. T he C oming of J ohn the B aptist . (L k . T : 68 , 72 , 77 , 78 ) Zacharias, the father of John, was of the course of Abia. As he minis- terèd to the Lord it was revealed to him that the time had come for the fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy. The one who should appear “to prepare the way of the Lord” was none other than Zacharias’ own son. When John was born, Zacharias broke into the inspired hymn of praise in which the verses of this lesson are found. He spoke as though the thing were already done, giving thanks that the Lord had visited His people (v. 68). He declared that the coming of John was in fulfillment of the promises and in remembrance of God’s holy cov enant (v. 72). All was done “to give knowledge of salvation . . . by the remission of their sins,” and this “through the tender mercy of our God” (vs. 77, 78). Zacha rias recognized that it was all of grace. All the people had were their sins, bul through “the dayspring from on high” there Was grace sufficient to cover and pardon all—to lift these humble ones from their low estate into glad fellowship with their God.
LESSON MATERIAL: Malachi 3:1-3, 16, 17; Luke 1:68, 72, 77, 78; Galatians 4:4, 6. GOLDEN TEXT: " l ; am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). Outline and Exposition I. - T he T riple P rophecy (M al . 3 : 1 - 3 , 16 , 17 ) B EFORE the voice of God was si lenced for four hundred years, He gave His people this proph ecy of the coining of one who should prepare His way before Him (v. 1). Centuries before this the Lord had de clared a time would come when the warfare of His people would be ended, and their iniquity pardoned. He de clared that that glorious day would be ushered in by the appearance of this one who would make ready the way of the Lord (Isa-. 60:1-3). The failure of the priesthood necessitated the raising up of John the Baptist, himself of the priestly line, for this purpose. Following this prophecy concerning John the Baptist, came the promise Of the coming of the Messiah, the One whose way John should set in order (vs. 1-3). But until the priesthood was purged of iniquity there was no hope of the fulfillment of the promised blessings. While there was delight in the prospect of Messiah’s coming, there was no realization that He would have to come as a refiner’? fire “to purify the sons of Levi.” After such judgment they would “offer unto the Lord" ac ceptable sacrifices for themselves as well as for the people; then the time of promised glory would come. While the priesthood, and for the most part the people, were rebellious against their God, there was a small remnant who clung to the true worship
III. T he C oming of the M essiah (G al . 4 : 4 , 5 )
However long it may have seemed- to man before the fulfillment of the promise, nevertheless it came to pass in “the fulness of the time.” It was neither late nor early; it was God’s own time. He had Himself patiently waited for the “fulness of the Gen tiles” to come ip. When the time was ripe, “ God sent forth his Son” to fulfill the numerous promises gone before. The perfect hu manity .of Jesus is declared hero; He was “made of a woman” and “made under the law.” Such language would be meaningless—-mere tautology—un less indeed there was a virgin birth. Why say “made of a woman” when every other human being is also made' of a woman? The1particular reason for these words lies in the fact that it was a virgin birth by which Jesus came into this world. Moreover, as the law must be maintained, He came “under the law” that the law itself might be wholly vindicated. Thus God was set free to remain rightepus and at the same time to deal in grace with the guilty under the law. All this was done in order that be lievers might be redeemed from the curse of the law (Gal. 3:13), and “receive the adoption of sons.” By the coming of Jesus. Christ not only are guilty sinners redeemed from the curse, but the sons of fallen Adam may be transformed into the sons of God, by faith in Jesus Christ,
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