p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 13. (3/27/1901)

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL

INTERNATIONAL SERIES

LESSON 13.—MARCH 31.—REVIEW.

The lessons for the past quarter were all comprised in the last week of the life of Jesus before His crucifixion. They have been a very impressive and instructive series, and will repay a careful rehearsal. The subjects were as follows:—

LESSON 1.—Jesus Anointed at Bethany. Matthew 26: 6-16. Golden Text: “She hath done what she could.” Mark 14: 8. The ointment was very costly, and was a great sacrifice for one in Mary’s circumstances. The disciples said, “To what purpose is this waste?” Mark notes that Judas was the mouthpiece of this indignation. Of course it seemed a waste to one who was willing to sell his Master for less than one-third of the value of the ointment. But Jesus, altho He knew of the sacrifice, commended the service.

LESSON 2.—The Triumphal Entry. Matt. 21: 1-17. Golden Text: “Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.” Chapter 21: 9. Here was a fulfilment of Zech. 9: 9: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” He came on an ass, as the Prince of peace, and not on a horse, as a hero of war and display. The action of the people also accorded with the declaration of the prophecy. But the rulers rejected Him, and the faith of the multitude weakened when He did not further fulfil their expectations.

LESSON 3.—Greeks Seeking Jesus. John 12: 20-33. Golden Text: “We would see Jesus.” Verse 21. These persons were Greeks who had adopted the Jewish religion; they were known as proselytes. Philip and Andrew are the only Greek names among the apostles, and it is thought that they spoke Greek, and for this reason the Greek inquirers sought thru them an introduction to Jesus.

LESSON 4.—Christ Silences the Pharisees. Matt. 22: 34-46. Golden Text: “What think ye of Christ?” Verse 42. The chapter, of which the lesson scripture is a part, and which is necessarily included in the lesson title, shows how Jesus, while not seeking controversy, was always ready and able to answer those who sought to entrap Him in His words. So the Word says to us: “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” 1 Peter 3: 15.

LESSON 5.—Parable of the Ten Virgins. Matt. 25: 1-13. Golden Text: “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Verse 13. Watching does not mean being fretful, uncertain, or over-anxious. It means to be ready and alert, but patiently biding the Lord’s own time.

LESSON 6.—Parable of the Talents. Matt. 25: 14-30. Golden Text: “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Rom. 14: 12. The talents represent the powers and means God has given to His people with which to carry on His work. As these are well improved, others will be added. See also 1 Cor. 12: 4-11, and Eph. 4: 7-13.

LESSON 7.—The Lord’s Supper. Matt. 26: 17-30. Golden Text: “This do in remembrance of Me.” Luke 22: 19. While all Christian denominations observe in some way the Lord’s Supper, commemorating His tragic death, nearly all of them ignore the ordinance of feet washing, instituted on the same occasion, which was designed to commemorate His humility of life. So, as a rule, we find men more ready to die for Christ than they are to live for Him. The injunction to observe the one ordinance, is just as plain and positive as is the command to observe the other. See John 13: 3, 17.

LESSON 8.—Jesus in Gethsemane. Matt. 26: 36-46. Golden Text: “Not My will, but Thine, be done.” Luke 22: 42. A notable example is here given of asking the co-operation of the brethren when seeking the help of God in a trying emergency: “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; tarry ye here, and watch with Me.” And how their failure saddened His already overburdened heart: “What, could ye not watch with Me one hour?” And they so much needed that co-operation for themselves: “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” And so it proved, for in a very short time “they all forsook Him and fled.”

LESSON 9.—Jesus Betrayed. John 18: 1-4. Golden Text: “The Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” Matt. 26: 45. Judas took advantage of the knowledge he had of the habit of Jesus of resorting to Gethsemane with His disciples. So Satan is using the wisdom he acquired in heaven in his endeavor to thwart all of God’s purpose in the plan of salvation. Yet the sacrifice of the life of Jesus was a freewill-offering; the officers could not have taken Him had He not voluntarily surrendered. But His time had come, and He was ready for the ordeal.

LESSON 10.—Jesus and Caiaphas. Matt. 26: 57-68. Golden Text: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Chapter 16: 16. In connection with the Sanhedrim, or grand council, at the house of Caiaphas, the high priest, there were also the scribes, who were learned in the literature of the church, and the elders, men chosen from the most influential laymen. “The priests were there, whose greed and selfishness Jesus had reproved; the elders, whose hypocrisy He had branded; the scribes, whose ignorance He had exposed.”—Farrar. Both Sadducees and Pharisees were represented, whose doctrines He had publicly condemned. Never was a more vindictive assembly called together.

LESSON 11.—Jesus and Pilate. Luke 23: 13-26. Golden Text: “I find no fault in this man.” Luke 23: 4. The Spirit of God dictated to the governor the true verdict—the Prisoner was innocent. But Pilate was a politician; he had not the courage of his conviction. By a vacillating course he grieved away the Spirit, and was left to the weakness of the flesh. Then he soon “saw that he could prevail nothing,” and not only yielded his own prerogative into the hands of the mob, but added the indignity of a cruel scourging upon the One whom he had pronounced innocent. Verily “the flesh is weak.”

LESSON 12.—Jesus Crucified and Buried. Golden Text: “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” 1 Cor. 15: 3. He was true to His mission to the last. He had come to seek and to save the lost. On the way to Calvary He reminded the weeping women of the sad calamity that was awaiting themselves and their children. For those who nailed Him to the cross He asked forgiveness of His Father in heaven. As He hung amid the railings of His persecutors, He pointed a fellow-sufferer to the eternal kingdom; and on the repentance of the dying thief, assurance was given of a place in paradise. When He cried, “It is finished!” there was nothing on His part left undone.

INTERNATIONAL SERIES

THE SABBATH SCHOOL

LESSON 1.—APRIL 6.—PREPARATION OF CHRIST FOR THE PRIESTHOOD.

[Note to the Student.—These lessons are not designed to be exhaustive, but suggestive. In references to the “Desire of Ages,” in the lessons, the subscription edition is referred to. Those who have only the trade edition will find the matter in chapters 1, 4, 27, 71, 77, 78; also read “Patriarchs and Prophets,” chapters 5 and 30. “Christ Our Advocate,” Bible Students’ Library No. 129 (Price 10 cents), and “Looking unto Jesus” (Price $1.00) will be found a great help. The SIGNS OF THE TIMES will have an article on the subject of each lesson this quarter by J. O. Corliss. Read these articles in connection with the study of the lesson. We have not space to print all the Scriptures. Let the student study them carefully from the Bible. Those printed are from the Revised Version.]

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

1. What was Christ’s original position?

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1, 2. (Phil. 2:5, 6, R.V.)

2. What great work did He perform?

“All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that hath been made.” John 1:3. (Col. 1:16, 17.)

3. To what extent did He humble Himself?

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only-begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.” John 1:14. (Phil. 2:7, 8; Heb. 2:9; Rom. 8:3; Gal. 4:4; 2 Cor. 5:21. “Desire of Ages,” pp. 49, 754, 755. )

4. What led the Father to give His Son for such a work?

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16. (Heb. 2:10; “Desire of Ages,” p. 49. )

5. How closely does Christ connect Himself with humanity?

“For both He that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one; for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, ‘I will declare Thy name unto My brethren, In the midst of the congregation will I sing Thy praise.’” Heb. 2:11, 12. (Eph. 2:13-16; “Desire of Ages,” pp. 25, 26.)

6. With what feelings did He enter upon His great work?

“Then said I, Lo, I am come; ‘In the roll of the Book it is written of Me; I delight to do Thy will, O My God; Yea, Thy law is within My heart. I have published righteousness in the great congregation; Lo, I will not refrain My lips, O Lord, Thou knowest. I have not hid Thy righteousness within My heart; I have declared Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation; I have not concealed Thy loving kindness and Thy truth from the great congregation.’” Ps. 40:7-10. ()

7. What was necessary before Christ could enter upon His priestly work?

“Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, He also Himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death He might bring to naught him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily not of angels doth He take hold, but He taketh hold of the seed of Abraham. Wherefore it behoved Him in all things to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted.” Heb. 2:14-18.

8. What must He learn before He could be a perfect high priest? By what means?

“Though He was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which He suffered; and having been made perfect, He became unto all them that obey Him the author of eternal salvation; named of God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.” Heb. 5:8-10.

9. Why was Jesus tempted in all points as we are?

“For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted.” Heb. 2:18. (Heb. 4:15; “Desire of Ages,” p. 22. )

10. How severe were His temptations?

“For consider Him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against themselves, that ye wax not weary, fainting in your souls. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” Heb. 12:3, 4. (Heb. 2:7, 8; Ps. 69:20.)

11. When did Christ have such an experience? Of what was it a pledge?

“And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat became as it were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground.” Luke 22:44. (“Desire of Ages,” p. 734. )

12. Why was Jesus treated so shamefully?

“But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” Isa. 53:5. ()

NOTES.

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By Editor

THAT is just what we give when we sell 125 back numbers of our Little Friend for 25 cents. Many are taking advantage of the offer, and supplying the little ones with excellent reading and lots of nice pictures.

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PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING COMPANY.

By T. A. Kilgore

The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Pacific Press Publishing Company, a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of California, will be held at the office of the company, corner of Twelfth and Castro Streets, in the city of Oakland, county of Alameda, State of California, on Monday, the 22d day of April, A.D. 1901, at 9:30 A.M., for the purpose of electing a board of seven directors, and transacting any other business that may properly come before the meeting. By order of C. H. Jones,

President of Pacific Press Publishing Company.

T. A. KILGORE,

Secretary of Pacific Press Publishing Company.

ANNUAL MEETING.

By E. A. Chapman

THE regular annual meeting of the Society of the Seventh-day Adventist Church of Oakland, Cal., will be held at the house of worship, corner Twelfth and Brush Streets, Wednesday evening, April 3, 1901, at 7:30 o’clock. A general attendance of resident members is desired. E. A. Chapman, Sec.

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What Uncle Sam Thinks of the Densmore and New Century

During the year 1899, the U. S. Department of Agriculture purchased 25 Densmores; the U. S. Department of Justice, 52 Densmores; the U. S. Interior Department, 71 Densmores; and the U. S. Weather Bureau purchased 50 New Centurys.

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That “Image.”

In the fourth century, a few years after the formal union of the nominal Christian Church with the Roman State, a church council at Laodicea decreed that the first day of the week was the Sabbath, and pronounced sentence of excommunication upon all who should continue to observe the seventh day. In 1892 the United States Supreme Court declared that “this is a Christian nation,” which, if it means anything, means a union of the nominal Christian Church with the State. Then the very next year the Senate declared that the first day of the week is the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and the lower house and the executive concurred. In the first instance it was the church that issued the Sabbath decree, after the union of Church and State, and in the second instance the State followed the union with a Sabbath decision. If this is not an image, where will we find one? It is an image made by decree of the State, and that is just what the prophecy of Rev. 13:11–17 indicates. The penalty upon dissenters has not yet been pronounced, but that part is not far in the future. The principle exists in every Sunday law, from the municipal ordinance to the State statute, and the forces are everywhere at work urging the crowning act by the general government. Those who are actively engaged in bringing about this consummation claim millions of adherents, and we do not doubt their claim. When they shall have accomplished their purpose, then will the prophecy be complete.

Our Schoolmaster

Read the article, “Our Schoolmaster.” The beginning was published last week.

Read Our Home Department

Read our Home Department this week. It is always good. It is especially good this week.

Address for Personal Communications

The address of C. H. Jones, M. C. Wilcox, and M. H. Brown will be, until April 23, Battle Creek, Mich., care Review and Herald. All personal communications should be sent to above address.

Communications to the Editor

By Editor

All communications for the editorial department of this paper should be addressed to Editor SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. All matter for the subscription or advertising departments should be addressed to those departments. The editor has nothing to do with the subscription list; he has not time. See page 15 for particulars. Personal communications are another matter.

Upcoming Article Series

By Editor

This week begins the series of articles by C. P. Bollman. Week after next will begin in our Home Department a series by Dr. Paulson, which will prove of great practical benefit to the reader and doer. Both of these series have been noticed before in detail. During the nine weeks these articles run, the paper will be only 25 cents. These articles are worth more than that, but they are far less than half of the good things.

A Wager on Conversion

The so-called “evangelist” in New York who has wagered $1,000 that in fifteen nights fifteen souls will be converted at his meetings is lacking in the sense of what conversion means, and of how it is obtained, else he would not go thru such a farce. People are wasting their time when they attend meetings conducted by a man who does not have any more of the realization of the sacred power of God that works in conversion than to wager upon it, as tho he were a jockey at a race-track.

The Case for Total Abstinence

There is an anti-treating society, which pledges its members “not to give or treat any one to intoxicating liquors, nor accept the same from others, cases of actual need in sickness excepted.” But this does not go nearly far enough. Treating is evil, but the man who drinks is the man who will treat, especially if he be of a generous nature. The only true thing to do is to totally abstain, to neither drink one’s self nor give it to others. The corresponding secretary is Rev. J. W. Hartpence, 2027 Franklin Street, Philadelphia, Pa.

Political Christianity

Political Christianity.—Roman Catholic organs are calling every tendency to Protestantism manifest in Catholic countries “political Christianity.” But is not Roman Catholicism “political”? It may not always be locally so, but are they not working for an earthly kingdom,—earthly rule? Are they not desirous of putting in power in all lands the man in the Vatican? Are they not working for the church instead of the individual? Surely no intelligent Roman Catholic will deny that Protestants are as good citizens, fathers, mothers, neighbors, as Catholics. If the Protestant faith makes as good a man here as does membership in the Roman Church, does it not promise as much for the hereafter? Is not the principle purely political to work for the larger institution and ignore the individual soul? In fact, has not the history of the Roman Church in all lands proved her to be political, at times intensely so? And it is sad that many Protestants are following the same path. But Christianity is not political. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.”

ARTICLES OF INTEREST.

By Editor

The following articles, the titles of which indicate the topics treated, the excellence of which is vouched for by all past articles from the same pen, have just been received from Mrs. E. G. White. They will be published in our General Department from now forward:—

Our Duty as Parents,

The Days of Noah,

The Days of the Son of Man,

Receiving to Impart,

The Divine Teacher,

Faithfulness in Service,

The Rejection of a Faithful Message,

The Moral Law,

God’s Purpose for Us,

The Foundation of All True Godliness,

Christ’s Prayer for Us,

Spiritual Growth,

What It Means to Be a Christian,

“The Trial of Your Faith,”

Our Guide-book,

“Be Ye Therefore Perfect,”

Trading on Our Lord’s Goods,

A Perfect Law.

We are sure that these articles will be greatly appreciated by our readers. They are a treasure-house of precious, practical instruction.

Despotism in the Philippines

In speaking on the Spooner Amendment, which gives such unlimited, unshackled power over the Philippines to the President, Senator Hoar called it a “despotism, the worst and most unchecked ever proposed on the face of the earth.” It was giving the Philippine Commission a power which, in the height of his glory, “the American people never would have trusted to George Washington.” He again declared: “You may talk about benevolent assimilation, or giving good government, or use all the other fine phrases that your ingenuity can invent, but your act is pure, simple, undiluted despotism.”

“In vain you call old notions fudge, And match your morals to your feeling; The Ten Commandments will not budge, And stealing will continue stealing.”

Editor's Temporary Absence

By Editor

For the next six weeks the editor of this paper expects to be in Battle Creek, Mich., and personal communications should be sent to him there. The paper will be left in the charge of Brethren A. O. Tait, W. N. Glenn, and C. M. Snow.

Important Issues

Important Issues.—If men could only be made to sense the meaning of the issues that are before the world to-day, they could not rest for a moment until they knew they were standing securely with the right. Prophecy makes it perfectly plain that the coming of Christ is right at hand—“even at the doors.” Prophecy makes it perfectly plain that God is now scanning the records of the “book of life” in order to gather out every name that is prepared and worthy to have a part in the first resurrection, and to live eternally with Christ, and the angels, and all the redeemed host. The Word of God makes it perfectly plain that every wicked thing shall come to an end, and that every one who shall persist in clinging to his wickedness will be destroyed when Christ lays off His work as Mediator and High Priest, and takes up His robes of kingly authority. It is an established fact that these momentous events are pending, and any one who wishes may know it for a positive surety. The evidence in favor of it is as clear and as susceptible of demonstration as the problems of mathematics. Why is it that more persons are not awake to these things? Let none of us in these solemnly, yet joyfully important times make the mistakes that are eternal.

True and Important

True and Important.—The following from a Christian Advocate editorial is of tremendous importance in these days. It is from an article on revivals:—

“Too often the efforts to save men are made as tho it would be a great favor to the church if they would consent to affiliate with it, and they are told that the church greatly needs the help of such as they. There is danger that such appeals will be impediments in the way of genuine conversion. A street-sweeper who comes to Christ because he needs Him, and to the church that it may help him to save his soul, is worth more to any church than a statesman who comes thinking that he is doing the church a favor.”

The unconverted rich man, popular man, politician, or what not, is as truly in need of Christ as the poorest unconverted bootblack. Neither will they ever get truly converted unless they come feeling that all of good—“sight, healing, riches of the mind”—are all to be found in Christ Jesus. God has not one gospel for the poor and another for the rich. Let men know it.

The New Trust

The new trust just forming, to be known as the American Steel Company, will be able to put bands of steel about every industry in America depending on that metal. It now looks as tho the capitalization of the trust at a billion dollars is but the beginning, and that it may possibly reach two billion. Its broad scope is designed to include everything into which steel enters, from the raw ore to the finished product, ranging from armor-plate down to corset steels, watch-springs, and needles.

A Cruel Practice Reviving.

A short time ago the shooting of live pigeons had, under strong public condemnation and sometimes enforcement of law, almost fallen into desuetude; but now, we are told by a daily which gives much space to sport, that “live-bird matches are organizing on a large scale.” But cruelty and brutality are a part of war’s legacies. When men glory in killing men, how can we expect them to care for the pigeons?

Delaware Passes Cigarette Ban

A bill to prevent both the manufacture and sale of cigarets in the State of Delaware has passed both branches of the Legislature, and it is reported that it will be signed by the governor.