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LESSON I.-JANUARY 1.
GOLDEN 1'EX'I'-In him was life : and he life was thc light or mCII.-John 1:4. :
1. "In the heglnnlng. " Before ho I ,
world \ was mudo ( John 17 : 5) ) . At the
beginning of created things the Word
"wus. " Already existed. "TheVord. . "
The Greelc Logos means "not only the
spoken word , hut the thought expressed -
pressed ) by the spoleen word ; It Is the
spoken word expressive of thought. "
It It "tho will of GIII manifested In
personal uellon. " hence here It refers '
fel's to "tho Son of God existing from
nil eternity , and manifested III space ) [
and lime In the person of Jesus
ChrIHt. " 110 Is the living expression )
or the nature , purposes ) , und will of
Gotl.-ProC. Plwnmer In Cambridge
Blhle. 'fho Word "denotes the person'
al revealer of God.-llIblical World.
'rho Word was with God. " 'fho
Greek preposition expresses not mere-
ly I being beside , hut a living union ullll
com 111\111 Ion ; Implying the active notion -
tion of Intercourse. 'rho divine Word
not only abode with the Father from
all eternity , but was In the living , ac-
tivo relation of communion with him. "
-\1. : n. Vlncenl.-"Tho Word was
God. " There Is only one God , and this
statement guards against the error
which the phrase "with God" might
suggest , that there Is more than ono.
In unfolding this main proposition
wo note : _
I. He Wus the Crelltor.-Vs. 2 , 3.
2. 'rho same was In the beginning. "
The relation was not new with the
corning of Christ. "Asic the sun Ir
ever It were without its beams. Asl
the fountain If ever It were without
its streams. So God was never without .
out his Son.-Arrowsmlth.
3. "All things were made by him. "
Through him. Creation was his work ,
his ,10pal'll1lcnl. "And without him. "
Apart from him. "Mado. " Brought
Into being. All creation was a revela-
tion of God and of his Son.
II. Ho Is the Source of Llfe.-V. 4.
Read. vs. 3 and 4 I as in margin of Am.
n. , "Without him was not anything ,
mado. That which hath been made ! .
was life In him. "In him was life. "
Compare the Genesis account of creation -
atlon , where the fIrst movement at
life in dead matter came from the
Spirit of God brooding upon the face
of the waters , the unorganized ma-
terial which thus became organized
through lICe.
III. Ho Was the Source of Light.
4. "And the life was the light of
men. " Compare Genesis , And God
said : ( Time Word ) "Lot there be
light , and there was light. "
5. "And the light shlneth In dark-
ness. " Sin is both death and dark-
ness. .0\5 life destroyz : death , so light
destroys darkness , moral darkness
arising from absence of moral life ,
and the darkness of Ignorance of those
things we most need to Imow. According -
cording to the Expositor's Greek
'lost. , "darlmess was the expression
naturally used by secular Greek writ-
ers to describe the world's condition.
Thus Lucian ( A. D. 120) 'Wo all seem
like those wandering In darlmess. '
Compare Lucretius ( B. C. 55) ) 'In what
darkness of lire , In how many dangers ,
this age Is passed. ' ' "And the darkness -
ness comprehended ( R. V. , "appre-
hended" ) It not. " Did not admit or
receive the light so that the darkness
would bo removed. This explains why
the light has not seemed to shine as
brightly as would bo expectoo from
such a light. The sun was shining
'with all its glory , but the clouds intercepted -
cepted it.
Practical Concluslon.-Tho Son of
God thus portrayed ) Is ! the only being
perfectly adapted to bo the Saviour or
the world , able to reveal the will or
God , and the Infinite heart of his love ;
with perfect knowledge of the Jaws or
creation , and the nature of man ; with
power to impart spiritual lICe and
light.
I. 1'he Witness Sent to Announce
Ills Advent on Earth.-Vs. 6.8. 6.
"There was ( came , appeared ) a man
sent from God. " "An historical appearance -
llea1'l\nce sent to fulfill a definite di-
vino" pUI'Jose.-ExpO } ! Greek
Test. How ho carne and was sent Is
described In Luke and Matthew. lIe
vms foretold In Mal. 3:1 : ; 4 : 5. John's
name expresses this fact , as It means
"tho grace (01' ( gracious girt ) of God. "
7. "Carne for It witness. " " 'rho
whole oC this gospel is a citing of wit-
nesses , but John comes first , and Is
of most hUlJOrtance.-ExJosltor's }
Greek 'resl. 'l'he word "witness" occurs .
curs Corty.seven times in this gospel. "
-We W. White.
How John Bore Witness. (1) ) By I
his testimony to a fact which hind '
been revealed to him by the Holy
Spirit ( John 1 : 33 , 3.1) ) . (2) ( ) Dy show-
ing from the Scriptures that Jesus
was the 1\1esslah. (3) ( ) Dy fulfilling the
prophecy that Elijah was to come before ,
Core the Messiah and prepare the way
before him. (4) ( ) Dy awakening the re-
lglous ! nature of men , and arousing
their spiritual activities , leading them
to feel their sins and needs , ho turned
their eyes to the light which would
help them. (5) ( lIe pointed out Jesus
to the people.
'l'hat all men through him might
believe. " This was his purpose , and
. he was , In fact , the means of the gen-
.oral belief In Jesus , which will finally
be universal.
8. "He was not that I ght" ( the
light ) . Said lest some should mistake
his great message of law , conviction
of sin , condemnation of wrong , to JO
the gospel of the Messl\h. !
II. How the True Light Could De
Known.-V. 9. "That was the true
Light. " True , not as opposed to false ,
but to the symbolical or imperfect ;
hence the real , the Ideal , the genuine
light , the light of the world. "Which
IIghteth every man. " The test of the
true religion is that it Is adapted to
all needs , all circumstances , all ages ,
all races , all degrees of inte1ligence.
"That cometh into the world. " In the
common version this is construed
with "every man. " In the R. V. , with
" "
"Light.
111. How the True Light Was Re-
coived.-VR. 1013. Rejected by Somo.
Four strong reasons are given why he
should be received.
First Reason. He was the light for
all men , needed by every one.
Second Reason. 10. "Ho was in
the world. " In all the last } ages , In
every manifestation of God , In the his-
tory of the chosen nation , but especial-
1) when he appeared as the man
Christ Jesus , the Savior of the world.
Thlnl Reason. "And the world was
made by him. " All they possessed or
enjoyed was his gift. They were his
creatures , made In his image made to
he like him In character and destiny ,
and under the deepest obligations : to
him.
"And ( yet ) the world ( the great
body of men ) knew him not. " Did not
recvgl1 R' him us their Saviour and
King , and as the Light of the world ,
Fourth Reason. II. "He came unto
his own. " Those in whom he had a
I
special ownership , his peculiar people ,
time Jews , whom he had created , whom '
ho had chosen from time rest of the
world , whom ho had trained and cared
for as his peculiar people , and who
were his brethren according' to the
flesh "And ( even ) his OWn received
. him not. " The nation , as a whole , did
not receive hIm as their promised
Messiah their King , their Redeemer.
They might to'day ho walking as
kings and princes , the central power
and glory of the world , had they only
-
received him. Compare the parable of
the wicked bUBIJllndmen ( Matt. 21 :
33.4.f ) .
Received by Others. 12. "Gavo he
power. " R. V. and Am. R. , "tho
right. " The original word combines
the two ideas , both the right and the
lower. } " ' 1'0 become the sons ( better
"children" with both Revs. ) of God. "
Sec Rom. 8 : 16 , , 17 , "the children and
heirs or God , " heirs of his character
his horne , his training his blessed-
neRS. "The last and highest realiza-
tion of this Ideal , a realization for the
present fathomless , lies only In the fu-
turo ummatlon.'Velss , Dlb.
Theology , fi 150. "Even to them that
believe on his name. "
"And the Word was made l"lesh. "
H. Became flesh , "human nature , as
. a whole , under the aspect of Its present -
I ont corporeal embodiment.-Exposl- ,
I tor's Greek Test. Through the Virgin I
Mary and the miraculous conception ,
the worth Hud fitting way in ! which
the Son of God should become flesh.
See Luke 1 : 26,38 ; l\Iatt. 1 : 18-25.
"And Dwelt among us. " "Taber-
nacled" among us , dwelt as In a ten ,
a8 the Shelcluah , the glory , the divine
Presence dwelt in the Tabernacle in
the wlldel'l1ess. 'rnbernacled" ex.
presses two thoughts : (1) ( That
Christ really dwelt among us , and did
not merely appear to some person , or
come in a vision , us in time previous
ages. (2) ( ) That his abode among us
In this form ws temporary , only a
few 'ears.
"And we. " John , the dIsciples , and
time people of Palestine , as the representatives .
slmtaUves of man. There were num-
berless witnesses. "lIis glor ' . " Not
the physical glory which shone from
God's presence in ! the tabernacle but
throe real glory which that glory foreshadowed .
shadowed and . . symbolized. "Glory as
. . .
of the only begotten of the Father. "
Glory worthy of the eternal Son who
was time express image of the Father.
Il was the glory of goodness , of wis-
dom , of love , of power controlled by
these qualities. When Moses saw time
glory of God , It was the goodness or
God that passed ueforJ him ( Ex. 33 :
18 , 19) ) .
"Full of Grace amid 1'ruth. " Overflowing .
flowing with , able to bestow them
without measme. "Grace" primarily
means that which gives joy ; the
beauty , loveliness , goodness , which
bring delight ; then kindness , favor ,
good-will. Honee the gifts and favors
which are the expression of good.will ,
and thence , still more fully , the free ,
lovIng bestowal oC this favor and
these good gifts upon those who do
not deserve them. "And truth. " "As
being the perfect revelation of God
the Father , combining in himself
and manifesting an divine reality ,
whether in the being , the law , or time
character of God. He embodies what
men ought to know and believe or
God : what they should do as children
of God , and what they should he.-M.
R. Vincent.
The Witness of John at the Public
Appearance of Jesus.-15. "John bare
witness. " By pointing him out to the
people ( Luke 3 : 15-18) ) ; to the rulers
( John 1 ; 19,27) ) ; to his disciples
( John 1 : 35 , 36) . "Cometh after me. "
Jesus entered upon his mission sev-
eral months later than John. "Is preferred -
I ferred ( is become ) before me. " Superior -
perior to me , in nature , In character ,
In worlt.
The Witness of Christians. 16.
John the apostle's words. "And ( for )
of , " as the source. "Have all we reo
celved " John , and all Christians.
The proof that Jesus is the Word , the
true light , is found In what ho does
for his disciples , the light and the life
and the grace ho produces in them , I
the fruits of the spirit ( Gal. 5 : 22 , 23) ) .
"And grace for grace. " Either (1) )
grace corresponding to each grace in
the Master" ; or (2) ) grace upon grace ,
cunmlatlve grace ( Beza ) .
Time Witness of the Message of
Jesus. 17. "For the law. " Moral and
coremonial. "But grace and truth , " as
described under Y. 14. These characterized -
terized the message at Jesus , and his
gospel at the kingdom of God. These
characteristics were the witness that
Jesus who brought them was the Son
at God.
.
ContInuous Performance.
Diggsby-Pocr old Meeker I I feel
sorry for him. After his first wife
died 110 married her dressmaker
Waggsby-Thought bo would get
: old of paying dressmaker bills , I supp
pose.
Dlggsby-Yes ; but the plan didn't
WOI'lt. Ho not only has lo pay them
j
hut they are larger than ever !
- -
,
Good Boy !
Lady in the Coach-I wish you
wouldn't smoleo in here. t
Gentleman with Clgar-I suppose ,
you dislike the smell of tobacco ?
Lady-I do decidedly.
Gentleman-H'm ! I thought you
were actuated by selfish motives in , . .
your objection to smoklng.-Boston
Transcript.
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1 Difficult Case.
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"You must avoid everything that .
. .
would excite or irritate 'ou. "
.
"An .thing else , doctor ? "
"And drink only water ! "
" 1m possible ! "
'Vhy ? " . '
'fhl\t would irritate me more'n - any
thing else ! " -Fliegende DIaetter.
Feminine Amenities
Visitor-Your governess seems very
good natured.
Lady of the House-Yes , poor thing ,
her father lost a lot of money , so 1 . . .
teak her as governess for the children.
Visitor-Poor , poor tbing. Isn't it
terrible how unfortunate some people r
are-London ! Punch.
When Greek Meets Greek
The Ouc-Suy , " wbat's your buss- li
ness ?
The Other-I'm a burglar ; wbat's
yours ? . .
The One-Samo line ; I'm a pick. 4
p clcet.
The Other-Good ! Come on ; Jet'R
take something.
Worried About the Future.
The Minister-My dear madam , let
this thought console you for your bu . . . . . .
band's death. Remember that other "
and better men than be have gone
the same way.
Bereaved Widow-Thoy haven't all
gone , have theyT-TIt-Bits.
Difference
Gunner-"So she has refused you :
on account of your poverty ? "
Guyer-"She has , indeed. "
Gunner-"Perhaps there ts another
'n1chmond In the field. ' '
Guyer-"No , there 1s another rich
man In the Held. "
His Ambition.
"How . (10 you like this social atmos ,
phere.t"1
" 'V ( > lI , " answered 1\11' Cumrox , after
some hesitation , "to tell you the hon.
est truth , I'd like to get back to a
town where the ladies recognize only
two kinds of society , sewing and lit-
ernry.-Washington Star , . .
.
Yes , Verily ! ,
H -A man usually treats a woman
right.
She-Yes ; but there are exceptions
to aU rules , you know.
lie-What's the exception to this
one ?
She-lIe someUmls marries her.
An Insinuation.
'fhe spiritual seance was In full
blast.
"The spirit at Deacon Skinner Is
present , " said the medium
"Hello , deacon , " exclaimed one at
his ex-neighhors , "It Is hot enough for . . . .
" .
you : ?