124 LESSON HYMN. S. M. Hymnal, No. 309. How helpless nature lies, The heart unchanged can never rise Can aught but power divine To form the heart anew. O change these hearts of ours, Then shall our passions and our powers, TIME.-Same year as Lesson III, but later; probably a little after the first Passover in Christ's ministry. PLACE.-Jerusalem. RULERS.-Same as in Lesson II. CONNECTING LINKS.-Some time has passed; we know not how much. Jesus has begun to look over the field where he must labor. He has been at Capernaum, but not to stay long, for the Passover is at hand, and he goes to keep it at Jerusalem. Here he asserted his power as Messiah by cleansing the temple from those who made it a place for business. The act caused a great sensation among all classes, and it brought one ruler of the Jews to seek an interview stealthily with him. As you study the story fail not to catch the lesson it contains. DOCTRINAL SUGGESTION.-Regeneration. QUESTIONS FOR SENIOR STUDENTS. 1. Man's Great Need, v. 1-12. What was Nicodemus's honest belief concerning Jesus? What was the purpose of Nicodemus in addressing How did Jesus turn him back upon himself? Can you explain what Jesus meant ? What did Nicodemus's position as a ruler of the Jews make necessary as to his education? What did he probably know? What did he not know? 2. God's Great Gift, v. 13-18. What does ver. 13 imply as the source of the new birth? What does it imply as to man's power to obtain a new birth for himself? How was the new birth to be effected in life? Man could not supply his need. How did God do it? Why did God do it? Can you prove that Christ's life and death was a to- Practical Teachings. 1. Nicodemus knew the whole Jewish law, but he 2. There is not even a sight of the kingdom of God No man can. he might lift up men. Do you possess it? QUESTIONS FOR INTERMEDIATE SCHOLARS. 1. Man's Great Need, v. 1-12. What office did he hold? owledge Jesus to be? What reason did he give? What was Jesus' declaration to Nicodemus 2. God's Great Gift, v. 13-18. Who alone can testify of heavenly things? How has God shown his love? What commends this love to us? Rom. 5. 8 Teachings of the Lesson. 1. The measure of God's love to man 3. The safety of the believer? QUESTIONS FOR YOUNGER SCHO Who came by night to see Jesus? Nic Jewish teacher. For what reason? Because he believed was sent from God. What caused him to believe this? The min Jesus did. “Except a ma What did Jesus tell him? anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God. the Golden Text.) What did Nicodemus believe? That e should see the kingdom of God. What question did Nicodemus ask Jesus water and of the Spirit." To what does Jesus compare the birth of To the wind, that no man understands. What did God give the Israelites to save death? The brass serpent hung upon a p How were they saved? By looking up a pent. Whom did God give to save us from de only begotten Son, Jesus. When does he save us? believe on his name. When we look t What did Jesus tell Nicodemus? That h to give the world eternal life. Why did God give the world his only Son? he loved it. What did the world deserve? Punishm What did God offer it through Jesus? F and joy and peace. Words with Little People. With our natural hearts first we know we "a lot of naughty, sinful things. Aren't we feel sorry, ask to be forgiven, and try only to go on the same old way. What we God has promised to give, is— "A heart in every thought renewed, To have a new heart is to be "born again.) THE LESSON CATECHISM. [For the entire school.] 1. Where did Jesus go after his first mi Jerusalem. 2. Who came to see Jesus at Jerusalem Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 3. What did Jesus tell Nicodemus in t Text? "Ye must," etc. 4. What is it to be born again? To ha heart. 5. How may we have new hearts? By be Jesus Christ. 6. How did God show his love for men? his Son as their Saviour. ANALYTICAL AND BIBLICAL OUTLINE. What Christ Is and What He Brings. 1. A TEACHER BRINGING TRUTH. A Teacher come from God. v. 2. "I will raise them up a Prophet." Deut. 18. 18. "God....hath spoken unto us by his Son.", II. A WORKER BRINGING MIRACLES. These miracles that thou doest. v. 2. Miracles.... which God did by him." Acts 2. 22. "Who went about doing good." Acts 10. 38. III. A REVEALER BRINGING KNOWLEDGE. 1. Except a man be born again. v. 3. "In Christ he is a new creature." 2 Cor. 5. 17. 2. He cannot see the kingdom of God. v. 3. "The carnal mind is enmity against God." Rom. 8.7. IV. A SACRIFICE BRINGING Redemption. 1. Even so....Son of man....lifted up. v. 14. "Thus it behooved Christ to suffer." Luke 24. 46. 2. That whosoever believeth in him." v. 15. "He that believeth....shall be saved." Mark 16. 16. 3. Should not perish. v. 15. Look unto me, and be ye saved." Isa. 45. 22. V. THE SON of God BRINGING ETERNAL LIFE. 1. God so loved the world. v. 14. "God commendeth his love toward us." Rom. 5. 8. 2. Gave his only begotten Son, v. 16. "He that spared not his own Son." Rom. 8. 32. 3. Believeth....have everlasting life. v. 16. "He that believeth ... hath everlasting life." John 6. 47. THOUGHTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. The New Birth. 1. The new birth is a reality. Vers. 1-3. There is a change from nature to grace which is so absolute as to be "a new creation." 2 Cor. 5. 17, margin. We have seen such a change in men, making swearers reverent, liars truthful, dishonest men honest, and wicked men pure. 2. The new birth is a necessity. Vers. 3-6. People are carnal and sinful; they are at enmity with God; they must be changed before they can come into fellowship with God. A sinner would not be happy in heaven, just as a wicked man is uneasy among the good. 3. The new birth is a mystery. Vers. 7, 8. Just as we cannot see the wind, so we cannot see the process of being born anew in God's image. No philosopher can analyze, or explain, or comprehend it. The regenerate cannot tell the unregenerate what his new life is. Each must learn it for himself. 4. The new birth is an experience. Vers. 9-11. Every person who has passed from death unto life is conscious of it; knows that he has been converted, and enjoys the consciousness of its joys. 5. The new birth is given through Christ. Vers. 12-16. Only one who came down from heaven can give this new birth. The entire Gospel is based upon the fact that God gave his Son to die for us. Only through the eternal One can the eternal life be given. 6. The new birth requires faith. Vers. 15-18. The condition of our salvation is that we should believe in Christ, take him as our Saviour, and cast ourselves wholly and only up on him. English Teacher's Notes. Ir is the fashion in these days to "interview " men, and women too, who have, either by their talents or by the circumstances in which they have been placed, achieved a notoriety, and become objects of interest, for the hour at least, to the newspaperreading world. The utterances elicited from these persons by the "special correspondent" who undertakes the task are reproduced for the benefit of the public; so that, sitting by the fireside, we may hear the opinions, the predictions, the comments. on passing events of statesmen and politicians, the ideas and experiences of travelers, actors, poets,. painters, and many others. Or, at least, we hear somuch as they choose to give of them, supposing they speak with sincerity. Now in the passage for to-day we have the account of an interview, between a well-known man, of standing and consideration among his countrymen, and a person who had just come into public notice. On this occasion the interview was sought, not for the benefit of the public generally, but for the private satisfaction of the interviewer; but the record of it has been preserved for our use, because it most closely concerns us all. Jerusalem had just been startled by a very remarkable occurrence. It was the feast of the passover, and the city was, as usual, thronged with guests from all parts. The outer court of the temple had been, year after year, on this occasion filled with buyers and sellers and money-changers, and sheep and oxen for the sacrifices, making a scene of bustle and confusion very unfitting in the place set apart for the worship of God. Suddenly an obscure peasant from Galilee appeared in the midst of the noisy assembly, and, with authority which none dared at the moment to question, su:nmarily drove out the profaners of the temple, speaking of it as his "Father's house." Thus he who had shown forth his glory at the wedding feast at Cana manifested it in Jerusalem. So remarkable an incident, agreeing, as it did, with the prophecy of Malachi about the Lord coming to his temple (Mal. 3. 2), attracted general attention. The chief men among the Jews gathered around this strange unknown Galilean, to question him upon the matter, asking for a sign that he had the right to do what he had just effected. The sign given in answer to this request was one which awaited a future fulfillment, but other signs were given, unasked, which convinced some that this must be the expected Messiah and brought them, no doubt, to seek further infor mation from him. We find, however, that such information was not given; "Jesus did not commit himself unto them" generally. He saw, no doubt, a mere mental assent to his claims, without the heart being touched. But there was one with whom it was dif Concerning the mind and acts of God. 1. What was God's mind toward the world? cannot be a matter of indifference to us how God is minded toward men. To one who is wholly dependent upon the will and the providence of another, the favor or the wrath of that other must be of the utmost consequence. So we read in the Psalms: "In his favor is life;" "By thy wrath are we troubled." Psa. 30. 5; 90. 7. And we must put the case even stronger. Imagine a captured rebel, whose life depends on the clemency of his sovereign. How that sovereign is affected toward him must be When Louis a matter of the deepest concern. Riel's life hung in the balance, with what anxiety and eagerness must he have looked for a declaration of the mind of the government toward him! The announcement made to Nicodemus was clear and decided. "God loved the world"; more-"God so loved the world" - the guilty, helpless world of sinners" that he gave his only begotten Son," to save these sinners. Thus, in one breath, we learn, not only the mind of God toward the world, but, 2. What God had done for the world. It is pleasant to know that we are loved; that there is a heart that cares for us; but the helpless, the needy, the perishing, want more than that. They want actual help, and they want it speedily. Said a peasant in the south of France when the French Revolution was on the eve of breaking out: "1 hear that somewhere something is to be done for the people; may they do it speedily, for our need is sore!" Now God has done what is needed for our relief. In his eternal counsels he had done it ages before the announcement was made to Nicodemus. In actual fact it was being done then, for the "Only begotten Son" had been "sent," and had come. And in actual fact it is finished now. Concerning the kingdom. These guilty, helpless sinners whom God loved were to be gathered together to form a glorious kingdom unto him. A "kingdom" was what the Jews were looking for, and probably it was this that Nicodemus wanted to hear about. And he was startled to hear two things about it. (1) Those who entered it Concerning the way of salvation. born again"-"born of the Spirit" b How does the Holy Ghost effect this wonde creation? The old story of the "serpen comes the "Son of Man," and is "lifted wilderness" makes it plain. The Son of the cross for a lost world. Whoever "beheld pent of brass" (Num. 21. 9) lived. Whoever Christ crucified, as he is revealed by the Hol his Saviour. Thus he is "born of the Spi recognizes his own sinfulness and accepts comes a new creature, a " Son of God" (cha tion concerning the way of salvation, and h he lives; he is saved. This is Christ's own no other way. This is the one requisite for wrath and entering the kingdom. The subject is too full to be treated thoro so small a space, but I trust that what I h to press home the great authorative declaratio gested, by way of introduction, may assist the born again." Lord, the lesson of the Golden Text, "Ye Berean Methods. Hints for the Teachers' Meeting and the Begin with the last lesson, and name in ord tervening events (for which see General Sta 1. Visit to Capernaum. 2. The first passove Saviour's ministry at Jerusalem. 3. Cleansing ple. 4. This interview with Nicodemus. The, of Jesus might be shown on the map.... Nic who he was, rank, character. after history, etc. are two lines of thought in this lesson. One is the Thoughts for Young People, "The New Let the verses under each topic be read, and t made plain and illustrated....Another treatm sists in making Christ as the center of the t "Who he is, and what he brings," as shown in alytical and Biblical Outline. Under each h Read the verses, and especially the references. Songs from the Epworth Hymnal. 122. To Jesus I will go. Lesson Word-Pictures. the guest-chamber, or down in the leafy court near the musically splashing fountain, or up on the house-roof watching the far-off stars set like shore-lights along deep, bottomless seas of azure. Hark! A step is heard. Some one seeks the presence of Jesus. It is Nicodemus, the Jewish ruler, and he bows before the wonderful Teacher. As they sit there in the shadows, you hear the earnest tones of their conversation. "How can a man be born again?" Nicodemus is asking. As Christ speaks of the Spirit you almost expect to hear the mysterious whirr of that wind blowing" where it listeth." And then as that talk by night goes on you look afar and behold a rough, weary land. Fiery serpents dart among a rebellious people, and they writhe in agony. Suddenly, up, up, rises a pole bearing a serpent of brass, and O what release from pain comes to these who turn helpless eyes of appeal toward it! That was a look into the past as Jesus talked with Nicodemus, He still speaks, and now there is a glance into the future when amid darkness and disgrace the Son of God lifted on a cross, bows his tired head and dies for those who look to him with faith in the mercy of God. The diagram illustrates so plain a teaching of the lesson that it needs no explanation. A review may be made on the other side of the board. First, write "THE SEEKER," and in answer to questions the following: Nie. Ru. at Ni. Then write "THE WAY." Ye MUST B. A. of W. and S. "THE MESSAGE." Loved. God Gave. Whosoever. Ev. Life. These catch-words and letters are to be written as the answers are made by the school in response to questions from the desk. Primary and Intermediate. God LESSON THOUGHT. The New Heart. Print "Nicodemus, Ruler of the Jews, Pharisee," on the board. Explain that Nicodemas was a man of learning and high position, or he could not have been a ruler of the Jews. Tell that most of the Pharisees were proud, and thought themselves too good to need a Saviour; so they did not want Jesus, and would not listen to him. Nicodemus was not like these. He had heard of the mirarles Jesus worked, and thought he must be a man sent by God, so he wanted to talk with him. He did not know that Jesus could see right into his heart. Impress the thought that all hearts are alike, and that just what Nicodemns needed a little child needs-a new, clean heart. Call for Golden Text, and teach that Jesus says that to each one of us. The Old Heart. Tell that Nicodemus did not know what Jesus meant by being born again. He was trying to do right and please God, but often finding that he wanted to do wrong. That is the way with the old heart. It wants its own way. A little girl once said to her mother, "I know I could do right all the time if I pleased. I will show you that I can be good all my own self for a whole week." Her mother said, "Very well." Before the week was over the little girl came to her mother and said, "Mamma, I see I can't do right with my old heart. I must have a new one." The old heart loves sin. Jesus looked into the heart of Nicodemus and saw that it was a proud, self-loving heart, full of sin. He looks into our hearts. What does he see there? JESUS + The New Heart. Teach that Nicodemus did the wise and right thing to come to Jesus to inquire about these things. Jesus sends his Holy Spirit into the heart that asks, and some way-we do not know howthe Holy Spirit makes the heart new and clean, so that it no longer loves sin. Talk about light, what it is good for, etc.. and teach that the Spirit is a light to show sin, and also to show Jesus the Saviour from sin. Read verse 16 slowly, letting class repeat it clause by clause, and tell the story of the Israelites who were cured by looking at the brazen serpent. Show the cross, and teach that sin will kill us if we are not cured. God tells us to look at Jesus, lifted up on the cross, to show God's love for the world, and we shall be cured. If we look at Jesus we shall want to be like him, and so we shall be glad to let our sins go, and have the new heart that loves to please Jesus. Teach, "Create in me a clean heart, O God?" LESSONS FOR MAY, 1886. MAY 2. Jesus at the Well. John 4. 5-26. MAY 9. Sowing and Reaping. John 4. 27-42. MAY 16. The Nobleman's Son. John 4. 43-54. MAY 23. Jesus at Bethesda. John 5. 5-18. MAY 30. Jesus Feeding Five Thousand. John 6. 1-21. Book Notices. Social Studies in England. By Sarah K. Bolton. Boston: D. Lothrop & Co. The "Social Studies" in this volume are limited to the opportunities afforded to English women for higher education and for remunerative employment. The book is filled with facts of the most interesting and important character, and will be found of great value to all who are interested in the questions discussed. An Aid to English Grammar. By Asher Starkweather, A.B. Syracuse, N. Y.: C. W. Bardeen. This book is prepared not for the use of the scholar, but of the teacher. It presents in alphabetical order the principal words in the language, shows how one word in various uses may be either a noun, an adjective, or a verb, and gives sentences illustrative of each use. Epochs of Ancient History: The Spartan and Theban Supremacies. By Charles Sankey, M.A. Epochs of Modern History: The Early Hanoverians. By Edward E. Morris. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. In this age the reading public prefers a series of small books, each on one topic, to an elaborate work on the general subject. The plan has its advantages of convenience in handling, of thoroughness in treatment, and of variety in style. We know of no better course of historical hand-books than the two Epoch Series, ancient and modern, to which these compact and well-written books belong. want to describe or judge any period of b Lost Maggie; or, A Basket of Roses. By chester. New York: Robert Carter & E short story of a lost child who brought a poor home in London. The Diacritical Speller. By C. R. Bales N. Y.: C. W. Bardeen. A new spelling-bo is hoped may make the road to learning les thorny. LESSONS FOR 18 Apr. 4. The Word Made Flesh. 20. JESUS AND ABRAHAM.. |