ginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. 48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Sa-mar'i-tan, and hast a devil? 49 Je'sus answered, I have not a devil; but I honor my Father, and ye do dishonor me. 50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. 51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. 52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know thou hast a devil. A'bra-ham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. 53 Art thou greater than our father A'bra-ham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? 54 Je'sus answered, If I honor myself, my honor is nothing: it is my Father that honoreth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you but I know him, and keep his saying. 56 Your father A'bra-ham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen A'bra-ham? 58 Je'sus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before A'bra-ham was, I am. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. General Statement. After the events related in the last lesson, Jesus withdrew from the temple in Jerusalem to Bethany, on the Mount of Olives, a mile distant from the city, partly because his life would not be safe in the capital where he was surrounded by his enemies, partly because at Bethany lived a family of his most intimate friends, with whom he loved to dwell. On the next day he returned once more to the temple, and taught in its outer courts, part of the time in the Court of the Women, which was known as "the treasury," from the gift-boxes which hung upon its walls, and part of the time in the porches surrounding the Court of the Gentiles, His teachings at this time were not in the form of dircourses, but of conversations, in which he was continually interrupted Explanatory and Verse 31. Those Jews which believed on him. Rev. Ver., Those Jews which had believed him." These were Jews who believed the words which Jesus had spoken, and accepted him as Messiah of Israel, but did not believe on him in the full and deeper sense, as his disciples did. They believed with the head, but not with the heart. If ye continue in my word. "Abide in my word." They supposed that to acknowledge Jesus as the Christ was the only requisite for all the privileges of his kingdom. He told them that there was a wide difference between belief and discipleship. (1) There are many now who accept the Gospel as true, and Christ as the Saviour, without becoming true Christians. My disciples indeed, True discipleship consists not in the outward profession, but in the inward conformity to the will of Christ. 32. Ye shall know the truth. Only those who are in true communion with Christ as his disciples can take into their hearts and minds the truth which he reveals. The unrenewed heart and the unclarified mind cannot comprehend spiritual verities. The truth shall make you free. He who receives the word of Christ into his heart at once becomes free-free from the power of sin; free from the bondage of the world; free from the fear of death and the dread of the judgment. (2) The Gospel is the Emancipation Proclamation of the race. 33. They answered him. In our opinion, it was not the believing Jews who gave this answer, but the unbelievers who were present. We can hardly suppose that Christ would say to men who believed his words, "Ye seek to kill me (v. 37). We be Abraham's seed. All Jews are descendants of Abraham, and proud of their noble origin, as they have a right to be. When our ancestors were offering human sacrifices to hideous idols theirs were singing the psalms of David. Never in bondage. They were speaking of personal, not of national, liberty. The Jewish law forbade the permanent enslavement of a Jew. If sold, he was to go free at the year of release, which came once in seven years. Hence, they could say that as a race they were never in bondage. Even among the Gentiles, Jews were rarely found as slaves, for they were generally ransomed by their fellow Jews. (3) But many a man who boasts of his freedom is a slave. 34. Verily, verily. "Amen, amen;" words introducing a great and solemn utterance. Whosoever com. mitteth sin, not in a single, isolated instance of wrongdoing, but as the habit of his life. Is the servant. Rev. Ver., "bond servant," literally, slave. Every man who by his enemies, the unbelieving Pharisees. Yet such was the power of the truth as uttered by the Saviour that the conviction grew upon many hearts that he was indeed what he claimed to be, the Messiah, the Anointed One, whose coming their prophets had long foretold. To these Jews, who were ready to accept him, yet had not the deep faith of personal experience, Jesus was giving a few directions and precepts, when he was interrupted, as before, by the taunting remarks of his enemies. Turning at once upon them, he declared that they were not the children of Abraham, who saw his day, and rejoiced in the sight, but they were the children of Satan, the adversary of truth, and the first murderer. Practical Notes, leads a life of sin is a slave to sin's master. One man will say, "I can't help drinking; " another, “You must excuse my temper, I can't control it ;" another. "I can't keep from swearing." These men confess that they are slaves; and many more are conscious of slavery who will not confess it; and still others are slaves who do not know it. (4) Teacher, show your scholars that the Christian enjoys the only real liberty. The 35. The servant [Rev. Ver., bond-servant] abideth not. There is a reference here familiar to those who heard Christ's words to Ishmael, the child of the slavewoman, and Isaac, the son of Sarah. Gen. 21. slave is in the house, but it is not his place, while the son is there by right. (5) Those who are slaves of sin have no rights in the Father's home. But the Son abideth ever. The Rev. Ver. reads, more correctly, son "(without the capital), making this refer to sons in general, not especially to Christ as the Son of God. 36. If the Son. Here the capital S is correctly placed; the Son of God alone can give freedom to slaves in sin; for he has a power greater than that of the master that enslaved them. Shall make you free. Christ breaks every bond, and sets men free, from the penalty of sin by pardon, and from the power of sin by sanctification. 37. I know that ye are Abraham's seed. He knew wherein they were the children of Abraham, by natural birth, and not in their character. Ye seek to kill me. The very Redeemer whose coming Abraham foresaw they were now striving to murder; and in half a year afterward they nailed him to the cross. My word hath no place. The teachings of Jesus were received by the ear, but were not rightly interpreted in their hearts, and therefore did not influence the character. 38. I speak that which I have seen. The truths which Jesus gave to men were those which, as God, he saw with a clearer perception than that of the human mind. With my Father. God, with whom Christ was one. Ye do. As shown by their endeavoring to slay Jesus. Seen with your father. The devil, who is ever the enemy of God, of God's people, and of the truth. 44. Ye are of your father the devil. They showed the spirit of Satan, by their opposition to the truth and their murderous desires toward Christ. The lusts of your father. The lusts are the low and fleshly appetites. Ye will do. Literally, as in Rev. Ver., "Ye will to do." He was a murderer. Satan murdered the first Adam by his temptation, and now these Jews, in 186 SUNDAY-SCHOOL JOURNAL. Satan-like spirit, were striving to murder Christ, the second Adam. Abode not in the truth. This may refer to Satan's fall from heaven, though such a fact is nowhere stated in the Bible; but more likely it means that Satan has no friendship for the truth. (6) Then there is a devil, the father of evil, as God is the father of good. (7) Those who are children of Satan must share his home and destiny. 45,46, 47. Ye believe me not. They showed that they were spiritual children of Satan by the attitude of their mind toward to the truth which Christ revealed. Which of you convinceth? Rather, "convicteth me of sin?' as in Rev. Ver. His meaning in these two verses is, "Either I am speaking falsehood or truth. If I am speaking falsehood, show me the wrong; if I The question put am speaking truth, believe me." nearly twenty centuries ago still remains unanswered, for not one sin has ever been laid to Jesus Christ. He that is of God. He presses his logic home upon them: "If I speak the truth, and you do not accept my words, that fact shows that you are not of God, but are of Satan." (8) There are but two parties in the moral world. God's party and Satan's party; to which do you belong? 48. Then answered the Jews. Unable to meet him with argument, they answer with abuse. Thou art a Samaritan. This was a term of contempt among the Jews, who greatly hated and despised the Samaritans. Hast a devil. The word in the original is not the same with that in verse 44. Here it refers to an evil spirit, not to the evil spirit. 49, 50. Jesus answered. Notice Christ's calmness under insult. I honor my Father. His whole life glorified God, and, therefore, ought to have gained HOME READINGS. John 8. 31-38; 44-59. M. Jesus and Abraham. GOLDEN TEXT. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. John 8. 56. LESSON HYMN. S. M. How happy are our ears, Which kings and prophets waited for, Their Saviour and their God. TIME, PLACE, RULERS.-Same as in last lesson. CONNECTING LINKS.-This is another of those wonderful scenes in the temple when Jesus taught the nature of his ministry and declared his divinity, and thus added to the hostility of the Jewish rulers, and hastened the day of his death. He publicly declares God to be his Father, and claims his own eternity of existence. DOCTRINAL SUGGESTION-Eternal life. QUESTIONS FOR SENIOR STUDENTS. 1. Bond and Free, v. 31-36. What does the word "abide" mean? What two conditions does abiding in Christ's word bring? How did the hearers show that they were not yet abiding in his word? How did Christ show them that they were bond, and not free? What is the source of true freedom? 2. True and False, v. 37, 38, 44-50. Who does Christ allow to have been their ancestor in ver. 37? honor, and not dishonor, from men. Ye do dishonor me. In how many ways do people still dishonor Christ. I seek not mine own glory. He will leave his Father to judge between himself and those who dishonored 51, 52, 53. Keep my saying. That is, by obeying and fulfilling it. Never see death. As there is a spiritual life in communion with God, so there is a spiritual death in separation from God. Abraham is dead, Christ spoke of a spiritual death; they spoke of a physical. Art thou greater? Can you give to those who believe you more than was given to Abraham the friend of God, or to the prophets, his messengers? 54, 55. If I honor myself. "The claim which I make comes not from myself, but from my Father." Ye have not known him. Their works showed that they had no true conception of God, or of his character. I know him. How bold and calm was the conviction of the Nazerene that he came as the representative of God! 56, 57. Abraham rejoiced. This shows that Abraham and the other Old Testament saints and prophets enjoyed a far clearer view of the Gospel than some critics suppose. He saw it, and was glad. Perhaps at the time of the covenant, perhaps at the sacrifice of Isaac. Not yet fifty years old. He was then, according to the flesh, about thirty-three years of age. 58. Before Abraham was, I am. If we admit that Jesus spoke these words, we must admit that he declared himself to have been living before Abraham, and that he applied to himself the name, "I am," which was given by the Jews to God alone." Who does he say was their father in ver. 44? How does he charge it upon them? ver. 37, 38. What differences in character does this controversy display? 3. Living and Dead, v. 51-53. What law of life does Christ now lay down? Did the Jews understand what he meant ? In what way did they show their unbelief? What did their question, "Whom makest thou thyself?" imply? If only they who keep Christ's sayings are alive, what of those who do not keep them? How did he answer the question of ver. 53? 1. The worst master is sin: every sinner is a slave. There is only one real freedom. How are your hands bound? Are you put in chains? Get inside of Christ's word-there is freedom. 2. What a picture of sin! It is Christ's own picture. QUESTIONS FOR INTERMEDIATE SCHOLARS. What test of discipleship did Jesus give? 2. True and False, v. 37, 38, 44-50. What counter charge did the Jews bring? What was the difference between true and false chil- What promise is given to the obedient? How did Jesus assert his divinity? Teachings of the Lesson. Where are we taught in this lesson 1. That actions determine character? 3. That freedom from this bondage is the gift of QUESTIONS FOR YOUNGER SCHOLARS. What did Jesus promise those who believed in him? That they should know the truth. What truth? The truth about himself and God his Father. From what was the truth to free them? From the power of sin. What did they tell Jesus? That they were slaves to no man [slave of sin. How did he reply to them? Whosoever sins is the What did Christ come to be? Our deliverer from sin. Why did the Jews refuse to believe the words of Jesus? Because they did wrong, and did not want to do right. Why were they not the children of God? Because they refused to hear the words of God. Why did Christ call them the children of the devil? Because they had the spirit of the devil in their hearts. Whom did he say should never see death? All who kept his commandments. What was their reply? Art thou greater than our father Abraham, who died? What did Jesus answer? (Repeat the Golden Text.) What question did they then ask him? Hast thou seen Abraham ? Lam." How did Jesus reply? "Before Abraham was, I What did the Jews do? They took up stones to kill him. Why? Because he had declared himself equal with God. Words with Little People. I wonder if mother ever promised you any thing? You believed it, didn't you?" Believing, the Bible calls faith. You could see the present with your little mind's eye, even before it came, couldn't you? The very promise made you glad, did it not? God promised the Saviour to Abraham, he believed the promise, and although he died before Jesus came, by faith the Golden Text is true. THE LESSON CATECHISM. [For the entire school.] 1. What did Jesus say to the Jews who believed on him? "The truth shall make you free." 2. From what does the Gospel make men free? From the slavery of sin. 3. Who did Jesus say alone can give this freedom? The Son of God. 4. What did the Jews who heard Jesus say to him?" Art thou greater than our father Abraham ?" 5. What did Jesus say of Abraham in the Golden Text? "Your father," etc. 6. What did Jesus say of himself? "Before Abraham was, I am.” 4. In the house.... the son abideth. v. 35. "No more a servant, but a son." Gal. 4. 7. 5. Shall never see death. v. 51. "Believeth in me shall never die." John 11. 26. II. THE UNBELIEVER. 1. Committeth sin....servant of sin. v. 34. "His servants ye are whom ye obey." Rom. 6. 16. 2. Ye seek to kill me. v. 37. "The Jews sought to kill him." John 7. 1. 3. Ye do....seen with your father. v. 38. "Committeth sin is of the devil." 1 John 3. 8. 4. Ye believe me not. v. 45. 1. Which....convinceth me of sin? v. 46. "Who did no sin." 1 Pet. 2. 22. 2. I honor my Father. v. 49. "I and my Father are one." John 10. 30. 3. I seek not mine own glory. v. 50. "I receive not honor from men." John 5. 41. 4. My Father honoreth me. v. 54. "Father.... glorify thy Son." John 17. 1. 5. Abraham rejoiced to see my day. v. 56. "Having seen them afar off." Heb. 11. 13. 6. Before Abraham was, I am. v. 58. "He is before all things." Col. 1. 17. THOUGHTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 1. There are two classes of people, and only two, according to God's estimate: those who accept Christ, and those who reject him. It is very important for every person to decide to which of these two classes he belongs. v. 31. 2. Those who believe in Christ receive his word, know the truth, and have all that the truth brings to them; while those who reject Christ are in blindness, ignorance, and darkness. How utterly these Jews misapprehended spiritual truth, because they would not accept Christ, who is the truth. v. 32. 3. Those who believe have liberty, while those who believe not are in slavery. Compare the saint with the sinner-which enjoys the greater freedom? v. 33-36. 4. Those who believe are children of God; those who believe not are children of Satan. To the one there is a likeness to God; to the other a likeness in deed and character to their master. v. 37-44. 5. Those who believe honor God; those who believe not dishonor him in the person of his Son. v. 45-50. 6. Those who believe have eternal life; those who believe not have eternal death. v. 51. English Teacher's Notes. WE have been hearing in these lessons much about believing in Jesus. It is he that believes who shall never hunger; it is he that believes who shall 188 To-day the have in himself the Living Water. teacher has an opportunity of entering, with more minuteness than hitherto, into what actually constitutes true belief. To a child-like, hungry soul the matter is very simple; but there are many young people who are puzzled as to the nature of the faith required, because they have a certain kind of belief which they find, however, produces no such results as the Scripture speaks of. We continue to-day, as well as in the two following lessons, the narrative of things that happened during our Lord's visit to Jerusalem for the feast of tabernacles. He was teaching publicly in the temple, in the "treasury" (ver. 20), by which we may understand the court of the women, where the "treasury" or place for collecting alms and offerings was situated, and which was the place of general resort. The force of his words was so great that we are told "many believed on him." A similar thing is told us as the result of the wonderful things done on the occasion of his first public visit to Jerusalem, when he cleansed the temple. Chap. 2. 23. But as in the former instance, so to-day we shall find that this was A belief that bore no fruit. How do we know whether there is really life in a plant-that it has actually a root and is not merely a branch cut and stuck in the ground? There is only one way of knowing. Wait and see if it grows, if it produces flowers and fruit. If instead of this it withers and dies we discover that it had no real life. "I have trimmed the lamp," says the maid whose business it is to do so. But in spite of this the lamp goes out, thus proving that the trimming was not of the right kind, and that the needful oil had not been supplied. How, then, was the faith of these new professed disciples to be tested? "If ye continue in my word," says our Lord, " then are ye my disciples indeed;" and for such there is a blessing. "Ye know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Certain results will follow if the faith be right. But our Lord's words brought out at once the But there is something else. There is another ... continue in his word, and are his disciples indeed. But now look at the very opposite: a belief that 1. He acknowledged the claims of Jehovah. "Take now thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest," was the command to him, "and offer him for a burnt-offering." Could any thing more tremendous. have been demanded of man? But Abraham acknowledges the Lord's claim upon him. Not for a moment does he dispute it. Nor does he for a moment doubt the Lord's power to fulfill the of this strange command. And so he ascends promise made to him and to his seed, in spite the mount with Isaac, and there, in the person of his dear son, he beholds a willing victim laid on the altar. 2. He accepted the provision of Jehovah. The ram "caught in the thicket by its horns" is quickly laid on the altar in the place of Isaac, while he ou whom the destroying knife was just about to descend goesfree. And Abraham sees in symbol one taking the sinner's place and suffering the sinner's doom. And thus he beholds afar off the "day of Christ." "He saw it, and was glad." (I do not mean that this wonderful incident exhausts the meaning of our Lord's saying, but it holds the chief place in the history to which that saying refers, and the most important to set before the class.) The question for the class is: What kind of belief is yours? There is a belief like that of the Jews an assent to what is said about Christ. He is the Saviour-he died for men-"O, yes! We believe all that." Has he then suffered for your sins, and set you free from guilt and sin? Do you wish for this freedom? If not, what is Jesus to you! Again, he is the Lord. Yes, that is true. Then will you be guided by his word-by his will? If not, what is Christ to you? True faith gives up to Christ as the One whose right and authority are supreme. And true faith accepts Christ as a deliverer from actual guilt and actual bondage. And such faith brings joy, higher than that of Abraham. Berean Methods. Hints for the Teachers' Meeting and the Class. The Analytical and Biblical Outline suggests a good scheme for the teaching of this lesson, by making it group around four persons, and show what is taught concerning each.... First, there is the believer in Christ. 1. He believes-what is it to believe? 2. He abides in Christ's word (Revised Version, ver. 31), and knows the truth. How much men will endure for the sake of knowing the truth! For example: A geologist will climb mountains, and penetrate glaciers, and endure dangers for knowledge. 3. He has freedom. The only freedom is in willing obedience to just law; for example, the good citizen is free, the law-breaker lives in constant fear. 4. He has sonship, ver. 35. Show how different the position in the family of a servant and a son. 5. He has eternal life, ver. 51. Queen Elizabeth, when dying, would have given her kingdom for life; a man worth twelve millions said that he would give it all if he could live ten years longer; the believer has eternal life.... Secondly, there is the unbeliever. 1. He is a slave. 2. He is an enemy to his Saviour. See how bitter is the spirit of those who will not come to Christ! 3. He has Satan for his father, and he grows like him. Look at the very faces of wicked people, in a prison, or as they come out of a saloon-whom do they resemble ? 4. They have no affinity with God or with good, ver. 45. .... Thirdly, in our lesson is the devil-one whose existence is disbelieved by very many, so that it is all the more necessary to teach Bible truth concerning him. In verse 44 are four facts concerning Satan; illustrate them to the class.... Fourthly, we find the Saviour. Show from the latter part of the lesson: 1. His sinlessness, ver. 46. 2. His reverence for God, ver. 49. 3. His humility, ver. 50. 4. His honor, vers. 54, 56. 5. His eternity. 66 References. FREEMAN. Ver. 36: Freedom by the Son, 799. Ver. 44: Use of the term 'father," 1. Ver. 48: Jewish hatred of Samaritans, 800. Ver. 57: Period of maturity, 801. Songs from the Epworth Hymnal. 55. O little town of Bethlehem. 68. Majestic sweetness sits enthroned. 69. Tell me more about Jesus. 70. Thon dear Redeemer, dying Lamb. 102. The cleansing wave. 106. Come, said Jesus' sacred voice. 110. Blest are the hungry. 118. So near to the kingdom. 121. Who'll be the next? 124. The Gospel call. Primary and Intermediate. LESSON THOUGHT: Jesus, the Deliverer. Print in large letters on one side of the board, "Enemies." Tell very simply, and in few words, how Jesus came to the world to save people from sin, which makes misery here, and kills the soul hereafter. Tell that some people did not want to be saved from sin. They wanted to wear a yoke [draw one as you talk] and be servants of Satan. They did not really think they were his servants. Satan closed their eyes so that they could not see the yoke they were wearing, and when they heard Jesus say that he came to make them free they were very angry. They did not look kindly at Jesus. They did not speak kindly to him. They wanted him to go away so they would never see him again, and some even wanted to kill him! Who were these people? Were they Jesus' friends or his enemies? [Print "Jews" above "enemies."] Tell that this was a long time ago. Ask if Jesus has any enemies now? Who are they? Children will think at once of people who do wicked deeds that are seen and known. Take this opportunity to teach that it is not only the sin which is seen, but that which hides in the heart, that makes one a slave. Show that Satan's yoke seems very light at first, but grows heavier and heavier all the time. Lead to the thought that all who do not obey Jesus are his enemies. Show that it is just the same now as ever. We are like the Jews. There are only two classes in God's sight-the obedient and the disobedient. Rub out "Jews," and print "all who disobey." Then print friends on the other side of the board, and "all who obey" above. Print "Jesus" between, and let the. board read thus when complete: Tell that Jesus does for his friends what he cannot do. for his enemies; he breaks the yoke that Satan has put upon every soul, Erase the middle part of the yoke, and show that when a yoke is broken it falls off. Jesus. is the deliverer, because he makes the slave to sin free. Let children help to tell what they are free from when they love and obey Jesus-haughty tempers, self-will, etc. Who wants to become Jesus' friend to-day? Sing "Come to Jesus." EXPLANATION. This design is intended to teach that the sinner is a slave to sin. Bad habits bind us fast; it is only the Truth as revealed in Christ Jesus that can break the chains. The superintendent may interest theschool by asking scholars to name certain habits, such as intemperance, etc., that bind the sinner. DIRECTIONS. To draw the hand, sharpen a piece of chalk to a fine point; put the left hand flat against the board, and then trace it in outline with the chalk. Lesson Word-Pictures. It is a gathering in the temple, and Jesus there addresses the people. Listen, and you will hear Jesus. talking to them in his own earnest, commanding way. What does he say to these proud Jews, these children boasting that they are free, and Abraham is their father? Does he tell them that they are not free, but children of the devil? You see their countenances darken with anger. They lean forward to dart some fierce, wicked accusation at him. Hear them cry that he has a devil. Has he seen Abraham? Listen now as he says like a king, "Before Abraham was, I am." Like a king? Says it as would one whose father is very God. And his hearers-they turn from him in rage and horror. We seem to hear the cry, "Stone him, stone the blasphemer!" They turn away only to hunt up the stones that may be hurled at a defenseless man. They are ready to rush upon him, drive him, pound him, stonehim out of life, but-he is gone! They look, and he has vanished. |