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April 3,
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON, APRIL 7
JESUS SETS MEN FREE
Lesson Text,Mark 7:1-37
Revision)
By John H. Strong, Baltimore, Md.
1 And there are gathered together unto
Him the Pharisees and certain of the
scribes, who had come from Jerusalem,
2 and had seen that some of his disciples
at their bread with defiled, that is, un
washed, hands. 3 (For the Pharisees,
and ail the Jews, except they wash their
hands diligently, eat not, holding the
tradition of the elders; 4 and when they
come from the marketplace, except they
bathe themselves, they eat not; and many
other things there are, which they have
received to hold, washings of cups, and
pots, and brassen vessels.) 5 And the
Pharisees and the scribes ask him, Why
walk not thy disciples according to the
tradition of the elders, but eat their
bread with defiled hands? 6 And he said
unto them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of
you hypocrites, as it is written,
This people honoreth me with their lips,
But their heart is far from me.
7 But in vain do they worship me.
Teaching as their doctrines the pre
cepts of men.
8 Ye leave the commandment of God
and hold fast the tradition of men. 9
And he said unto them. Full well do ye
reject the commandment of God, that ye
may keep your tradition. 10 For Moses
said, Honor thy father and thy mother;
and. He that speaketh evil of father or
mother, let him die the death; 11 but ye
Bay, If a man shall say to his father or
his mother, That wherewith thou might
est have been profited by me is Corban,
that is to say, ‘Given to God; 12 ye no
lodger suffer him to do aught- for his
father or his mother; 13 making void
the word of God by your tradition, which
ye have delivered; and many such like
things ye do. 14 And he called to him
the multitude again, and said unto them.
Hear me all of you, and understand: 15
there is nothing from without the man.
that going into him cannot defile him; but
tlie things which proceed out of the man
are those that defile the man. 17 And
when he was entered into the house from
the multitude, his disciples asked him
the parable. 18 and he saith unto them,
Are ye so without understanding also?
Perceive ye not,, that whatsoever from
without goeth into the man, it cannot
defile him; 19 because it goeth not into
his heart, but into his belly and goeth
out’into the draught? This he said, mak
ing all meats clean. 20 And he said, That
which proceedeth out of the man. that
deflieth the man. 21 For from within,
out of the heart of men, evil thoughts
proceed, fornications, thefts, murders,
adulteries, 22 covetings, wickednesses, de
ceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, railing,
pride, foolishness; 23 all these evil things
proceed from within, and defile the man.
24. And from thence he arose, and wnt
away into the borders of Tyre and Sidon.
And he entered into a house, and would
have no man know it; and he could not
be hid. 25 But straightway a woman,
whose little daughter had an unclean
spirit, having heard of him, came ani
fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman
was a Greek, a Syrophoenlcian by race.
And she besought hiip that he would
cast forth the demon out of her daugh
ter. 27 and h said unto her. Let the
children first be filled; for it is not meet
to take the child’s bread and cast it
to the dogs. 28 But she answered and
said unto him, Ye, Lord; even the dogs
under the table eat of the children’s
crumbs. 29 And he said unto her, For
this saying go thy way; the demon is
gone out of thy daughter. 30 And she
went away unto her house, and found
the child laid upon the bed, and the
demon gone out.
31 And again he went out from the
borders of Tyre, and came through Sidon
unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst
of the borders of Decapolis. 32 And
they bring unto him one that was deaf,
and had an impediment in his speech;
and they beseech him to lay his hand
upon him. 33 And he took him aside
from the multitude privately, and put his
fingers into his ears, and he spat, and
touched his tongue; 34 and looking up to
heaven he sighed, and saith unto him.
Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 35 And
his ears were opened, and the bond of
his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
3G And he charged them that they should
tell no man: but the more he charged
them, so much the more a great deal they
published it. And they were beyond
measure astonished, saying. He hath done
all things well; he maketh Qven the deaf
to hear, and the dumb to speak.
Our lesson this week presents to us
Jesus as the Emancipator. It shows him
engaged in the work of setting men free.
It illustrates and confirms his promise,
“If therefore the Son shall make you
free, ye shall be free indeed"' (John 8:36).
1. Jesus Frees Men From the Bondage
of Trifles (vss. 1-23).
In this case it was a matter of wash
ings, of ablutions. There was a very
strict custom among the Jews of wash
ing before and after meals; and the dis
ciples of Jesus, through hunger or In
advertence; had sat down and eaten a
meal without first washing their hands.
So the Pharisees, who were the severe
and punctilious exponents of propriety in
all such matters, leveled the machine
gun of criticism against Jesus for vio
lating sacred custom and doing hs best
tb.lead the nation astray.
But Jesus always went back of cus
tom. He always pierced through to prin
ciples. He told his critics that their
wonderful etiquette was not important, as
they supposed it was, for it was not of
divine origin at all, but human (vs. 7).
There was no real reverence for God in
all these washings. Their conduct In
other matters proved that, —their treat
ment of parents, for example, whom in
the face of the fifth commandment they
could rob of the necessary provision of
old age under cover of this same “tradi
tion” of theirs (vss. 10-18). The only
thing that really counted, Jesus finally
said, was not externals but internals;
not water applied to a man’s outside, but
the thoughts and feelings and purposes
that fill his heart and overflow from it.
If there is any contamination to be
feared, if there is any defilement, it is
there.
We wonder at men who could be so
Interested in washing their hands. But
liave we not been interested in trifles?
And is it not one of the blessings of this.
TRENCH AND CAMF
terrible war that we are turning from
trifles to see once more the big things
which we have forgotten in America so
long?
2. Jesus Sets Men Free From the Bond
age of Race Prejudice (vss. 24-30)..
We are now far north with Jesus in
the neighborhood of ancient Tyre. Jesus
is trying to escape the crowds in order
to teach his disciples, He casts out a
demon; but that is not tho main point.
It is the instruction of these men. They
were still narrow' Jews. To them this
Greek woman, this Syrophoenician, was
a heathen, an outcast, a “dog.” As she
falls at his feet, moaning out her plea
for her child, Jesus, wonderful teacher
that he was, impersonates the hateful
narrowness of his own people. “It is
not fit to feed dogs with the children's
bread,” he says. But what happens then?
Her faith leaps forth. She admits the
first claim of tho children, but pleads
that a crumb to a heathen w’ill not rob
them of their bread. She falls in humbly
with the plan of God to bless first his
own people, but presses with the per
sistence of mother-love her great need.
But faith, trust like hers, In the taw and
essence of the new Kingdom; and this
woman by its possession proves that she
is no heathen “dog” but a child of the
promise, already therein. Jesus delivers
the child, and thereby begins the greater
deliverance of his disciples from race
hatred and race-pride.
What is this we hear from across the
water about the Prussian, the German,
being a “chosen race?” What is it we
sometimes hear about the Anglo-Saxon
being intended to dominate the earth?
That is not Christianity. Has a people
the capacity to rise into the life of God?
Then it has God’s own future before it.
Who knows what the yellow races may
yet become? Race is nothing. Faith,
linking a race or a man to God, is ev
erything.
3. Jesus Sets Men Free From the Bond
age of Physical Infirmity (vss. 31-37).
Jesus and his disciples are on their
return trip to Capernaum. A deaf and
dumb man is brought, and he is asked
to lay his hands upon him. We just saw
Jesus healing at a distance and without
the use of means; but when sick folk
were before him. he commonly laid his
hands on them, and later his disciples did
the same (Mark 16:18; Acts 9:17). Jesus
took the man apart. How indifferent he
was to popularity! How conscious of the
dangers of the crowd! He touched the
ears, spat, touched the tongue, and ut
tered wqyds borne to heaven with a sigh.
A sigh! It was the token of a price
paid, a load resting hard on him - who
bears our sins and sicknesses faithfully
and long before he extinguishes them at
last. The man’s lost senses were re
stored. He heard and spake plain. As
tonishment broke forth, and a simple,
sweet, unaffected comment was heard:
“He hath done all things well.”
SECRETARY, BUILDING AND
MONEY ORDER INCREASE
The number of secretaries has in
creased nearly 200 in two months, with
674 in the camps of the Southeastern
Department on March Ist. During the
two months of the new year the number
of Red Triangle buildings has been in
creased from 105 on December 31st 1917
to 174 on March Ist, 1978, including'build
ings owned by the government but op
erated by the Y. M. C. A.
The Increase in sales of money orders
in the department was over $125,000 last
v oX lr h ' T !? e ,“ Thrift Campaign” of the
Y. M. C. A. in the camps has much to
do with the men sending home more
money; $431,011.81. February; $305,373 71
January; and $201,820, December, 1917.
WHAT A BOND PURCHASE
DOESFOR A SOLDIER
The following figures give one a
definite idea of what his or her loan
to the government by the purchase of
Liberty Bonds will accomplish when
used by the war department.
One SSO bond will buy trench knives
for a Tifle company, or 23 hand gre
nades, or 14 rifle grenades, or 37 cases
of surgical instruments for enlisted
men’s belts, or 10 cases of surgical
instruments for officers’ belts.
A SIOO bond will clothe a soldier, or
feed a soldier for eight months, or pur
chase 5 rifles or 30 rifle grenades, or
43 hand grenades, or 25 pounds of
ether, or 145 hot water bags, or 2,000
surgical needles.
A SIOO and a SSO bond will clothe
and equip an infantry soldier for ser
vice ovearseas, or feed a soldier for a
year.
Two SIOO bonds will purchase a horse
or mule for cavalry, artillery or other
service.
Three SIOO bonds will clothe a sol
dier and feed him for one year in
France, or buy a motorcycle for a ma
chine gun company.
Four SIOO bonds will buy an X-ray
outfit.
One SSOO bond will supply bicycles
for headquarters company, of an in
fantry regiment.
JITNEY DRIVERS
TRY SHORT STRIKE
The jitney drivers of Augusta went on
a strike one day last- week in protest
against the military police regulation that
they must keep off the Wrightsboro road
when approaching camp. The strike was
short-lived, however, and the jitneys were
soon hauling soldiers to and from the
camp as usual.
Congregating on the 800 block of Broad
street, the jitney drivers created quite
a bit of attention. Practically every jit
ney in Augusta was parked along the
curbing on boh sides of the street while
the drivers assembled and voiced their
protests.
FACTS ABOUT VOLOGDA, RUSSIA, NOW
LOCATION OF U. S. EMBASSY
Washington, D. C.—The National Geo
graphic Society’s war geography bulletin,
issued from its Washington headquarters,
gives the following Information concern
ing Vologda, the Russian provincial city
to which Ambassador Francis and the
members of his staff went when they
were forced to leave Petrograd:
“With a population of 40,000, the city
of Vologda, which was founded nearly
800 years ago, is the capital of the gov
ernment or province of Vologda, a vast
district having an area equal to that of
New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
Maryland and Virginia combined, but
with a population of only a million and
a half, less than 60,000 of whom live in
towns.
“Situated 371 miles by rail east of Pe
trograd and 289 miles northeast of Mos
cow, Vologda at the outbreak of the war
had some commercial importance, en
joying a trade in flax, hemp, linseed, oats,
butter, eggs, hides, tallow and candles,
but its prosperity w r as in no degree com
mensurate with its thriving industry dur
ing the 16th century when it was the
chief base of supplies for the White Sea
port of Archangel when the latter carried
on a brisk trade with England and Hol
land. With the founding of St. Peters-
PROHIBITION PROGRESS IN
CANADA
Northern Neighbor Practically
4 ‘Bone Dry.” Strict Laws and
Severe Penalties.
Most of us have been so busy keep
ing track of the on-rushing prohibition
movement in our own country, that we
had almost lost sight of its progress
in our northern neighbor, Canada. And,
yet, this very week practically all of
Canada becomes “bone dry”; that is to
say, all except Montreal and a few
municipalities in the Province of
Quebec.
The new regulations went into ef
fect throughout Canada on Monday last
and they are most sweeping. As for
instance:
Regarding Shipment of Liquor.
Shipment of liquor containing more
than 2 1-2 per cent of proof spirits
into provinces which have passed pro
hibitory laws and municipalities which
have adopted local option will be illegal
under the order-in-council passed by
the federal government under the war
measures act.
Manufacturers Included in Drought Law
Manufacture of liquor, too, will bo
stopped on that date, except tuat ur On
tario the making of native wine and in
Quebec the brewing of beer, now permit
ted by the provincial governments, will
be allowed to continue until the end of
the year. After December 31st next,
however, the drought will be noticeable
even in the City of Montreal and in
Quebec province. The Quebec nrohna
tion law does not become operative until
May 14, 1919, Consumers wid be depen
dent for supplies upon the existing
stocks.
Only "for sacramental, industrial, ar
tistic, mechanical and medicinl pur
poses” will liquor be manufactured and
shipped into areas subject to the prohi
bitory laws. A method of selling liquor
and providing for “direct deliveries” in
Don’t Let Her
Mt /
'A
If you believe that the traffic in Alcohol
does more harm than good- stop it! 99
“Strengthen America Campaign”
FEDERAL COUNCIL OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN AMERICA
CJU4m S.M*cA>U»4 Gov C»ne.MUUk.w ClwUs SMiU
IQS East Twealy York City. N.X
burg Russian trade moved westward,
and Vologda was left in a commercial
eddy or backwater.
“The history of Vologda dates back to
1107, and Is still standing a 12th century
church to commemorate the town’s birth.
During its early days it suffered much
from the rivalry which existed between
Novgorod and Moscow. Originally be
longing to the former, it was annexed to
Moscow in 1447, just a century before it
entered upon its era of greatest pros
perity with the founding of Archangel in
1553.
“Vologda was plundered by the Poles
at the beginning of the 47th century and
In 1648 was devastated by the plague, but
it recovered rapidly from both blows,
maintaining its commercial importance
until Peter the Great's capital on the
Neva eclipsed its glory.
“One of the most interesting buildings
in Vologda is the Cathedral of St. Sophia,
erected under the patronage of Ivan the
Terrible in 1570. It is modeled after the
Uspenski Cathedral of Moscow.
“Practically the only important indus
try in Vologda is lace-making, although
at the beginning of the war there were
several distilleries and tanneries located
here.”
Ontario, in spite of tho temperance act,
will be no longer effective.
Penalties for Infactrions of the Law.
Infraction of the regulations imposes
liability and a penalty for the. first of
fenses of not less than S2OO and not more
than SI,OOO. In default, imprisonment
for not less than three months nor more
than six months; for a second offense
imprisonment for not less than six and
not more than twelve months. Provision
is also made for the issue of search war
rants. The regulations continue in force
during the present war and for twelve
months thereafter.
frenciTphrases’seen
ABOUT CAMP
Barracks of the 341st) Infantry—
BarraqueS du 341 erne Infanterie.
Cavalry—Cavalerie.
Artillery—Artillerie.
Machine Gun Battalion—Battalon de
mitrailleuses.
Officers’ Mess—Salle a manger des
officiers.
Engineer Corps—Genie.
Medical Corps—Service de Sante.
Quartermaster Corps—lntendance.
Mess Hall—Refectoire des hommes.
Kitchen —Cuisine.
Bakery—Boulangerie.
Exchange—Cantine militaire.
Store House —Magasin.
Office of the Commanding Officer—Bu
reau du commandant.
Adjutant’s Office—Bureau de I'adjutant.
Headquarters—Quartier general.
No admission without written orders —
On n'entre pas sans permission ecrite.
Ladder —Echelle.
Fire-bucket —Seau a incendie.
Fire-plug—Bouche de’eau.
To be used only in case of fire—Defense
d’employer sauf en cas d’incendie.
Laundry—Blanchisserie.
Barber—Coiffeur.
Tailor—Tailleur.
Shoemker—Cordonnier.
Post Office—Bureau de poste.
Hospital—Hospital.
Guard House—Salle de police.
Stables —Ecuries.
Despite the prophets, the wiseacres,
the know-it-alls and the experts, this
war, with its various nationalities, is
keeping the world guessing.
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