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Advent Lessons

Lesson 5 · February 4, 1899

Ministry of John the Baptist

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In the Desert Near the Jordan, Spring of A. D. 27.

(; .)

  1. 1.While Jesus was yet with His parents in Nazareth, who began preaching in the wilderness of Judea? . Side texts: ; .
  2. 2.What was the burden of his message? . See note 1. Side texts: .
  3. 3.By what did John prove the authority of his mission? . Side texts: ; ; .
  4. 4.What proclamation did he include which was calculated to stir all the people? . Side texts: ; ; .
  5. 5.Who was then Roman emperor? .
  6. 6.Who were acting high priests in the Jewish nation? . See note 2. Side texts: .
  7. 7.In what garb was Christ's forerunner dressed? . Side texts: ; .
  8. 8.What was the nature of his diet?
  9. 9.Who were attracted by the appearance and preaching of John? . Side texts: .
  10. 10.Upon confession of sin, to what did the people also submit? . Side texts: .
  11. 11.How did the leaders of the people regard John's message? .
  12. 12.In view of their attitude, with what sharp words did John address them? . Side texts: .
  13. 13.What remedy did he recommend for their desperate circumstances? . Side texts: ; .
  14. 14.Of what were these Pharisees evidently thinking? . Side texts: ; .
  15. 15.From what did John tell them God was able to raise up seed unto Abraham? Side texts: ; .
  16. 16.What warning did He then proceed to give them? . Side texts: ; .
  17. 17.What reply did the people make to this? . Side texts: .
  18. 18.Of what nature was the work John assigned them? . Side texts: ; ; ; .
  19. 19.What question did the publicans ask concerning their duty? . Side texts: ; .
  20. 20.What very practical answer did they receive? . See note 3. Side texts: ; .
  21. 21.What counsel did John give the soldiers who inquired as to their work? . Side texts: ; .
  22. 22.What condition of mind did the people find themselves in because of John's words? .

Notes

Reading.

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1. "At hand;" that is, has come nigh. This was the herald of an expected leader to take them forth from their wanderings in the wilderness of sin. See note 6 of lesson 3. Those to whom the Baptist preached were like their prototypes of old, while in Egypt,—outside of God's kingdom, in the service of another king. Therefore the message to them in the wilderness was to be ready to sustain the better administration which was at hand, and so enter the kingdom of heaven.

2. At this time the Roman emperor claimed and exercised the right to appoint and depose the Jewish high priests, as he chose. All who served in this office must please the emperor. Annas, though a sagacious and purchasable man, was not able to hold the office undisturbed. Appointed by Cyrenius, imperial governor of Syria, in A. D. 7 (), he was obliged to resign at the beginning of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, A. D. 14. He managed, however, to secure the office in turn for five of his sons, and for his son-in-law, Caiaphas, with whom he managed to be associated up to and beyond the time of the crucifixion of Christ. . See .

3. Publicans—those holding public office, chiefly tax-gatherers. Doing this work under appointment of, and in the interest of, the Roman Government, this class was odious and despised in the eyes of their countrymen, not only as traitors, but extortioners of large profits out of the national degradation. They received, like all the others, an answer just suited to their needs.

Bible texts in this lesson

Matthew 3:1-12 · Luke 3:1-15 · Matthew 3:1 · Luke 3:2 · John 1:28 · John 1:2 · Matthew 4:17 · Matthew 10:7 · Matthew 10:3 · Isaiah 40:3 · Malachi 3:1 · Matthew 11:10 · Luke 3:5 · Luke 3:6 · Isaiah 52:10 · Psalms 98:2 · Luke 2:10 · Luke 3:1 · John 11:49 · John 18:13 · John 18:24 · Matthew 3:4 · 2 Kings 1:8 · Matthew 11:14 · Matthew 17:12 · Matthew 17:5 · John 1:19 · John 1:6 · Acts 13:24 · Acts 13:25 · Acts 19:2 · Luke 7:29 · Luke 7:30 · Matthew 3:7 · Matthew 12:34 · Matthew 23:33 · Matthew 23:8 · 2 Corinthians 7:10 · 2 Corinthians 7:11 · Matthew 26:75 · Matthew 26:9 · John 8:33 · John 8:39 · Romans 9:8 · Luke 19:39 · Luke 19:40 · Zechariah 9:9 · Zechariah 9:10 · Luke 13:7 · Luke 13:9 · Matthew 21:41-43 · Luke 3:10 · Acts 2:37 · Acts 9:6 · Acts 9:11 · Luke 11:41 · James 2:15 · James 2:16 · 1 John 3:17 · Job 29:15 · Job 29:16 · Job 29:12 · Romans 3:4 · Romans 3:13 · Luke 19:2 · Luke 19:8 · Leviticus 6:4 · Leviticus 6:14 · Exodus 23:7 · Philippians 4:8 · Philippians 4:15 · Luke 2:2 · Acts 4:6

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