Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 June 1912 — BROOKLYN TABERNACLE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BROOKLYN TABERNACLE

LEAST IN THE KINGDOM. Matthew xi, 2-19—June 16. "Amongst fhem that are born of women there is none greater than John; yet the least t» the ATugdom of God is greater than he.”— Luke rti. es. IT WOULD BE difficult to express a higher tribute to John tbe Baptist than Jesus paid him in our test. If John was so great a man. from the Divine standpoint, why did our Lord declare that the least in the Kingdom of Ileaveu would be greater than John? When We turn on the light contained in the word "Kingdom.” the entire subject becomes clear. God had promised a Messianic Kingdom, and Jesus came that He might be the Head of that Kingdom. The steps leading to its honors were steps of obedience to God. Unto death, ami these steps Jesus began to take. On the cross He finished the work of proving Himself Ibyal. Jesus thus became the .Great Conqueror, the great King of Glory, being exalted to tbe Heavenly state in His resurrection. But He was to have associated with Him in His Throne, His Bride class; as the Great Priest, He was to hare an under-priesthood, a “Royal Priesthood;” as the Great Judge of the world. He was tb have associates; as St. Paul declares, "Know ye not that the saints shall judge the world?”—I Corinthians vi. 2. In the Divine Plan this company of associates of Jesus were as much fore-

ordained as was He. As it was necessary for Him to undergo trials and testings, so with those called to be His asso ci a te s —“He was tempted In all points like as we are.” Thus His M e s s a g e is, “To him that overcometh will I grant to

sit with Me in My Throne, even as I overcame and am set down with My Father in His Throne.” These must be followers in His footsteps; none could precede Him. “Some-Better Thing For Us.” We are not to infer that those glori ous characters who lived before Christ’s' time were less faithful than the Gospel Cliunb, but merely that God promised them the earthly per section, while He has promised the Bride of Christ the heavenly perfection. They will not, like the remainder of mankind, come forth 16 attain perfection gradually during the thousand years of Messiah’s reign; the record is that they will coyie forth perfect human beings. That will be the re ward of their faithfulness. St. Paul explains the entire matter in Hebrews, the 11th chapter. lie declares, “All these died in faith, not having received the (earthly) things promised to them, God having provided some better thing for us (the Church), that they, without us, should not l»e made perfect.” The glorification Of the Church, her resurrection to must be accomplished before the blessings through them can proceed to the natural seed of Abraham, and through Israel to all nations.—Heb. xl, 3840Not the Bride but the Friend. John tbe Baptist declared, “He that hath the. Bride is the Bridegroom, but the friend of the Bridegroom, hearing His voice, rejoiceth greatly. This my joy therefore is fulfilled.” (John ill., 29.) He perceived that in God’s providence he had a very honorable and blessed station and work to accomplish, but he was to be neither the Bridegroom nor a member of the Bride class; And the other Ancient Worthies will not be disap|K>inted when they come forth in tbe resurrection to find a Bride class selected to a higher place than theirs. On the contrary, their cup of blessing being full, and never having been begotten to a spirit nature, they will not be able to comprehend any blessings higher than their own. Just, for instance, as a fish in the water. seeing a bird flying in the air, would not be jealous of the bird and its greater freedom, but. on the contrary, would be better satisfied iri the water, its natural element. In this lesson Jesus intimates all the above. “The Law and the Prophets were until John.” He was tbe last of

the Prophets. Jesus further declared, "if ye are willing to receive it. this i# Elias which was to come.” That is. Those of you who are able to appreciate the matter may understand that John the Baptist did a work in

full accord with the prophecy that Elijah must first 1 come as a reformer before Messiah. Addressing the multitudes the Great Teacher inquired. Why did you go out to see John? Was it because God spoke through him as a Prophet as the wind makes music through the reeds? Or did yon go out to see a man in fine clothing and of kingly state? v What really drew to John’s teaching was that he was God’s Prophet; as It is written. “Behold, 1 send My messenger before Thy face, who shall prepare the way before Thee.” This preparation for Jesus John made with the Jewish nation. His message was that the Kingdom of Heaven was to be offered to them, and that only the holy would be ready to receive It.

John the Baptizer.

"Least in the King dom. greater than John."