Kansas City Bible College - Armour Bearer Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

Page 72 text:

PAGE FOUR TI-IE COMMENTATOR Musings in isaiah 53 By William G. Coltman, D.D. Pastor, Highland Park Baptist Church, Detroit, Michigan Someone once picked up an old book and discovered a fragrance coming from its leaves. Upon investigation it was found that sometime earlier a flower had been placed between its pages, and the perfume had permeated the whole book. So it is with the Bible. The Whole volume is fragrant with the odor of the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Vallies, the glorious and gracious person of the Lord Jesus Christ. His death, which was the glory of His earthly life, receiveslarge recognition not only in history and doctrine but in Old Testament prophecy. The cross, which is central in the purpose of God for man- kind, existed in His heart before the ages began. It is not, therefore, surprising that from the very dawn of history we should have intimations of this mighty and stu- pendous event. As early as Genesis 3 we find the first reference to a suffering Re- deemer when God told the serpent that the seed of the woman would have his heel bruised in the process of bruising the head of the serpent. This was fol- lowed down through the pre-Christian centuries by blood-stained altars and di- vinely prescribed sacrifices which pointed ahead to the coming of the Lamb of God. The fifty-third chapter of Isaiah is one of the clearest and fullest prophecies of the vicarious suffering of our Saviour. It, therefore, preaches the evangel of re- deeming grace as no other chapter in the Old Testament scriptures. For wealth of detail and comprehensive coverage of the suffering of Jehovah's servant, the Lord Jesus Christ, it stands alone. Several hundred years after this won- derful chapter was written, a Man ap- peared on earth who fully lived out the minutest descriptions of this prophecy. Ever since, devout and believing hearts have had little doubt as to whom the pro- phet referred. Returning from Jerusalem to his home in Ethiopia the eunuch mention- ed in Acts 8 was reading this chapter when Philip the Evangelist appeared be- side his chariot. The question in the Ethiopian's mind was: Of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth and b-egan at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus tActs 8: 34, 353. What a delightful starting point at which to begin to expound the gospel! As we look at this remarkable chapter, three thoughts stand out: THE FACT or C1-1R1sr's SUFFERING Suffering is the pre-eminent reality in this chapter. It is the major note that dominates the celestial music. How varied and significant is the terminology: He was despised . . . rejected of men . . . man of sorrows . . . acquainted with grief . . . he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows . . . wounded for our transgres- sions . . . bruised for our iniquities . . . the chastisement of our peace was upon hirn...thein.iquityofusall...hewas oppressed . . . by oppression and judgment he was taken away . . . he was cut off out of the land of the living . . . for the trans- gression of my people to whom the stroke was due . . . his soul an offering for sin . . . the travail of his soul . . . he shall bear their iniquities . . . he poured out his soul unto death . . . was numbered with the transgressors . . . he bare the sin of many . . . made intercession for the trans- gressorsf' No wonder that the great exegete Delitzch said, Stronger expres- sions for the violent and painful death the language did not affordf' Let us take a closer look at some of these words. Wounded comes from a word which means to bore through, to pierce, to perforatef' The central fact here is the painful piercing of our Saviour's body. Bruised means to be broken to pieces, to be crushed. It is doubtless a figure of speech setting forth the inner sufferings of Christ. Chastise- ment is a word used to denote correction or punishment by parents. In other words, He was punished to procure my peace. Lastly, there is the word stripes which refers to marks or blows upon the skin. These terms give us a graphic picture of the beating and scourging of our Lord as recorded by the gospel writers and written in the prophetic Word centuries before. THE NATURE or CHRISTJS SUFFERINGS The special emphasis of the prophet in this chapter is upon the vicariousness of Christ's sufferings, by which we mean that they were endured or undergone for oth- ers. He did not suffer on His own accountg the wounds, stripes, and travail were en- dured for our benefit. The failure of God's ancient people to see this fact is graphically stated in verse 4: We did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But the prophet goes on to say, He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon himg and with his stripes we are healed. Even today the descendants of Israel fail to grasp the reality of this great prophecy spoken by one of their own to their nation. Its very existence some seven hundred years before its fulfillment is evidence to any unprejudiced mind of its heavenly origin. The opening verse of the chapter registers the existence of prevail- ing and popular unbelief. The attitude of the nation toward their suffering Messiah is indeed a matter of wonderment. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. How thankful we are for the following verse in John 1: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons that believe on his leaves no doubt in real nature of these substitutionary and There have been will be some who mental reality of of God, even to them name. The prophet our minds as to the sufferings. They were redemptive. and probably always object to this funda- our Saviour's death. They clai.m it is not just or reasonable for one person to suffer for another: that such sufferings are unethical and ineffectual. But far from this central fact of our Chris- tian faith being isolated and singular, it is one of the common facts in the life of our race. Motherhood is vicarious. Many a mother has given up her life in bringing her child into the world. There are mul- titudes of people in the world at this hour who are suffering because of the negligence, the sins, and the wrong-doings of others. Hospitals are filled with people whose bodies are broken and maimed be- cause of drunk drivers. Whether we like it or not, it is a common fact in the life of our world. Likewise Christ died to save us from eternal death, and His sacrifice was not in vain. Even this chapter contemplates His triumph and ultimate victory: He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied. THE Rssurrrs or Cn1usr's Surrrnnvcs After identifying the Sulferer, we natur- ally ask, Did this vicarious Sufferer ac- complish His purpose? Did these suffer- ings avail? Did they have value, and if so, what values were realized? , The prophet states, with his stripes we are healed. There is complete re- covery for sin-sick souls. They were not merely improved or relieved, but made whole-healed. Because of our sins we were sick unto death, and earth had no balm for our healing, no physician that could arrest the disease or cope with it. Praise God, with His stripes we are heal- ed! ' The punishment which He took made possible our peace with God. As the Apostle Paul wrote centuries later, He made peace through the blood of his cross CCol. 12207, and, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ CRorn. 5:11. Those vicarious sufferings brought to an end the battle between our hearts and God. They accomplished the cessa- tion of conflict within. Through His cross the warring elements in our nature were overcome, and we became friends with the Eternal God. How wonderful! It is stated in verse 6: The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Be- cause He took our sins He was condemn- ed, but this condemnation made possible our justification. Taking our sins He had to die our death and face the wrath of God for our transgressions. He drank the full cup of our condemnation: therefore it can be written of every believing heart, There CCo'n.tinued on Page 73

Page 71 text:

THE, COMMENTATOR PAGE THREE CHRISTIAN SERVICE REPORT ALUMNI NEWS REV. W. JACK WILSON Irene Tully C495 has been accepted as a Ll' t I Director of Cltristian Service 1'I1iSSi01'131'Y Candidate for the Ozarks by the U E I I American Inland Mission whose head- A - , The best way to quarters are in Gentry, Arkansas. She is learn how to preach ready to go, and her leaving is dependent 1- 27 is to preach. The only on the raising of her support on the Hrst man to sa field. She asks prayer fellowship for this Y these words has been long in antiquity, but the truth of the state- ment has been de- veloped and proved in the lives and ex- periences of count- less thousands of young preachers. The Kansas City Bible of utmost importance that the academic knowledge received in the classroom be supplemented and put to practical use by our students in the reality of the rescue mission, the street corner, the Sunday school class, and the church pulpit. With a new director at the helm of the Christian Service Department and with the usual settling down period which al- ways accompanies the beginning of the school year, the activities of our students in practical work has not reached the vol- ume that it will in days to come. Never- theless, the reports for the first six weeks are very gratifying. Our students have spent a total of fourteen 24 hour days, or over 350 hours, in practical Christian service. They have dealt personally with over half a hundred unsaved people and have won ten of them to Christ. In addition to the above, there were in- numerable song services, instrumental and vocal solos, public testimonies, 'Sunday school lessons, and other activities. In- stitutions such as the Lansing State Pen- itentiary, City Union Mission, Jackson, County Parental Home, and Jackson County Farm are visited regularly by teams of students from the school. It should be mentioned that all this activity is in addition to the work done by our students who are regular pastors and as- sistant pastors of churches in the Kan- sas City area. Their time and services are not included in this tabulation. We praise God that our student body has grown, available talent has increased, opportunities are pouring in, and the pros- pects for learning how tp do the job are excellent for our students in the days which lie ahead. A RIGHTEOUS GOD AND SINTFUL MAN CCo'n.tin'u.ecl from Page 21 the preachinlg of the cross is to them that perish foolis ness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God CI Cor. 1: 185, and again, For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishnessg But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God KI Cor. 1:22-245. When an individual will cry, God be propitiated to me the sinner, God replies, Jesus died for youg He bore your sins in His own body on the tree. Come to Me. Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe, Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow. College considers it need and for her service among the moun- tain people. Patricia O'Nea.l, former night school student from Merriam, Kansas, left last month for India. She is serving under the New Tribes Mission, whose special training course she recently completed at Chico, California. John and Ruth Hausmamt, who were dormitory students from 1947-49, visited the College recently and told of their plans to go as missionaries to the Moslems of the Philippine Islands. They with their two children expect to go out under the Berean Mission some time next year. CHAPEL SPEAKERS Mr. Robert Reinmiller, secretary of the Gospel Missionary Union, gave a challeng- ing Chapel message on Proverbs 4:23, Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. He spoke of the analogy between the physical circula- tory system and the spiritual entity which God refers to as the heart. Its welfare affects all the borders, the outflow of the life. Guard it above all. The Wycliff Bible Translators was repre- sented by Mr. George M. Cowan, who told of the basic necessity for all missionary work, the Bible in the language of the people. He pictured for us a group of attentive, heart-hungry listeners to whom a teacher was reading the Scriptures. But the reading was in Spanish, and these Indians understood only their own native tongue. Truly th-e need is great and trained laborers are few. During Fire Prevention Week the local fire district chief and inspector, by word, picture, and demonstration, instructed the students in removing fire hazards and in the safe procedure in case of emergency. On October 17 two of God's servants brought messages at the chapel hour. Mary Dayton, who attended our night school several days ago, pointed her remarks with very attractive and effective posters. She is under appointment by the International Child Evangelism Fellowship and expects to leave next month to work with the children and to train children's workers in the Philippine Islands. Mr. R. I. Humberd, Bible teacher and publisher, spoke using a wall chart to il- lustrate his message on the Lord Jesus Christ. He also had a number of his books available to the students. DR. WILSON'S ITINERARY Nov. 5-11 ............ Temple Baptist Church, St. Paul, Minnesota Nov. 12-18 ............ Arlington Street Baptist Church, Akron, Ohio Dec. 5-7 ....... .......... W ichita Gospel Center, Wichita, Kansas Dec. 10-14 ........ ......... F aith Bible Church, Ottawa, Kansas By Rev. Wade K. Ramsey Dean, Kansas City Bible College In this column Mr. Ramsey will be glad to answer questions sent in by our readers which concern Bible in- terpretation or application and are of general interest. -Editor QUESTION: Why does Mark leave out the birth and genealogy of Christ? ANSWER: The best reason we know for this omission on the part of Mark is that these things do not contribute particularly to the design of his gospel. Mark's pur- pose is to set forth Christ as the servant of Jehovah as He was predicted in the prophecies of Isaiah. The detailing of the birth and genealogy of Christ did not vi- tally further this design. No one cares where or how or of whom a servant is born. The thing that matters about the servant is can he do the job? Mark therefore contents himself by declaring at the out-set that the servant he is about to describe is none other than the very Son of God. To him this is a sufficient recommendation of His ability to accomp- lish whatever He was sent to accomplish. In Matthew and Luke the case is dit- ferent. Matthew set forth Christ as the Messiah and King of Israel. Therefore, it is essential for him to establish His right by descent to the throne of Israel. Luke gives a wider view of Christ and designs to depict Him not merely as the King of Israel, but as the One who is to bring peace to all people and one who is to be a light to lighten the Gentiles and a glory to thy people Israel. In Luke the emphasis is on the fact that He is the Son of Man, and he traces Him back to Adam to show His connection with all mankind. John is concerned with His deity and takes Him back to the beginning, before all the worlds. Different from all of these, Mark begins his story with the ministry of the Lord Jesus. QUESTION: What is the difference be- tween 'pfriole and self-respect? ANSWER: The dictionary defines pride in both a bad and a good sense. On the one hand pride is said to be undue self- esteem, conceit, haughtiness, disdain g on the other hand a sense of personal dig- nity, self-respect. In distinguishing the latter from vain conceit, complacency, etc., the dictionary further states that pride may be a noble feeling, dignified and admirable. However in the Scriptures, pride invari- ably is used in a bad sense. God says, Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall QProv. 16:18D. In Proverbs 6:17, a proud look is listed as one of- the things that is an abomina- tion unto the Lord. The Lord Jesus cata- logued it as one of the evil fruits of the heart which defile men CMa.rk 7:21,22J. Paul included it in the list of sins which CCo'nti'n'u.ed. on Page 71

Page 73 text:

TI-IE COMIVIENTATOR PAGE FIVE Bad Eggs By Mrs. D. E. Wisner Child Evangelism Instructor PREPARATION This story might well be told by the Hash card method instead of the flannel- board for a change. 'I'he Hash cards should be egg shaped, and covered with construc- tion paper of various pastel shades. The first one should be egg shell color bear- ing the title of the story. Others should have pictures of: Charles walking down the street, a bicycle in a store window, a woman standing on a porch holding an open letter, a dog, a hen and little chicks, a red barn, a nest of eggs seen behind stacks of feed, Charles sitting on a stool with pockets bulging, Charles kneeling before a stool, and Charles standing beside a bicycle. Pictures taken from magazines or color books may be used, or sketches may be made directly on the cards. PRESENTATION Boys and girls, I want to tell you a story about some bad eggs. CShow title card.J Well, you say, that's a queer title for a story! Yes, but the little boy in my story was a bad egg, and he got mixed up with some bad eggs, and, ac- cording to Dr. Harris Gregg, who has now gone to be with the Lord, we are all bad eggs, so perhaps the story will be more interesting than it sounds. WV? J. . ,. an mga l il itil- N--ff? L A W- x f-gif? fl il 4 +0 .Q Dr. Gregg was scheduled to speak to a group of high school students. When he arrived at the school, he noticed that someone had erased the g and r from his name on the bulletin board, making an egg of him. When he was introduced he said, I see that one of the fellows has made an egg of me by removing part of my name from the posterg but that's quite all right, for I a.m an egg and a bad one at that, and so is each of you. Then he proceeded to show them from God's Word how bad they really were. Since Adam and Eve sinned in the Gar- den of Eden and became sinners, all have been borh sinners. When we receive Christ as Saviour, we become saved sin- ners. Even then we have no goodness of our own to boast of, but God imputes to us, or gives to us, the goodness of Christ, so that whatever goodness we have is His goodness. Charles was walking down Main Street with his lips puckered up trying to whistle. CShow Charles walking down the street.D But he could only make a funny noise be- cause there was a lump in his throat that felt as big as a football. He had just passed Mr. Pratt's window, and for the twenty-third time that week he had look- ed in at the streamlined bicycle that stood window.J there. CShow bicycle in store No, I can never have it, so there's no use to want it, he said aloud as he walked slowly toward home, looking back every few steps. As he turned down his own street, he saw his mother on the porch with a letter in her hand. CShow woman on porch with letter.J Here is a letter from Aunt May, she said as he ran up the porch steps. She says she would like to have a boy visit her this summer to help Uncle Fred with the chores and take care of the chickens. Do you know of one who would like to go-?n The football vanished from Charles' throat. Oh! She means me! She means me! Doesn't she, Mother? he shouted, jinnping up and down with joy. Charles was very busy the next few days. He asked Daddy hundreds of ques- tions about the farm. He even asked what kind of cows gave buttermilk, and if eggs grew on eggplant! He surely needs to go to the farm and iind out some things for himself, said Daddy to Mother one night after Charles had gone to bed. When Charles arrived at the farm, Pal the dog came bounding out the front gate barking joyously, and they were fast friends from the first. CShow dogj With Pal at his heels he had soon explored every nook and corner of the farm. Every day he fed the chickens, Cshow hen and chickensl, gathered the eggs, helped his uncle with the chores, and hoed in the garden. One rainy morning when Charles could- n't hoe, he went to the barn to play. CShow the barn.J I'll pretend I'm a sea- captain, he said to Pal. This barn will be a robbers' cave, and you can be the first mate of my ship. Now I must find where the robbers have hidden their treasures, he Whis- pered to Pal as he prowled among the grain sacks, poking behind them with an old broom handle. With a loud squawk a hen Hew out, and Charles peeped in be- hind the sack and saw a nest with twelve lovely eggs. CShow nest behind sacks.J Oh! he exclaimed. Pearls! I've found the robbers' treasure, and I'll take it to Aunt May. He began to gather the eggs as he spoke. Then he remembered the bicycle in Mr. Pratt's store window and stopped. Pal, he said at last, I do want a bi- cycle so. If I would save these eggs and then take a few out of the nests every day and sell them, by the end of the surn- mer I'd have enough money to buy a bi- cycle. I could hide them in the hay and Aunt May would never know. Charles filled his pockets with eggs. He was just ready to climb the ladder to the hayloft when he heard a voice calling his name. He didn't have time to take the eggs out of his pockets but ran to the house just as he was, his overalls bulging out in funny lumps. Charles, said Aunt May, will you please sit right down and shell these peas for dinner? CShow Charles on stool.J ':Surely, Aunt May, he replied, trying to make his voice sound as if nothing were the matter, and he took the pan and climb- ed on the high kitchen stool. Just as he sat down, he heard a cracking sound and soon a stream of yellow and white be- gan soaking through the pockets of his overalls. Immediately a horrible smell began to fill the kitchen, for some of the eggs were rotten! ' Why, Charles! exclaimed Aunt May, hearing the noise and seeing the look of dismay on his face. What is it? And slowly, with burning cheeks and down- cast eyes, he told her. I don't think you will ever do such a thing again, will you, Charles? she said when he had finished. lu I 2 j l L 2-'Sv ,R I i' l!lZ1lx 4 ' C QD Oh no! he cried eagerly, Not even to get the best bicycle in the world! Now, then, we must get you cleaned up before Uncle comes home from town, she said, hurrying upstairs to get his clean. clothes and praying for Charles as she Went. When Uncle Fred came in, Charles told him all about it. 'Tm sorry, Uncle Fred, he said, and I won't do anything like that again, ever. I believe you mean what you are say- ing, Charles, but you are going to need Someone to help you keep that promise. It is a sin for anyone to want things so much that he would cheat and steal to get them. This is not the only sin you'Ve ever done either. You have sinned many times and so have I, and God says sin must be punished with death. But the Lord Jesus came and died on the cross in order to pay for all our sins, and He wants you to receive Him as your Sav- iour. Then He will live in your heart, and when you are tempted to do wrong, you can ask Him to keep you from doing it.' Oh, Uncle, may I ask Him to come in now, and save me right here in the kitch- en. Certainly, Charles. Then Aunt May and Uncle Fred bowed their heads while Chafles prayed. CShow Charles kneel- mg. Dear Lord, I'm so ashamed of what I've done. Please come into my heart right now and take away my sins. Thank you for dying for me. Amen. Charles, said Uncle Fred a few weeks later, 'KI brought home a piece of ma- chinery this afternoon. It's in the truck. Will you get it out and put it away? I think you can manage it. Yes sir! I'll do it now, he answered, running out to the truck. CCo'nti'n.'u.ed on Page 73