Introduction:

In our SSlesson this week, we may have given the situation, where we may be entangled in sin and shame. Everyone of us may be in some time of our lives, caught in an act of sin, like the woman caught in adultery (John 8:4) - what would be our reaction when we are confronted with someone? How do we response to the false accusation of our adversary? This week's lesson will direct us into the only example and solution, the true object of Christian education should be founded in the teaching of our Master Teacher, Jesus Christ!

Memory Verse:

And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way. {Mark 10:52}

Prayer Thought:

"And as He entered into a certain village, there met Him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: and they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when He saw them, He said unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And He said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole." {3T 179.1}

I. Meeting the Rebellious Student

“Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” (Genesis 3:9)

1. The Result of One's Transgression

Eternal life is worth everything to us or it is worth nothing. Those only who put forth persevering effort and untiring zeal with intense desire proportionate to the value of the object they are in pursuit of, will gain that life which measures with the life of God.... {OFC 97.1}

We have the example of Adam and Eve before us, and the result of their transgression should lead every soul of us to avoid sin, to abhor sin as the hateful thing it is, and to feel, in view of the sufferings which sin is sure to inflict, that it is better to suffer loss of all things than to depart from the least of God’s commandments. {OFC 97.2}

2. Gained Only a Knowledge of Sin and Its Results.

The mildest test was given them that could be given; for there was no need of their eating of the forbidden tree; everything that their wants required had been provided (BE July 24, 1899). {1BC 1083.4}

If Adam and Eve had never touched the forbidden tree, the Lord would have imparted to them knowledge,--knowledge upon which rested no curse of sin, knowledge that would have brought them everlasting joy. The only knowledge they gained by their disobedience was a knowledge of sin and its results (AUCR March 1, 1904). {1BC 1083.5}

3. Adam's Fall Inexplainable.

In what consisted the strength of the assault made upon Adam, which caused his fall? It was not indwelling sin; for God made Adam after His own character, pure and upright. There were no corrupt principles in the first Adam, no corrupt propensities or tendencies to evil. Adam was as faultless as the angels before God's throne. These things are inexplainable, but many things which now we cannot understand will be made plain when we shall see as we are seen, and know as we are known (Letter 191, 1899). {1BC 1083.6}

Let's note the following:

• The result of Adam and Eve’s rebellion was not happiness but fear. They were afraid of the punishment and tried to hide from God’s presence.

• However, Jesus came to them and called them. Yes, a punishment was coming, but they’d have another chance because a ransom was going to be paid (Genesis 3:15).

• The same Teacher would paid for their rebellion (Romans 5:17).

II. Meeting the disheartened Student

“When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.’” (Genesis 28:16 NIV)

1. When disheartened, be a man before the Lord!

We are to hold up the Man of Calvary, to flash his light to those who are sitting in darkness. You should not yield to discouragement. You should not think that there are none who care to serve God, or obey the truth. Elijah became disheartened as he saw how Israel had departed from the Lord, and he thought that he was the only one left who loved the cause of Jehovah... To be a man before the Lord is to be kind and sympathetic. It is to be compassionate and Christlike. We need men who can be called men before God,--men who are in the image of Christ,--men with human hearts, full of tenderness and love. {RH, June 25, 1889 par. 7}

2. Learn to become Christlike in Character

They feel disheartened; and words of discouragement and doubt would be to them a savor of death unto death. The hand that needed strengthening would become nerveless, and the efforts palsied, were one of these to be told, "You will never succeed in the formation of a Christian character. You will soon tire of the effort. You have not sufficient determination of purpose to persevere. Your experience has been all wrong; and the lessons you must learn in order to become Christlike in character will be so new and hard that you will never master them." {RH, February 17, 1885 par. 13}

Let's Ponder upon these points:

• Jacob was disheartened and lonely, and his future was uncertain. Then God came to him and encouraged him to stand strong during the years he’d spend in exile.

• How many times have you been disheartened because of your own sins?

• God comes to you as He did with Jacob. He assures you that you’ve been forgiven, He strengthens you, and He encourages you to walk with Him hand in hand (Isaiah 42:16).

III. Meeting the Lost Student

“He came to the world that was His own, but his own people did not receive Him.” (John 1:11 EXB). "He came unto his own, and his own received him not." KJV

1. Who were the lost?

Who were Israelites indeed—Jew or Gentile, barbarian, Scythian, bond or free? Jesus “was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” John 1:10, 11. But this Roman, a commander in authority, came to Jesus with a most earnest entreaty for one of his servants, sick of palsy, grievously tormented with pain. His faith in its simplicity was a pure, unselfish faith. He asks not of Jesus, “Show me a sign from heaven,” but solicits Him to work a cure for his suffering servant. He tells Him he feels unworthy to have Him come under his roof. He who dwells in the high and lofty place, yet will He come and make His abode with the humble and contrite in heart. . . . {CTr 241.4}

2. Christ came to Reveal the Principles of the Kingdom of Heaven

Christ had come to earth to reveal the principles of the kingdom of heaven. His character as Saviour and Life-giver had been demonstrated only a short time before at the grave of Lazarus, but in their pride the Jews rejected the One who was mighty and having salvation. How different would have been Christ’s attitude had the priests and rulers been true to the trust reposed in them.—Manuscript 128, 1899. {CTr 254.6}

• The Creator and divine Teacher came to rescue the lost—that is, all of us. He became one of us to do so (John 1:14).

• John—as a prophet—recognized Jesus as “the Lamb of God” and “the Son of God” in His first public appearance (John 1:29, 34).

• Two of John’s disciples that heard those words began to follow Jesus. They called Him “Rabbi” because they had accepted Him as their teacher (John 1:37-38).

IV. Meeting the Despised Student

“And she said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.’” (Matthew 15:27)

1. Relief for those Despised

This was the only miracle that Jesus wrought while on this journey. It was for the performance of this act that He went to the borders of Tyre and Sidon. He wished to relieve the afflicted woman, and at the same time to leave an example in His work of mercy toward one of a despised people for the benefit of His disciples when He should no longer be with them. He wished to lead them from their Jewish exclusiveness to be interested in working for others besides their own people. {DA 402.1}

2. Commendation for a Despise One

"I entered into thine house," Christ continued, "thou gavest Me no water for My feet;" but with tears of repentance, prompted by love, she hath washed My feet, and hath wiped them with the hairs of her head. "Thou gavest Me no kiss;" but this woman, whom you despise, since the time she entered in, hath not ceased to kiss My feet. The washing of the feet and the kiss of welcome were attentions that were not invariably shown to guests. It was customary to bestow them on those to whom it was desired to show special regard. These ministrations Christ should have received from His host, but He did not. {ST, May 9, 1900 par. 12}

Notice this statements:

• In Sidon, Jesus met a student that was not part of His classroom. She was despised by the students of the Teacher. Even Jesus treated her with coldness.

• However, that student was also argumentative. She was bold and brought arguments to the table to fight back Jesus’ reasoning.

• The student convinced the Teacher and got what she needed. Jesus likes His students—us—to express their doubts or complaints.

• This way we’ll let Him solve our problems, heal our wounds, and lead us to the path of eternal life.

V. Meeting the Advanced Student

“And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’” (Mark 10:47)

1. Have Heard His Wonderful Work and Believed

"Behold, a Canaanitish woman came out from those borders, and cried, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil" (Matthew 15:22, RV). The people of this district were of the old Canaanite race. They were idolaters, and were despised and hated by the Jews. To this class belonged the woman who now came to Jesus. She was a heathen, and was therefore excluded from the advantages which the Jews daily enjoyed. There were many Jews living among the Phoenicians, and the tidings of Christ's work had penetrated to this region. Some of the people had listened to His words and had witnessed His wonderful works.{DG 64.4}

2. Make Use of Every Opportunity

God calls upon us to make use of every opportunity for securing a preparation for His work. He expects you to put all your energies into its performance and to keep your hearts alive to its sacredness and its fearful responsibilities. God's eye is upon you. It is not safe for any one of you to bring into His presence a marred sacrifice, a sacrifice that costs neither study nor prayer. Such an offering He cannot accept. {7T 189.4} I entreat you to awake and to seek God for yourselves. While Jesus of Nazareth is passing by, cry most earnestly unto Him, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Thou Son of David," and you will receive sight. Through the grace of God you will receive that which will be more valuable to you than gold or silver or precious stones. {7T 190.1}

Remember these things:

• The students that had studied the Scriptures the most were better prepared to accept Jesus’ teachings. However, they decided to reject Him because they were spiritually blind (John 9:40-41).

• Even the students who lived closer to Jesus seemed to suffer spiritual shortsightedness, because they couldn’t fully understand His teachings (Mark 8:17-21).

• Nevertheless, Bartimaeus was physically blind but had great spiritual sight. He saw Jesus as the promised Messiah very clearly. He was an advanced student.

• Some students need “spiritual milk.” Other students are more advanced and can have “solid food.” (Hebrews 5:12-14)

• The more time we spend with Jesus, the better we’ll understand His teachings.