DH/MH •MM* HW ulMtttl M >M IWMMl (WM> ,, IN BOTTLES TARBORO COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. TARBORO, N. C. HENDERSON LUMBER COMPANY INC. SAW AND PLANING MILL LUMBER AND BUILDING MATERIAL Wholesale and Retail TARBORO, N. C. Compliments R. P. WATSON COMPANY INCORPORATED LEAF TOBACCO WILSON, N. C. WILLIAMS LUMBER CO. LUMBER AND BUILDING MATERIAL WE SELL EVERYTHING TO BUILD ANYTHING WILSON NORTH CAROLINA PASQUOTANK HOSIERY COMPANY Manufacturers of MEN'S SEAMLESS HOSIERY ELIZABETH CITY, N. IS. Person-Garrett Co. INCORPORATED LEAF TOBACCO DEALERS Greenville, N. C. GREETINGS NORTH CAROLINA BOTTLERS ASSOGMDOI, INC. Executive Offices CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON JAN. 27, 1952 1 A HESITANT FOLLOWER Memory Selection: “Verily, ver ily. 1 say unto thee. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3. Les son Text: John 3:1-10; 7:45-52. During his first public appear ance in Jerusalem, during the Passover, Jesus must have made such a deep impression on those who heard him that his influence reached even into the Sanhedrin. Nkodemus, an outstanding teach er in Jerusalem, and a cultured, prominent and highly respected member of the Jewish Sanhedrin, was moved by what he heard and sought a private interview with Jesus Just why Nicodemus chose the night time for his visit is a mat ter of conjecture. Some believe he was afraid to be seen talking with Jesus, while others believe that he chose an evening inter view so that he might have an uninterrupted talk with the Mas ter, who, during the day, was so pressed by the throngs. In addressing Jesus as ‘Rab bi,” Nicodemus acknowledged him, not only as a teacher, but as a “teacher come from God.” He must have asked him a question, such as “How can one enter the kingdom of God?” because, in the recorded conversation between them. Jesus answers that unless one “be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” This was astonishing news to a ruler of the Jews and a Phari see of the Pharisees, who was Surprised that^ he would be re quired to undergo any change whatever in order to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus explained that one’s physical birth was not enough, but "except one be born of water and the Spirit, he can not enter the. Kingdom of God." “Of water”—a reference to the ; necessity of repentance and wash | ing a^ay of sins, symbolized by the act of baptism, and “of the Spirit"—referring to the need of a positive attachment of the in net life to an abiding source of moral help, which, according to Charles R. Brown, “When a man, by repentance and faith, has been horn anew of water and of the Spirit, he has already entered the Kingdom of God.” N'icodemus could not compre hend the saying of Jesus, which was not surprising as his piety was cold and mechanical, an obed ience to the outward ritual rather than to the inward movings of the heart. Jesus referred him to j the marvels of nature—the wind whose force we know but whose origin we know* nothing of and, yet, we know it is present in the world. He declared: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee. We speak that which we know, and bear witness of that which we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I told you earthly things and ye believe not, how can ye believe heavenly things?’ The next time we set* Nico demus, he is sitting in the San hedrin. waiting to hear the report of the men who had been sent to arrest Jesus. These men had heard Jesus teach and were greatly affected by his message The Pharisees were disgusted and aneeringly asked: “Are ye also deceived? Have any of the rul ers or of the Pharisees believed on him ? But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.” This was more than Nicodemus could take and he arose and asked, “Doth our law judge any man. before it hear hjm, and know what he doetA?” When he | accused them of manufacturing , flimsy excuses to bolster their prejudices, they turned their ! Some of The Things We Lend Money on ;v f'iani odi Walt I.-** Jr welry MepN riothiaa Tool* Silverware Shot Cana Rifle* Pistol* Trunk* Adding Machine* B*JW Suit C*»e* 'fnslrul Inxtr'mrnU Kodak* Typewriter* All (tutune** Strictly Confidential. When in Need of Money We Never Fail You. See as for bargain in diamond*, watches, jewelry, clothing, etc RELIABLE LOAN CO. 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While others, including most of his disciples, forsook him and fled, we find this man boldly proclaim ing his love for Jesus, demon strated in loving service. While we have no further rec ord of Nieodemus, we cannot be lieve that he returned to Ids ofd life but was a “new man" in Christ. GREETINGS U. S. Casualty Co. 523 N. Tryon St. Tel. 5-6031 CHARLOTTE, N. C. $525.00 Parkor-tardaor 60* |j |M| m w. SEARS AND SAVE -\— DACOTAH COTTON MILL Manufacturers of SHEETINGS AND DRILLS Lexington, North Carolina Sinclair Lumber Co. Incorporated MANUFACTURERS AND WHOLESALERS Lon< Leaf and Short Leaf Pine Lumber Flooring, Ceiling, Siding v \ Dimension Timbers a Specialty LAUR1NBURG, N. C. “PUN THE YEARS AHEAD TODAY ... THE HOME SECURITY WAY" Over 350 North Carolina agent* ready to serve yon with a family protection plan tailored to your needs .... A Bascorn Baynes, President Geo. 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