The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1888-06-15
TILE GREAT COMMISSION.
LESSON XII, SECOND QUARTER. IN
TERNATiONAL SERIES, JUNE ~.


orise Verses I8-aO-Commsntary By
Rev n. q. Hoffman.
tCondensed from Lesson Helper Quarterly, BY
PERMISSION Of n. Hoffman, Philadelphia.
Publisher
IL The eleven disciples appear as the
Representatives OF the entire band Of Christs
followers There we're no doubt many others
beside them who had Travelled the long dis.
lance from Jerusalem to attend this meeting
which Jesus had appointed. He still ap
points places where He will meet His people
Let u be sure to be there The precise
mountain in Galilee 10 not known. Some
think 1t Mount Tabor, or the mountain on
winch He was TRANSPORTED 1t seems to
have been providentially arranged that every
important place where Jesus manifested His
glory should be obliterated from the subse-
quent knowl ledge OF mankind. Enough re-
mains OF the places to attest the truth OF
Christian records, but no one spot connected
with His life can DO certainly identified.
Bethlehem still exists, but there is no trace Of
the place where the manger Graded the won.
drous child. Nazareth Is indicated, but the
carpenter shop and the home Of Jesus cannot
be pointed out One can no more find the
house where the Last Supper was instituted
than the drops Of water that wet the dis.
ciples feet Tourists are shown at least three
places in Gethsemane where Jesus agonized.
The hill Of Calvary and the tomb of Joseph
cannot be surely identified There was to be
no shrine to which idolatrous worshipers
might repair
v II. An immense assembly looked upon
Him he appeared before them. What
afrun - -
hlled their hearts as they looked upon their
Friend who was dead, but now alive before
them "Some doubted" not Of course the
eleven disciples who had doubted, but now
we're convinced, and yet though some doubt
ed. they worshiped Him. Their doubt was
honest, one that could be overcome by evil
denoe Their doubt was not lasting, since
Paul speaks Of them twenty years after az
brethren, the most Of whom were yet living
witnesses OF the reality Of His resurrection.
They were no rash, fanactical enthusiasts.
Their slowness to believe adds immensely to
that bold and unfaltering faith with which
thenceforth they gave witness Of His resur-
rection. 1t is we'll to prove things and then
bold fast
~ Though they may have doubted,
Jesus did not reject them; He only came nearer
to them, giving them convincing proofs.
When they got a closer view of Him, and
when His familiar voice fell upon their ears,
how every trace of doubt must have fedl
Matthew gives us but the most condensed
epitome or substance of what Jesus said on
this occasion. he addressed all present and
all future believers in Him. He asserts that
all power OF government, of guidance, Of in
fuence, Of authority is His, not only on earth
but in heaven. Seated on His mediatorial
throne, He declares that He is the Head Of the
Church, the Guide Of all the nations, the
Director Of the course Of human history, max.
ing the enemies Of religion subserve His pur.
poses he says that He would have power
over nature and its laws; power over the In
ventions Of men, 90 that commerce. with it,
railroads and steamships and telegraphs
should carry His Gospel he tells u that He
has 10 heaven the power Of God, being God
over all the power to give life, pardon and
peace. the power to plant new graces in the
renewed heart. the power to comfort and
strengthen. the power to send the Holy
Spirit yea all the powers that constitute the
divine nature and character were His to ex-
ercse Glorious truth, we have an ever iv
Ing, all powerful Saviour.
10. Christ has brought His disciples to-
gether in order that he might dispense them
over the world to bear the good tidings of
salvation to all men. He tells them that be
cause all power in heaven and earth are His,
therefore should they 60 forth to the ends Of
the earth to proclaim His name All His
power Is pledged to each one Of His servants
for protection and help. They had the
promise Of Christ's eternal and unlimited
L. nnr fnin Ia I'D
awaited them, but they had a
watchword such as conqueror never had to
quicken their zeal and to assure them Of sue
cess Out of weakness they we're made
strong
20 The business of Christ's ministers
and people is to observe all things that
Christ commanded" The word 'observe"
means not merely to do them, but to keep
watch over them The doctrines and pre-
cepts Of Christ are to be protected and handed
down to other generations The preachers
true fidelity consists in this, that he breaches
nothing but what Christ has taught. While
there may be new methods Of teaching, the
ruth Is the same now that it was 1900 years
ago. Nothing is new. nothing becomes obso-
ete We want no new Gospel Christ prom
ses to His true Church His presence to the
ind OF time He does not say II will be, but II
Am" with you. He is an ever present Saviour
By His risen Life, by his Providence, by
His Spirit, Christ has engaged to be with
each one and all of His people for all time.
TO have His presence we must be united to
Him. Nov is Christ with US, then TAT the
md of the world, we shall be with Him where
He is" Schaff HE may hide himself, but
He never absents Himself from u.s." "AL
way e.. all days, every day, week days
md Sundays. fair days and foul days
Though left alone. like orphan children in
, cold. unkind world. the disciples were not
% think they were deserted Their Master
would be ever with them. Though COM
n Ssioned to do work as hard as that of
Noses when sent to Pharaoh, they were not |
discouraged. Their Master would certainly |
De with them Christ is with u.s. always, |
wherever we CO. Hecame to be Emmanuel,
Iod with u.s. when He first came into the
world. He is with MS daily to pardon and
orgive. with us daily to sanctify and
with us daily to defend and keep; |
With us daily to lead and to guide. with us in
orrow and with US in joy; with us in sick
less and with us in health. with US in life |
ind with us in death, with US in time and
With us in eternity. 1t it everything to be
'eal Christian. None have such King, such
, Prioe, suoh , copSta Mt Communion and such |