Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-06-01
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.
Topic For tho Week Beginning June s.
Comment by Rev. 5. IL. Doyle.

Topic For the Week Beginning June 3.
Comment by Rev. 5. IL. Doyle.
ToPIC.-Christ's mission on earth.-John K,
f-lS
Christ's mission on Garth was to
"seek and to save that which was lost ~
it was to give divine life to those who
had lost it by sin and who could not
obtain it in any other way. The one
sole object of His coming into the
world, by His own testimony, was to
give this divine. spiritual life, which
would result in mans salvation. Il am
come, He says. that they might have
life, and that they might have it more
abundantly." This divine life was the
greatest need Of man, and in making it
possible Christ became the greatest ben
efactor Of the human race.
Christ's mission to give life was a
mission of unselfshness. He came not
To receive, but to give. False Christs
had arisen, hirelings, but their concern
was net fer the sheep, who needed life,
but for themselves. In moment of
danger they were ready to flee, willing
to sacrifice the sheep if necessary TO
save themselves. They We're thieves and
hirelings, inspired alone by self adyan-
tage and self ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
Christ's mission was fulfilled by the
giving of His own life. 81 am the Good
Shepherd; the Good Shepherd giyeth His
life for the sheep" Il lay down My
life for the sheep He died Himself
that others might have life. 1t was nee
essary that Christ should die before
man could have life. We may differ as
to the cause of the necessity, but can
not deny the fact. Christ Himself has
testified to this necessity. AS Moses
lifted up the serpent in the Wilderness,
even so the Son of Man must necessity
be lifted up to give eternal life. To
the disciples on the way to Emmaus,
after His resurrection, He said, Ought
not Christ to have suffered these things
and to have entered into glory Thus
Christ Himself declares the necessity of
His death, and by His death alone was
He able to gain life, to accomplish His
mission on earth. 1t was only when He
had been lifted up and the end Of life
was Immediately before Him that He
could exclaim, sit is finished" Then
duQ tuGu ULIy udQ Liz ptIIO1 Ilcu IuS
work that God had given Him to do
Christs mission should be the mis-
sion of all Christians. AS His one aim
in life was to give spiritual and eternal
life to those who had it not, so this
should be our aim and our mission. And
as in His case it required self sacrifice
to accomplish it, so it will in ours.
Christians live too much to themselves
and for themselves. Our Master lived
for others, leaving Us an example that
we should follow. His last commission
to His disciples was go and preach to
every creature, seek and save that
which is lost Are we doing what Jesus
did when upon earth? Are we doing
what Jesus would do were He in our
places today? Millions are calling for
the bread of life. Let US not send them
away, but let US hear His voice saying
to US "Give ye them to eat, and let US
do it.
Bible Readings lisa. Il, Il; Xxi, ID :;
Eek. xXxiy, 1I24; Math. xvi, 81; w,
,17-l9; Luke ii, 1852; iv, 1921; *,
81, %; XIV, Ito; xix, lilo; John Xiii,
1911; Heb. ii, oil; xiii, 20, 81;
Pet. ii, 2020.