The St. Louis Republic., 1901-05-11
THE suNDAY.scHooL LESSON.
The Great Commission (Matthew
xviii, 16-20.
Prepared for The Republic by J. E. Gilbert D.
D., Secretary Of American Society OF Religious

for The By F. Of p
INTRoDUCTIoN-It should be remem-
bered that the life of Jesus Christ in this
world had constant reference to the welfare
OF others. He was so. filed with the spirit
Of benevolence that he planned to be 4
blessing after leaving the world. 1t was
of disciples. that he gathered them together
and instructed them for nearly three years,
that they might be his witnesses and repre-
himself and enlarge his work by them. This
plan shaped his course OF procedure. He
left many things undone for them to do.
His post-resurrection work and influence
We're all directed to them. We have seen
how by different methods at various times,
he came to convince certain persons and
purposes. The women. the two journeying
to Emmaus, the ten in the upper room,
Thomas the doubter, and Peter the fisher
to their dispositions. We shall now con-
slider In what terms and spirit he sent out
these men to their lifework.
RETREAT-It is probable that the events
by the seashore studied last week preceded
what we are now to consider, although on
prepared for this later Interview The
eleven disciples appeared to be separated
from the larger body of followers. and they
Galilee. that section that had been so dear
to Jesus through his ministry. No one
knows what mountain was selected for this
been made concerning 1t. The greater num-
Der think 1t was the same as that on which
tn, the sermon % was delivered. Matt. v. ~
appointment which Jesus had made. pos
sibly at the sea, but not recorded. but GER
tainly 90, anticipated a, in his remark Matt.
Verse 10) The mountains were frequently
chosen by men in Scriptural times for spir-
isual purposes. as Sinai. Hermon. oHvet.
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deep solitude. the inspiring grandeur Of such
places Is well known
WoRsHIP-The eleven sought the place
nrst and Jesus came afterwards. They full
filled his command and found their reward
Ana when they saw him they worshiped
was there some unusual splendor encircling
MIS- brow. as some have suggested? Did
his glory beam forth from his person as
on few other occasions. notably when
Moses Moses and and, Elias came to talk with him?
spontaneously in the mind cannot be an.
sWered. The historian only makes us know
psychical, the disciples were brought to a
reverent spirit For a long time they had
seen and heard the matchless teacher and
tervals recognizing his true character
lAfatt: XVI. 16), but more frequently think
Ing OF him as temporal prince who would
bestow favors. mark TX, 80 Now they are
convinced that he is indeed divine per-
son, the promised Messiah who would set
up spiritual kingdom. and they offer the
alted nature and station.
DOUBT-It is exceedingly difficult to bring
company Of men into common thought
and purpose. The more honest they ore
the greater will be the difficulty Each
must move in his own way. some slowly
and cautiously. others quickly and boldly
The differences in the Christian Church
have risen less from evil spirit than
from a desire to be right. And so 1t seems
that In this small band Of eleven there was
not perfect unanimity of sentiment. Some
doubted" the text declares Great frank
ness prompted the writer. who was one Of
them, to make the confession. The state
ment Il valuable as showing that even then
there was such integrity among them that
they were following their convictions. But
why did they doubt? Some may have
thought that he who had appeared was
disembodied spirit and not the real Jesus
with his own body. Belief in ghosts was
common 0fark vi. 49), and 1t was vastly
easier. therefore. to conclude that a specrer
was before them than that a dead body
had come to life. Others may have ques-
toned, even admitting that Jesus was with
them alive, whether he were divine. and
therefore worthy to receive worship paid
only to God. CSx. Xxx, 81
POWER-Jesus did not forsake the dis
ciples. neither did he reprove them, be-
cause part Of them believed while part
doubted. Nor vet did he separate the phrIs.
rejecting one and retaining the other. He
knew that all wers students in his school,
some having made less progress, but des-
tined to .6raduata Nth h1ror and find .theif
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