The Tupelo journal., 1910-04-08

Suggestion and Practical Thought.
The Great Need of Laborers.-Matt
9:35-10:1. What Immediately followed
the series of miracles studied in our
last lesson? Christ's third preaching
tour of Galilee, going about all the
cities and thickly clustered villages
He taught 'in their synagogues,'
where there was much freedom OF
teaching. The subject of his sermons
was the gospel" of the kingdom, the
announcement that the kingdom OF
heaven was at hand, the reign OF
righteousness and joy and peace. More
over, he healed every sickness and
every disease" Christ saw that most
of the Jewish teachers were blind
guides" They were more concerned
with tithes of mint and anise and cum
min than with the eternal welfare OF
their people.
What was Christ's remedy for this
lack of laborers? Prayer. Definite
prayer for more workers. Prayer di.
rected to "the Lord of the harvest
who is the most interested in getting
the harvest gathered. He sent forth
his twelve disciples"
III. The Laborer's Appointed.-Vs. "a.
| Who were the twelve apostles, and
what significance is there in the way
they paired off?
l. Simon Peter, fisherman of Beth.
saida who came to live in Capernaum,
a man we'll along in years, one of the
first to follow Christ, a man of i'm
pulse yet a rock, as his name implies.
Coupled with Andrew, Peters brother.
another fisherman, a quiet, steady,
thoughtful man, the hidden helper" of
the twelve. He was the first disciple
Of Christ, the evangelist of Peter; he
found the lad with the loaves and
fishes, and he brought the Greeks to
Jesus.
James the SOL of Zebedee and (prob-
ably) of Salome the sister of Mary;
therefore probably a cousin of Jesus
according to the flesh. He was a fish
arman, partner of Peter and Andrew.
Coupled with John, his brother, prob
ably the youngest of the twelve; "the
disciple whom Jesus loved" who be-
came the great apostle of love.
Philip, also of Bethsaida, whose bust
ness is unknown. Coupled with Bar
.holomew, probably Nathaniel, the
Iuick-witted nan who deduced Christ's
Messiahship from the second sentence
u Lord spoke to him.
Th0rnoo Ntha lo,I+;-r J;,o;,J1.
coupled with: Matthew (Levi), the
tax-collector of Capernaum, and doubt
less an extortioner.
James the son of Alphaeus, per.
haps a brother of Matthew, coupled
with: Thaddaeus (Lebbaeus), also
called Judas, the son of James.
Simon the Canaanite (R. " Can
anaean'), coupled with: Judas Isca-
riot, i. e., man of Kerioth, a town of
Judah. Hence he was the only n of
the disciples who was not a Galilean.
Why were they to go forth two by
Two? Mark cd To supplant each
other and encourage each other.
What forms of opposition did Christ
predict? l. That in some places they
would not be received or even listened
to. 2. That they were to be scourged
in the synagogues, in each of which
three magistrates sat, with power to
infict scourging for misdemeanors. g..
They were to be brought before coun-
ellis (the local tribunals of the towns),
and even before Roman governors, like
Felix, Festus, Gallo and Paulus, and
kings, like Herod Agrippa and Nero. 4.
Their own brothers and fathers and
children would turn against them. 5.
1t would come to such a pass that all
men, seemingly, would actually hate
them.
How did Christ encourage the apos-
ties in the face of these trials that
were to come? He prophesied the pun
ishment of their eenmies in the day of
Judgment with penalties more terrible
than would be melted out to the in
iquitous heather cities, Sodom and
Gomorrah.
He reminded them of the Fathers
continual care of them.
Illustration. There was once a le-
gion of Christian soldiers in the service
of a Roman emperor. The mandate
came to the army that all should do
sacrifice to the gods, On pain of death
to every one that refused. The Chris
tan legion to a mar refused, prefer
ring the sacrifice of life itself on the
altar of duty."-James S. Bush.
Christ's call is for such young men and
young women, who scorn to worship
the gods of this world, and are ready
to place their lives and their all at the
feet of their glorious Redeemer.