Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-04-08
SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON
For April 10, 1910-Matt., 9:35, 1915
BY Dr.. Marion McH. Hull
Golden Text-"FreeIy Ye Hav Received, Freely Give"

One OF the most remarkable things
about the life OF Jesus was the intense
activity He displayed lie crowded into
three short years actions and teachings
that would have done any man credit had
he taken a lifetime to accomplish them.
! say crowded. yet that word does not
express 1t; for everything was done with
posure: with all His activity He
the poise of perfect power and com
found time to pray more than any other
man ever did.
Possibly in nothing did lie show His
activity more than in His missionary
tours. During the early months He visit
ed e. number of points in Judea; He pass
ed through Samaria; then lie made three
tours through Galilee; He preached in the
towns along the coasts OF Tyre and Sidon.
then through Decapolis; and preceded by
the 20 He preached in the towns OF Pe-ea
just prior to His crucifixion.
IN HIS STEPS.
He was a man of action because He
had a vision At the close of the third
tour through Galilee He came back 10
Capernaum, His headquarters, followed
by an enormous crowd of people who
were recipients of His grace, and who
would not separate themselves from His
presence. He could not help thinking OF
the thousands of others who had not fol-
lowed, who were as sheep having no
shepherd pitiful in their lack OF leader
ship. protection. and provision for their
deepest needs He thought of them as
through, ready for the sickle, but in dan
ger of going to waste for lack of labor
ers to gather the harvest in time He
was oppressed by their condition, and in
structed His disciples to pray that the
need might be met. 1t was too much for
Them but not for the Lord of the har-
vest They must ask Him to thrust
forth laborers. He and they prayed. He
spent a whole night in prayer, after
which He selected l. from among those
who for nearly two years now had been
following Him, learning of Him by listen
ing to His words and watching His life.
These He thrust forth: He sent them out
to do as He had done, to follow in His
steps, as He had traced them. He had
been through all the villages fulfilling the
mission on which His Father had sent
Him into the world, teaching, preaching,
healing He had set them terrific
pace; could they follow in His steps? AS
His Father had sent Him into the world,
even so He sent them into the world.
BY HIS POWER.
When we consider the character of the
men He selected, the answer to the ques-
ton might be in the negative. There were
Simon, Andrew, James and John, the
first four; rough fishermen they were,
without learning or experience as preach
ers, teachers or healers. Then there were
the next four, Philip. Nathaniel Thomas
and Matthew; men entirely different from
the others, men who were materialistic,
who had to be shown. Then there were
the last four, James. the less, Jude, his
brother, Simon, the Zealot, and the
traitor, Judas; emotional men, in meas
ure. This was the material, the best at
His disposal, the chief asset being the
variety they presented. Could these men
do as He had done? Could they teach
and preach and heal?
In their own strength the task would
have been entirely too great for them.
But the divine Lord of the harvest never
thrusts forth into the harvest an unpre-
pared or unequipped laborer.. The same
Lord who. called them gave them au-
thority. The United States government
would not send an ambassador without
adequately equipping him for the work
he is to do. The Lord of the harvest not
only called these II into active service,
but equipped them for it. He gave them
authority mote the gift and the Giver;
was it blasphemy? or had He the right
by reason of His oneness with the Faith