The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1912-04-12
INTERNATIONAL
SUNlNSCnOOL
LESSON
(By e. o. SELLERS. Director OF Even
ing Department. The Moody Bible ln-
stitute of Chicago)
LESSON FOR APRIL "A.
THE USE OF THE SABBATH

LESSON TExT-Mark 2:23 to S:6.
GOLDEN TExT-"The Sabbath was
made for man and not man for the Sab
bath"-Mark 2:T
That the Christian Sabbath is to be
a Boon and not to be Burden is
the gist Of the teaching Of Jesus
upon that subject. For what is the
Sabbath set aside and to what use
shall we put the time thus set aside,
are and have been through the years
very live questions. That God had So
Geological, physical reasons for setting
aside one day in seven as day
of rest and recreation has led some
to advocate what we know as "Con-
tinental Sunday"-one given over to
pleasure, games, sports, auto rides.
upon the fact that God meant us not
only to rest but also that he "hal-
lowed it," has given us the Puritani-
cal observance that is akin to wor-
ship of this seventh day. Which is
right?
AS we study these two incidents in
the life of our Lord, the plucking OF
the grain and the healing of the with
cred hand, both of which occurred
upon the Sabbath, we can surely find
guidance as to what shall be our OBJ
servance of this day.
Let us look at the first. Passing
through the field the hungry disci-
pies plucked some of the ripened
grain, and sitting 1t IN their hands,
they ate 1t to supply their hunger.
Mind, there was no reaping and gath
ering into barns for the profit of the
owner, but simply the gathering OF
sufficient to relieve the needs of the
moment.
How Jesus Spent Sabbath.
Passing on, Jesus enters the syna-
gague and there found a man having
a withered hand. Again the ever
<'that they might accuse him.
Jesus, knowing their growing antag-
onism, their attitude Of distrust, takes
advantage of the helplessness of the
man to teach these Pharisees the les
son of obedience-yes for once in
scorn he rebukes them; anger and
grief struggled in the heart of Jesus
as he commands the sick man to
stretch forth his hand, and with the
command went power so that the man
stretched forth his hand restored
to its full strength and usefulness.
Is it not sufficient that sin makes
strange bed fellows, as for instance,
the Pharisees consorting with the
Herodians, two parties as opposite as
possible and bitter in their antagon-
ism, taking counsel how they may de-
stroy this young Galilean. The fact
was the disciples had violated no
law of God, but an ordinance of man.
What irony of Jesus tones as he
asked them "did We never read?' The
complaint of Puritanical Sabbath
was never raised by one who has a
loving familiarity with the Word of
God-God gave us the Sabbath, it did
not come by accident.
God will surely reckon with those
corporations and individuals who de-
mand, as shown by the social surveys
of some of the steel towns, for illus
tration, seven days labor each week.
or who in their individual lives are so
engrossed in business and in pleasure
as to deaden and starve their souls,
which are all the time crying out for
God
Jesus anger was at the hardness,
and his compassion for this hardness
of the hearts Of the Pharisees. Let
us avoid the wrath and be subject to
the compassionate pity of God. Last
Sunday we studied the resurrection Of
our Lord. Let us remember that the
Christian Sabbath is a weekly remind
er of that great fact.
Principles Make Christians.
Rules make Pharisees, principles
make Christians. 1t is not, "thus saith
the priest or the council" that is to
govern our actions, for that method
has always served to deadenl our con-
science, hence it is that Jesus said,
desire not sacrifice but mercy. My
kingdom is not to become burden;
1 came to free men from the burden
Of ceremonial observance. l desire
mercy, therefore, if whenever the OPP
portunity comes for you to exercise the
principles Of true religion, to visit the
sick, to relieve the widows and the
fatherless, to relieve human need, to
direct mems thoughts to me in wor-
ship, If it be Sunday or not, you
ought to do it in glad recognition that
the Son of Man came not to be minis
tered unto but to minister. Church
members will have a good deal to an
swer for in lending support to open
shops, and extra labor upon trans
portation facilities on the SABBATH
day.
Weston never walks on Sunday.
Wilbur Wright will not fly upon SUM-
lay. Not all Sunday labor Is Sabbath
breaking, but let us beware we do not
iull keen conscience upon one hand,
Or on the other hand hinder our use
,ulness by conforming our acts to un-
necessary standards, not demanded
lor authorized by Christ. The presi-