The Nevada County picayune., 1912-04-19

B
 GOLDEN TEXT-.Ye did not choose
 me. but l chose you. and aIs1inted you,
 that ye go and bear fruit. John 15 .l6 Q&. V0.
 Things do not happen in the realm
 of religion. they come to pass. No
 man can alone accomplish any great
 task. Every great leader has been
 blessed by one or more equally great
 helpers. Luther had his Melancthon; i;
 Wesley had his brother Charles, Whit
 field and others; Moody had Whittle,
 Bliss. Sankey and more. These lead CTS but followed fin his steps"
 Jesus ministry made him very much observed and at the same time greatly multiplied his duties and bur dens. When, therefore. he chose these disciples he desired not only to ob- tain help and to begin to teach those who were aftersard to take up his work, but like every other act, he de- sired to teach a lesson to those who were so carefully observing his life.
 So 1t was that the significant num- Der of twelve. corresponding to the twelve tribes, at once confirmed his assumption of the Messiahship. This meant that in him those wondrous prophecies were being fulfilled, and 1t also served to stimulate those upon whom the choice fell. Moses who led this people out of Egypt had to be helped (Ex. 18:17-24) in his work and a greater who is to found new kingdom calls about him those who shall do a greater work than merely to judge the people. Why greater? Because they are not only to judge results but are to change results by altering causes. They are to have power over demons even as the Mas ter, for evil has no rights. The source of their power Is to be Jesus for he Is to be with them"-power and pro- lection as we'll So with us (Matt. 28:20) Their power Is to grow with usage. for we learn by doing, hence he sends them forth.
 Some Things 1t Teaches and Why.
 This lesson is different from our previous one where Jesus first called his disciples Luke tells us that these twelve were selected from among the rest of the disciples. The greater nearness and more extended author ity of these messengers" called upon them greater testings than the others who were disciples or learners"
 Matthew tells us what Jesus said is to be the character of his repre- sentatives. He llkens them to salt and to light Nothing Is better for the whole body than salt and sun" were the words of Pliny. Salt is 8 great cleansing agency; 1t Is a strong tonic; 1t has great preservative quail ties: 1t is 6 great preventive against corruption, but Jesus adds. If salt loses its saline quality 1t becomes like any other earth: 1t has no dis tinguishing essential. characteristic. Let not the Christian. who Is the salt of the earth" lose his identity, lose his saltness and become like the world about him. If he does he Is fit then only to be trodden under the lOOb Oi lGCno dloCiHieS dlC kO po the light of the world. It Is good thing to preserve, to purify, to cleanse. but 1t Is a greater thing to energize, to direct, to lead.
 How Men Are Saved
 These apostles came from many walks in life and represent varied tenn peraments. The aggressive Peter and the other "son of thunder" who would call down fire upon those who walked not with Jesus. The reflective cau- tious Thomas, the plotting practical Judas. "who also betrayed him" These are the men who are sent forth, some as public heralds (John 126l and some by personal solicitation Gas. 1:4D to win yet other followers.
 Men are saved through saved men and those whom he sends forth are those who have first learned to fol- low Their work Is made permanent only as they "abide" in him. God wants the hearing ear. the believing heart and the confessing mouth (Rom. 10:1G.
 Those whom Jesus sends are to of- fer his kingdom to men not to force 1t upon them. They must expect 10 be received as he was received and how that shall be he plainly foretelis (Matt 10). Their work shall bring variance upon earth, yes even among those of the same family, but the man who refuses to go to take up this cross, Is none of his. 'is not worthy of mo"
 Jesus saw plainly that tho victories Of his kingdom are often hindered rather than helped by the presence of great crowds (v. 12).