The Red Cloud chief., 1912-04-18
INTERNATIONAL,
SUNDNSCI1OOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR APRIL Fl.
THE APPOINTING OF THE
TWELVE.
Wy r. q. SELLERS. Director Of Even.
Ing Department. Tho Moody Bible In
. stitute Of Chicago.)

TWELVE.
LESSON TENT--3:7-le and Matt. b:13.
GOLDEN TEXT-"Ye did not choose
me. but chose you. and appointed YOU.
that ye go and bear fruit."-John 1915
R. W.
Things do not happen IN the realm
Of religion. they come to pass. Nc
man can alone accomplish any great
task. Every great leader has been
blessed by one or more equally grent
helpers. Luther had his Melancthon;
Wesley had his brother Charles, Whit
field and others: Moody had Whittle
Bliss, Sankey and more. These lead
ers but followed "in 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 OBJ.
tain help and to begin to teach those
who were afterward to take up his
work. but like every other act, he de-
sired to teach lesson to those who
were SO carefully observing his life.
So It was that the significant mum.
Der OF twelve. corresponding to the
twelve tribes. ut once confirmed his
assumption of the Mcssiahship. This
meant that in him those wondrous
prophecies were being fulfilled. and It
also served to stimulate those upon
whom the choice fell. Moses who led
,,t ~ hnI - N
helped (Ex. 1S:17-24 in his work and
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 WELL So with US. Matt.
28:20) Their power is to grow with
usage. for we learn by doing, hence he
sends them forth.
Some ThInos Il 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
IL to be the character Of his repre-
sentatives. He likens them to salt
and to light. Nothing is better for
the whole body than salt and SUM-.
were the words of Pliny. Salt is a
great cleansing agency; It Is a strong
tonic; it has great preservative quail
ties; 1t is great preventive against
corruption. but Jesus adds. II salt
loses its saline quality it becomes
like any other earth; II 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. II he does he Is At
then only to be trodden under the
foot Of man. These disciples are to be
the light Of the world. It is a good
thing to preserve. to purify. to cleanse.
but It Is q 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 cau1
tious Thomas, the plotting practical
Judas, "who also betrayed him."
These are the men who are sent forth,
some as public heralds (John 1:36)
and some by personal solicitation
(Jas. 1:41) 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. 1910.
Those whom Jesus sends are to Of
fer his kingdom to men not to force
1t upon them. They must expect to-
be received as he was received and
how that shall be no plainly foretells
(Matt. 10l. Their work shall bring,
variance Upon earth, yes even among
those Of the same family. but the man
who refuses to 60, to take up this
cross. is none Of his, "is not worthy
Of me-"
Jesus saw plainly that the victories
Of his kingdom are often hindered
rather than helped by the presence
Of great crowds ". 12).
Why send out Judas? Undoubtedly
he had all the desired qualifications
for leadership. and chosen as he was
that he might be with him" he need
not have hardened his heart. bringing
upon himself the greater condemna.