The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-03-22

volycd. First Il demonstration upon
his part, secondly n demonstration
upon the part Of Jesus, and lastly a
record Of the life Of the Master that
has been termed the most important
book ever written. ChrOnplOgicaily
this lesson follows that Of last Sunday.
In Luke's account we are told Of tho
feast Matthew prepared that he might
entertain Jesus. Some believe that
Jesus began his work by trying to win
the Jews through teaching in their
~Bynagogues and that, receiving him
or not, he turns TO those outside Of
the circle OF the scribes and the phari-
sees. BE that as 1t may, we know
they murmured greatly that this rabbi
should cousort with publLcans and
with sinners. They would not receive
him and would keep others from him
also.
Came to Call Sinners.
jesus hears of their complaint and
his reply Is a fine bit Of irony and
areas They that are whole have
no need Of a physician but they that
are sick. You self righteous phart.
secs, why do you complain II You are
all right and these be all wrong, why
then not let me minister to those that
need me2' At the same time Jesus
utters one of his greatest and most
comforting sayings, u came not to call
the righteous but sinners" Jesus
cannot a Y the self-eomplaccent right
eous but can and will save those who
will not lift up ever SO much az their
eyes but cry Lord, save me a sinner"
Jesus chooses one OF their W 30
Clal %outcasts to write the only dis.
tinctly Hebrew account OF his life; one
who had been faithful as a business
man to be q leader and historian;
one willing TO r%enounce all, say fare
we'll to ambition and follow him.
Following this, the disciples OF John
the Baptist and of the Pharisees are
fasting and they observe that the dis
ciples Of Jesus are not 80 engaged.
They came to Jesus with the question
and his reply Is a perfectly logical
one, why should they fast, am ! not
with them?" DO you fast at your
weddings while the bridegroom is pres.
ent?" The day is TO come, however,
when he Is to be taken away, then
there shall be times for fasting,
Jesus has Toasted with many pub
iicanslicans," when the bridegroom
returns he will sit down with many
publicans and sinners In glory whom
he has associated with in order that
be might save them. Are we follow
Ing his example? II so, let us be sure
we do 1t from the same motive. The
disciples of John did tho right thing
to bring their perplexities to Jesus.
He answers their, question as we have
seen and we are now In the day he
mentions when there Is a place for
fasting. Jesus teaches us In his ref.
TO tho wine bottles (leather
sacks which could bear but one
stretching process due to fermenta-
ton Of the wine), that we are to be
new creatures In him and must leave
the old life and habits. We are not
to make patchwork Of this new Cos
pei and the old law.
His Work That Of Physician.
There are two difficulties thus pre-
sented IN this lesson; first, that Je-
u should hold fellowship with those
properly not Of his circle or social
standing for he was a rabbi or teach
er, and, secondly, that he did not nor
did his disciples observe fasting. Je-
sus admits the character OF the com.
pany he kept. but his reply was, Il
came for this purpose to call not the
righteous but the unrighteous." His
work was to be that Of a Physician.
He ssumeB that hts al authority is not
man but Of God, and that this MIN
istry Ia to bring Joy. Jesus had emp
tied himself that he might come and
when he was to leave there IL would
be time enough for his Disciples to
fast. Jesus was not merely one who
came TO teach a system of ethics q
little higher than the prophets. .Je-
SUE is more than a good man or even
a holy man; he Is the Great Physician,
to heal both body and soul, a.
Saviour. There is a place and a great
one, for cody consecrated physicians
among the sick and q greater place
'or those who shall point the lost to
he Saviour.
Before these lost ones can be saved.
however, they must realize they are
ost, for we cannot save those who
Will not acknowledge themselves IA
being lost. When we acknowledge we
ire sinners he VIII save US q Tim.
I:15J. Turn a deaf ear to his call
and there is N more hope luke
It has been suggested that the par
lbIe Of the prodigal son and the elder
was uttered at this reast in
-evi's house; probably not, we do not
rnow, but how truly 1t applies. This
representing those lost pub
leans and sinners, and the selfish ED
II brother the self.righteous pharisees.
This lesson divides itself lnao three
divisions:
The call Of Levi. v. 1914.
The feast at Lewis house, ". 1917.