The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-09-05
LESSON FOR SEPT. 8
THE MISSION OF THE TWELVE.

THE MISSION OF THE TWELVE.
LESSON TEXT-Matt. s:S5 to lo:1S and
1870 TO 1l:1.
GOLDEN TExT-"He that receiveth
you receiveth me, and he that receiveth
me receiveth him that sent me."-Matt.
1870
The first verse OF our lesson is a
vivid picture of the life Of our Lord.
Going about from village to village.
he taught, healed and preached the
good tidings OF his new kingdom.
why3 Not only because Of his COM
passionate heart as revealed in the
second verse of the lesson, but also
as a proof OF his claims and, that be-
lieving ye might have life through his
name" John 20:30, 81. This does not.
however, lessen the force Of this SEQ
ond verse, for Jesus as the true Shep-
herd was indeed touched with q feel
ing OF our infirmities." Seeing the
multitude thus without a shepherd. SO
faint and weary as to lay down and
knowing that his great work was to
be carried on by others after he had
finished" It upon Calvary, he makes
special provision by choosing the
twelve and telling them definitely how
to carry on his ministry.
Jesus realized that no one man can
minister to all others except as he
multiplies his personality in the lives
of others. So It is that he gives the
church Of today powerful example OF
how to answer the prayer Of verse SS
by his practical method suggested In
verse 1 Of chapter 10. His vision OF
verse 36 is the passion of his life and
he intends 1t to be the passion Of our
| lives.
Disciples Restricted.
Following this introduction We find
a list of the peculiarly chosen ones
who are to be his vice-gerents after
his passing, and from verse 5 on We
find the charge he delivers to them.
There is in this charge, first, the note
of limitation, verses to 10; secondly,
the note of warning, verses 16 to 20,
and thirdly the note Of comparison,
verse "a to the end Of this chapter
and including 1911. True, in this les
son we have only the first section, the
limitation together with the final
words of the charge which in reality
amounts to a complete Identification
OF his apostles with himself and his
life of ministry.
of these disciples. First the three
who formed that inner circle, Peter,
James and John, and with them An
drew, who first brought Peter to Je-
sus John 1:4D. After these the
names are in groups of two, and 1t
was as such they were afterwards
sent out, Mark 6;7. So we today are
not alone, Matt. 2S: 20. Acts lis.
Let us observe the restriction placed
upon these disciples. They are to
minister not to the Gentiles nor even
the Samaritans, though Jesus did both
during his life, John A and Matt.
1922, but not so these whom he now
is sending, at least not till his work is
complete and Israel has had its day
of opportunity. After Calvary this re-
striction is removed, as We can see
from the book of Acts.
Another restriction is in the mes
sage and the method. The message
Is to be the good news of the king
dom. They are to herald forth" that
It is at hand. That the Messiah has
come. We are told that they are not
to force the acceptance of their mes
sage. That in its proclamation they
shall receive all sorts of opposition.
That they must look well to their
own character. they are to be as sheep
amidst wolves, they shall be hailed
before courts and potentates, but such
persecution shall be witness against
their prosecutors for "his sake"
Bearing Of Disciples.
What is to be their method? First
it is to be that Of absolute depend
ence upon the Father. 1t is true that
Paul labored with his own hands, but
at the same time he accepted the
bounty OF the churches and urged that
such fruit might abound, Phil. 4:10
10, IT. Jesus Is here teaching us the
other lesson that the "laborer is wor
thy OF his hire" The disciple is tc
heal. The ministry of hospital, nurs
ing and godly physicians is marvel
GUS fulfillment of this command. OBJ
serve we'll the ministry Of medica
missions. There is no greater inspi
ration to the Christian church. Wha
Is to be the bearing OF these disciples
II is to be that OF dignity and self
respect, see Luke 1876.
While II is true the disciple is Il
offer and not to force his message
upon the people. yet for Israel to re
ject was indeed a worse state thar
that OF Sodom and Gomorrah. The
overthrow and scattering of the Jew
fish nation is a byword In history.
As to the note Of compassion. w
should read all of this chapter.
Remember the dignity of our work
Remember that we go in the name o
One who came to "shew forth the Fla
Their" Remember that as We thu
"forth-telp and shew forth our Fathe
and that as We receive others and 9th
ers receive US We honor the Father
Social service is good. but let II b
done In the name Of a disciple and 4
y