Mexico Missouri message., 1912-12-19
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNENSC[I(]OL
LESSON
By T. O. SELLERS. Director OF Eve
ming Department Tho Moody Bible In
stitute Of Chicago)
LESSON FOR DECEMBER q
FOR AND AGAINST HIM.

three divisions /. The mistaken zeal
of the disciples Of Jesus, w. 1850; II.
The intrepid zeal of Jesus, w. 5l.56,
and Ill. The lack Of zeal Oh the part
of some would.be followers OF Jesus.
w. 57-62.
Evidently monopolistic ideas are
not a modern development. The de-
sire to control all religious authority
has given rise to the most damnable
blots on the history Of the Christian
church Christian intolerance is one
of the devils sweetest morscls.
And John answered" not the i'm
petuous Peter. Who it was that had
spoken we do not know, but evidently
1t was Jesus. Two things are without
dispute: On The unknown one was
doing the work, and C2) he was giving
Jesus the glory, Luke 1917 Whether
/ he ceased at the command Of John
we cannot say. 1t has been suggested
that could we have heard the tone OF
Johns voice perhaps We should have
gathered that John was not quite sure
he had done tho right thing, but he is
frank and tells Jesus why he gave his
command, viz, because he followed
not with US"
Work in Christ's Name.
This spirit has always been one OF
the serious drawbacks in the advance
ment of the kingdom. Belong to our
party. follow our methods, or else
quit working. There are, of course,
wrong methods which viii never pro-
/ duce right results, but if a man is do.
/ ing Christ's work and doing it in
/ Christ's name we need to beware of
allowing sellshness, the traditions of
men, or the fact that Eve never saw
it on this wise" to allow us to hinder
/ that man in his work, see Mark 9:39-
/ Al.
Scholars are divided as to the in.
terval Of time between verses 80 and
81. but the second section is a won
derful illumination of the sort of zeal
Jesus desires in his followers. Verse
81 is one of the most sublime in the
entire Bible Where can we find any
thing like it? Jesus saw not the bick-
erings of the disciples as to place and
power; he saw not the Sights cast
upon him by both Jew and Samaritan;
Jesus saw Jerusalem and beyond that
Calvary. and as steadfast as q flint
he set his face to go to Jerusalem
All Of redemption. all of Pentecost
all of this age" and the glorious con-
summation of this age" is bound up
in that intrepid zeal of him who when
the days were well nigh come that
he should be received up" set his face
"steadfastly.'
Certain of the Samarltans refused
to receive him and his party. This
time John has another to speak with
him, James. They again show the
spirit Of intolerance and to it they
add that Of vindictiveness. AS we 90
before him to prepare the way are we
entirely free from making a similar
mistake? These Samaritans acted in
ignorance. Perhaps, as revealed in V.
SO, they saw that he did not intend to
20 to their village anyway (see also
John 4:4042).
Stories Of Three Men.
In the third section we have before
us the stories of three men whom
Jesus met. each of whom lacked suf'
ficient zeal to become his true follow
ers. The first impulsively answers
some emotion Of his heart and as
sures Jesus that he will follow "whith
ersoever thou goest." Jesus did not
rebuke him, for the man had but little
realization of what was implied. an
go with him through the garden" we
sing glibly. Let us pause and honest
ly answer the question, will l go|
Am l willing to pay the price"
John 1920 and I. Peter 2:31.) He
who had set his face steadfastly sim
ply opens as 1t were the deep loneli
, ness OF his heart and gives this man
a faint suggestion of that poverty OF
him who was rich, yet for our sakes
became poor" e Cor. 500. This is
one OF the few references Jesus made
as to his own condition. The second
man seems to be of more Importance
inferentially, at least, for Jesus com
mands him to follow" Notice Jesus
does not say admire me, nor ever
worship me, but follow me-" This
man seems to have a very high sense
e Of duty, his obligation to his parents
and to the amenities of society. Thi'
mans mistake was in placing any
thing, no matter how important, II
the place of the kingdom. Jesus doet
not mean for us to neglect such {
plain duty, but this man is pleading
= for a delay, and had it not been thil
excuse it would have been some othe
one
The third man also had something
he wanted to do first. He expressed
: great determination ". 6D, but lik'
l Lots wife, he wanted one more lool
> at the world he was going to leave
} Christ's words are significant. ODE!
the prompting of your heart. Do no
look backward to the world, but lool
forward to the kingdom. The onl.
/ possibility of your running the rae
before you, of blowing a straight fur
row, is like the Master TO set your fac
"steadfastly." If we hang onto tn
world we are none of his" If W,
hono IN 10 him wa rnuaf 0iva mn I'm