The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-12-20
INTERNATIONAL
NNMSOOOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR DECEMBER u
Ry f. o. SELLERS. Director OF Eve
nins Department The Moody Bible In
stitute OF Chicago)
FOR AND AGAINST HIM.
LESSON rExr-Lnka a.4a-s,.

Inlb AesSOu naturally IaHB into
three divisions: /. The mistaken zeal
Of the disciples of'Jesus, w. 1850; IL.
The intrepid zeal Of Jesus, w. 51-56,
and III. The lack OF zeal on 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 or the history Of the Christian
church. Christian intolerance is ons
Of the DEVILS sweetest morssls.
And John answered" not the i'm
p~etuous Peter. Who it was that had
spoken we do not know, but evidently
1t was Jesus. Two things are without
dispute: % The unknown one was
doing the work, and ~ he was giving
Jesus tho 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 the 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
IA rfv fz1IAuy 1,,r r,At1Hla -. 49,
quit working. There are, Of course.
wrong methods which will never pro-
duce right results, but if a mar Is do
ing Christ's work and doing it in
Christ's name we need to beware of
allowing selfishness, the traditions Of
Blen, or the fact that I'VE never saw
1t on this wise" to allow us to hinder
that man In his work, see Mark 9:39
ii.
Scholars are divided as to the in.
terval Of time between verses so and
N61, but the second section Is a WON
derful illumination Of the sort of zeal
Jesus desires In his followers. Verse
81 Is II 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 say Jerusalem and beyond that
Calvary, and IS steadfast as a flint
The set his face to go to Jerusalem
All Of redemption, all OF Pentecost,
oil 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." As Jesus began this
Journey he sent messengers before
his face" v. 50. That same glorious
privilege Is ours today, Matthew %:
10. 1t is a great opportunity and a
solemn duty.
Certain Of the Samaritans 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 1t they
add that of vindictiveness. AS we go
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.
IS, they saw that he did not intend to
go to their village anyway (see also
John ~4:40-42). Jesus this time re-
buked in the disciples this spirit OF
consciousness and pride, We need
to remember his constant emphasis
upon humility. Many a personal work,
er becomes angry with those who
fail to accept Jesus and exhibit this
spirit Let him remember that he
will not receive commendation for his
zeal, but rebuke. And they went to
another village" The day OF final
Judgment had not yet arrived. These
people simply did not receive him;
the day Of opportunity raj not yet at
an end. What a contrast Is here
shown between the spirit Of Jesus and
that OF his disciples. 1t 10 our priv
lege to be his heralds. Let US be very
careful not to assume authority which
rtghtfully belongs to him.
Stories Of Three Men.
In the third section we have before
Us the stories Of three men whom
Jesus met, each Of whom lacked SUI
ficient zeal to become his true follow
srs. The first impuIsively answers
some emotion OF his heart and as
sures Jesus that he will follow width
rsoever thou goest." Jesus did not
rebuke him, for the man had but little
realization OF what was implied. "Th
go with him through the garden" We
sing glibly. Let us pause and honesE
iy answer the question, VIII goL
"Am l willing to pay the priceF
John 1920 and I. Peter 2:31,) ne
who had set his face steadfastiy sam
ply opens as 1t were the deep lonen.
ness OF his heart and gives this man
q faint suggestion Of that poverty OF
him who was rich. yet for our sakes
became poor" q Cor. 500. This 10
one Of the few references Jesus maos
as to his own condition. The seconu
man seems to be OF more Importance
inferentially, ut least, for Jesus com'
mands him to follow" Notice jesus
does not say admire me, nor ev"
worship me, but follow me" TINS
man seems to have a very high sense
Of duty, his obligation to his parents
and to the amenities Of society lm'
mans mistake was In placing any
thing, no matter how Important,
the place of the kingdom. Jesus aoes
not mean for us to neglect sucn
plain duty. but this man is pleaatus
for a delay, and had 1t not been ,ns
excuse it would have been som QUIZ
His trouble is that OF thousanuy