The Brinkley argus., 1912-09-06
LESSON FOR SEPT. 8
THE MISSION OF THE TWELVE

LESSUN fUh SEfI. Q
 THE MISSION OF THE TWELVE.
 LESSON TExT-Matt. s:35 to 1915 and 10:40 to III.
 GOLDEN TExT-"He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiyeth me receiveth him that sent me."-Matt. 10:40.
 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 Why? Not only because of his com passionate heart as revealed in the second verse of the lesson, but also as proof of bis claims and, "that be lieving ye might have life through bis name," John 20:30, 31. This does not however, lessen the force of this sec ond verse, for Jesus as the true Shep herd was indeed touched with feel ing of our infirmities." Seeing the multitude thus without shepherd. SC faint and weary as to lay down and knowing that his great work was tc be carried on by others after he had Finished" 1t 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 1t is that he gives tho church of today powerful example o how to answer the prayer of verse & by his practical method suggested il verse l of chapter 10. His vision oi verse 38 is the passion of his life ant he intends 1t to be the passion of oui lives.
 p c:sciplss Restricted.
 Following this introduction We fnt list of the peculiarly chosen ones who are to be his vice.gerents afte, his passing, end from serses6 on we find the charge he delivers to them There is in this charge, first, the not, of limitation, verses to IS; secondly the note of warming, verses 16 to 23 and thirdly the note of comparison verse 24 to the end of this chapter nhd including 10:1. True, in this les son we have cnly the first section, the limitation together with the fina' words of the charge which in reality amounts to complete Identification of his apostles with himself and his life of ministry,
 Notice the grouping of the names of these disciples. First tho three who formed that inner circle, Peter James and John, and with them An. drew, who first brought Peter to Je sus (John 1:41). After these the names are in groups of two, and it was as such they were afterwards sent out, Mark 6:7. So we today are not alone, Matt. 2S:20, Acts IS.
 Let Us observe the restriction placed upon these disciples. They are to minister not to the Gentiles nor even the sama4itans, though Jesus did both during his life, John A and Matt. 15:22, but not so these whom he now is sending at least not till his work Is complete and Israel has had it's day of opportunity. After Calvary this re- striction is remove l. as We cnn see from the book of Acts.
 Another restriction is In the nles- sage and the method. The n1essage is to be the good news of the king dom. They are to "herald forth" that it Is at hand That the Messiah has ccme. 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 haled before courts and potentates, but such persecution shall be witness against their prosecutors for "his sake"
 Gearing of Disciples.
 What is to be their method? First, 1t is to be that of absolute depend cnce upon tie Father. It Is true that Paul labored with his own hands, but at the game time he accepted the bounty of the churches and urged that such fruit might abound. Phil. 4:10, Is, IT. Jesus is here teaching us the other lesson that the ''laborer is wor' thy of lis lire" The disciple is to heal. The ministry of hospital, nurs' ing and godly physicians is a marvel. GUS fulfllmeht of this command. Ob. serve we'll the ministry of medical missions. There is no greater inspi' ration to the Christian church. What Is to be the bearing of these disciples! It is to be that of dignity and self respect see Luke 1o:5.
 While 1t is true the disciple is to offer and not to force his message upon the people. yet for Israel to re- ject was indeed worse state than that of Sodom and Gomorrah. The overthrow and scattering of the Jew ish nation is a byword in history.
 As 10 the note of compassion, we should read all of thls chapter.
 Remember the dignity of our work. Remember that we go in the name cf One who came to ''shew forth the Fa' ther." Remember that as We thus ..forth-teils and shsw forth cur Father and that as we receive others and oth. CTS receive us we honor the Father. a~ Avnt lat