Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-08-02

, finding; the man that sold all that he
had. that he might buy the hidden
treasure, was not any one of us, hut
Jesus. The field itself was worthless,
but it was well worth His buying it for
the treasure it contained. As Jesus spoke
this parable to His disciples He was try
ing to tell them, not to sell all that they
had to buy the kingdom, but that he
had sold all that He had in order to buy
the church, which might be worthless in
itself, but was worth while because it
contained those who were as precious
jewels unto God.
THE PEARL.
Likewise the parable OF the pearl of
great price is frequently misunderstood.
Here the merchantmen who is seeking
goodly pearls, and when he found one
of great price, sells all that he has and
bought it, is likened unto the kingdom
of heaven. What has just been said in
reference to the hidden treasure is appli-
cable here. Again let me ask a question
or two; can you buy Christ? Suppose
that you were 10 sell all that you have,
or all that you expect to have would
that be the price of a single drop of
His blood? Compared with all other
pearls, Jesus is the pearl of great price,
and it would be worth all that we have
to sell to purchase Him. But He is the
buyer Jesus values you so highly that
He gave up everything that He had in
order that He might redeem you.
This was the truth that Jesus was
teaching His disciples as He talked tC
them alone. Bear this in mind when you
| arc studying the next lesson about the
| storm, and you will see an added sig
nificance to it, that you have never seer
/ before if you have not grasped thi:
truth that is here presented. The prac.
teal side of it is this: If Jesus would
sell all that He had in order to buy me
it should call forth all of the efforts
Of which l am capable to show my graf.
itude to Him for His great sacrifice.
THE NET.
There wa some other parable which
Jesus gave them that afternoon as they
were alone: it was the parable of the
net, which, when cast into the sea, gath
cred of every kind which, when full
was drawn to shore. and the good fist
| gathered into vessels, but the bad cas-
away. So it shall be at the end of the
a ge: the angel shall come forth and sep
arate the wicked from the just, and
should cast away the wicked into tht
| furnace of fire. Jesus is the fisherman
In drawing the net. He gathers both q
/ Judas and a John, but Judas is cast
away.
He asked His disciples if they under
stood these things, and when they an
swered yes, He said: 1.-THE good house
/ holder brings forth things both new and
old" There were many things which
they had not understood, but which they
were now coming to understand. There
were old things which had been made
new, there was the new zeal which they
should display. knowledge brings re
| sponsibility. Their very knowledge
which Jesus gave them, made it come
upon them to show a new zeal which
! they had not shown before.
You have knowledge today which you
did not possess before possibly. God
is granting to you new visions of Him
self day by day; you are Gods property
were bought with a price. He has
considered you Of such value as to sell
all that He has in order to procure you
for His own. Out of your treasure
house bring things. both new and old
henceforth, that others may have the
knowledge of Him; that the world may
know the BUYER today.