Mexico Missouri message., 1912-04-18

I
OF religion. they come TO pass. No /
man can alone accomplish any great /
| task. Every great leader has been /
/ blessed by one or more equally great /.
I helpers. Luther had his Melancthon;
/ Wesley had his brother Charles, Whit 7.
| field and others; Moody had White, I,
/ Bliss, Sankey and more. These lead
/ ers but followed Gin his steps"
Jesus ministry made him very
much observed and at the same time
/ greatly multiplied his duties and bur
dens. When. therefore, he chose these
disciples he desired not only to OBJ
tain help and to begin TO teach those
who were afterward TO take up his
work, but like every other act, he de-
sired to teach a lessen TO those who
were so carefully observing his life.
SO It was that the significant num-
Der Of twelve. corresponding to tho
twelve tribes, at once confirmed his
assumption of the Messiahship. This
meant that in him those wondrous
prophecies were being fulfilled, and It
also served to stimulate those upon
whom the choice fell. Moses who led
this people out OF Egypt had to be
helped (Ex. 1S:17-24) in his work and
a greater who is TO found new
kingdom calls about him those who
shall do n greater work than merely
to Judge the people. Why greater?
Because they arc not only to judge
results but are to change results by
altering causes. They are 70 have
power over demons even as the Mas
ter, for evil has no rights. The source
Of their power is to be Jesus for he
Ia 70 be with them"-power and pro-
lection as we'll SO with us. Matt.
2S:2O) Their power is TO grow with
usage, for we learn by doing. hence he
sends them forth
Some Things II Teaches and Why.
This lesson is different from our
previous one where Jesus first called
his disciples. Luke tells us that these
twelve were selected from among the
rest of the disciples. The greater
nearness and more extended author
ity OF these messengers" called upon
them greater testings than the others
WHO were disciples or learners"
Matthew tells us what Jesus said
, is TO be the character OF his repre-
sentatives He lkens them 10 salt
and to light. Nothing Is better for
the whole body than salt and sun"
we're the words OF Piny. Salt is a
great cleansing agency; 1t is a strong
tonic; II has great preservative quail
ties II Is a great preventive against
corruption, but Jesus adds. II salt
loses its saline quality it becomes
like any other earth: 1t has no dis
; tingulshlng essential, characteristic.
Let not the Christian. who Is "the salt
OF the earth" lose his identity, lose
his sadness and become like the
world about him. II he does he Is fit
t then only to be trodden under the
foot Of man. These disciples are to be
: the light of the world. It Is a good
thing TO preserve, to purify, TO cleanse.
but It is a greater thing to energize.
e to direct, to lead.
How Men Are Saved.
= These apostles came from many
=, walks in life and represent varied tenn
! peraments. The aggressive Peter and
the other "son Of thunder" who would
call down fire upon those who walked
not with Jesus. The reflective eau.
tious Thomas. the plotting practical
Judas, who also betrayed him"
q These are tho men who are sent forth.
= some as public heralds John 1880
and some by personal solicitation
(Jas. 1:4D 10 win yet other followers.
Men are saved through saved men
and those whom he sends forth are
those who have first learned to fol.
low. Their work is made permanent
only as they abide" In him. God
wants the hearing ear. the believing
heart and the confessing mouth
= (Rom. 1919.
Those whom Jesus sends are TO of.
fer his kingdom TO men not to force
II upon them. They must expect to
be received as he was received and
u how that shall be he plainly foretells
= Matt. 100. Their work shall bring
variance upon earth. yes even among
those Of the same family, but the man
who refuses to go. 10 take up this
cross. is none Of his, rs not worthy
y Of me"
Jesus saw plainly that the victories
. OF his kingdom are often hindered
u rather than helped by the presence
: Of great crowds ". 12).
Why send out Judas? Undoubtedly
he had all the desired qualifications
for leadership, and chosen as he was
a that he might be with him" he need
not have hardened his heart, bringing
n upon himself the greater condemna.
g ton. Jesus had a three-fold work for
these disciples; % TO preach; (2)
70 heal; (3) to cast out demons
., note the spiritual need is the foremost
II one. Then comes the ministry CT
healing, to inyert the order is to pre-,
u vent the teaching OF the Book. As
L to the third it is evident It was some,
/ thing different than disease.