The Tupelo journal., 1912-04-19

that ye go and bear fruit.'-John 1915
(R. w
Things do not happen in the realm
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
helpers. Luther had his Melancthon;
Wesley had his brother Charles, Whit
field and others; Moody had Whittle.
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 lesson to those who
were so carefully observing his life.
So it was that the significant num-
Der Of twelve, corresponding to the
twelve tribes, at once confirmed his
assumption of the Messlahship. This
meant that in him those wondrous
prophecies were being fulfilled, and Il
also served to stimulate those upon
whom the choice fell, Moses who led
this people out Of Egypt had to be
helped (Ex. 18:17-24) in his work and
q greater who Is to found . new
kingdom calls about him those who
shall do q greater work than merely
to Judge the people. Why greater!
Because they are not only to Judge
results but are to change results by
altering causes. They are to 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
Is to be with them"-power and pro-
lection as we'll. So with US. Matt.
2S:20) Their power is to grow with
usage, for we learn by doing, hence he
sends them forth.
Some Things It 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 likens them to salt
and to light Nothing Is better for
the whole body than salt and sun"
were the words of Pliny. Salt is
great cleansing agency; it is strong
tonic; it has great preservative quail
ties; it Is a great preventive against
corruption, but Jesus adds, If salt
loses it's saline quality it becomes
like any other earth; it has no dis
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
then only to be trodden under the
foot of man. These disciples are to be
the light Of the world. 1t Is good
thing to preserve. to purify. to cleanse,
but 1t is a greater thing to energize,
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."
These are the men who are sent forth,
as public heralds John 1867
and some by personal solicitation
GAS. 1:41) to 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. 1O:14).
Those whom Jesus sends are to Of
lCI Ills hluSOOul " uCA l1OL " lOlC O
it upon them. They must expect to
be received as he was received and
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, to take up this
cross, is none of his, "is not worthy
Of me-"
Jesus saw plainly that the victories
of his kingdom are often hindered
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
that he might be with him" he need
no. have hardened his heart, bringing
upon himself the greater condemna-
tion. Jesus had three-fold work for
these disciples: "a to preach; (2)
to heal; (3) to cast out demons
note the spiritual need is the foremost
me. Then comes the ministry of
healing, to invert the order is to pre-
vent the teaching of the Book. AS
to the third it is evident it was some