The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-03-21
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDGYSC[IOOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR MARCH "a.
FEAsTING AND FASTING.
CBy e. o. SELLERS. Director of Even
ing Department, The Moody Bible In
stitute of Chicago)

LESSON TEXT-Mark 213-22.
GOLDEN TENT came not TO call |
the righteous, but sinners Mark 211
Levi Matthew, who calls himself by |
the opprobrious title of "the publican
represents that class of grating pa |
triots who through all ages have ex-
emplified the seven cardinal points of |
a politician, viz, "the two loaves and
five fishes" Men who will weep over
sentimental patriotism and serve the
oppressor for profit Better still, how
ever, Matthew is type of conversion
I'm that he left all and followed Jesus.
No weeping, but rather great rejoicing
for he made feast; no record of
great conviction, though he had
enough to act at once upon Jesus
invitation. II was a brief, sudden
call but what vast results were in
volved. First a demonstration upon
his part. secondly a demonstration
upon the part of Jesus, and lastly a
record of the life of the Master that
has been termed the most important
book ever written. Chronologically
this lesson follows that of last Sunday.
In Luke's account we are told of the
feast Matthew prepared that he might
entertain Jesus. Some believe that
Jesus began his work by trying to win
the Jews through teaching in their
synagogues and that. receiving him
or not, he turns to those outside of
the circle of the scribes and the phari-
sees. Be that as It may, we know
Il Nl.yN NInN td ralN
should consort with publicans and
with sinners.
Came to Call Sinners.
Jesus hears OF their complaint and
his reply is fine bit of irony and
sarcasm. "They that are whole have
no need of a physician but they that
are sick. You self righteous Phari-
sees. why do you complain If you are
all right and these be all wrong, why
then not let me minister to those that
need me?" At the same time Jesus
utters one of his greatest and most
comforting sayings, 81 came not to call
the righteous but sinners"
Jesus chooses one of their own 80
cial outcasts to write the only dis
tinctly Hebrew account of his life; one
who had been faithful as a business
man to be a leader and historian;
one willing to renounce all, say fare
wen to ambition and follow him.
Following this, the disciples OF John
the Baptist and of the Pharisees are
fasting and they observe that the dis
ciples of Jesus are not so engaged.
They came to Jesus with the question
and his reply is perfectly logical
one, "Why should they fast, am | not
with them?" "Do you fast at your
weddings while the bridegroom is pres
ent?" The day is to come, however,
when he is to be taken away, then
there shall be times for fasting
Jesus has feasted with "many pub
licanslicans; when the bridegroom
returns he will sit down with many
publicans and sinners in glory whom
he has associated with in order that
he might save them. Are We follow
ing his example? IL so, let us be sure
we do 1t from the same motive. The
disciples of John did the right thing
~ bring their perplexities TO Jesus.
D. ~" their question as we have
on a1d. we are now in the day he
r.e.ricns when there is place for
farting. .esus teaches US in his ref
c.crco - tie wine bottles 0eather
clrs thich could bear but one
stretching I-ccCg5 due to fermenta-
ten OF the w'rc). that we are to be
J. - 60 Ggurc Eln him and must leave
The cid ilfe cnd habits. We are not
10 make patchwork OF this new Cos
pei and the cd Law.
His Work That Of Physician.
1''cro are two difficulties thus pre-
s-.'ed ~ this lesson; first, that Je-
s's should hold fellowship with those
pr~perly not of his circle or social
standing for he was a rabbi or teach
er, aud, secondly, that he did not nor
did his disciples observe fasting. Je-
sus admits the character of the COM
pany he kept, but his reply was, Il
came for this purpose to call not the
righteous but the unrighteous." His
work was to be that of a Physician.
He assumes that his authority Is not
of man but of God, and that this min
lstry Is to bring JOY. Jesus had emp
tied himself that he might come and
when he was TO leave there it would
be time enough for his disciples to
fast. Jesus was not merely one who
came to teach a system of ethics a
little higher than the prophets. Je-
sus is more than good man or even
a holy man; he is the Great Physician,
able to heal both body and soul,
Saviour
Before these lost ones can be saved,
however, they must realize they are
lost, for we cannot save those who
win not acknowledge themselves as
being lost. When we acknowledge we
are sinners he will save us q Tim.
1,15). Turn a deaf ear to his call
and there is no more hope (Luke