The Raymer enterprise., 1912-12-19
INTERNATIONAL,
SUNlYSC[lOQL
LESSON
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 22
FOR AND AGAINST HIM,
by E. o. SELLERS. Director OF Eve
ming Department The Moody Bible In
st!tute OF Chicago)
ESSON TEXT-Luke 9:ie-s2.


This lesson naturally falls into
three divisions: l. The mistaken zeal
OF the disciples OF Jesus. w. 1850; II.
The intrepid zeal OF Jesus. w, 5l-56,
and III. The lack OF zeal on the part
OF some woulj.be followers Of Jesus,
w. 57.62.
Evidently monopolistic ideas are
not a modern development. The de.
sire to control all religious authority
has given rise to the most damnable
blots on the history OF the Christian
church. Christian Intolerance is one
OF the devils sweetest morsels.
And John answered" not the i'm.
petuous Peter. Who 1t was that had
spoken we do not know, but evidently
1t was Jesus. Two things are without
dispute: % The unknown one was
doing the work. and (2) he was giving
Jesus the glory, Luke 1917. Whether
he ceased at the command OF John
we cannot say. 1t has been suggested
that could We have heard the tone OF
Johns voice perhaps we should have
gathered that John was not quite sure
he had done the right thing, but he is
frank and tells Jesus why he gave his
command, viz. because he followed
not with U.s."
Work In Christs Name.
This spirit has always been one of
the serious drawbacks in the advance
,ment OF the kingdom Belong to our
party. follow our methods, or else
quit working. There are. OF course.
wrong methods which will never pro
duce right results, but II man is do.
ing Christ's work and doing it In
Christs name we need to beware OF
allowing selishness, the traditions OF
men. or the fact that we never saw
II on this wise" to allow US to hinder
that man in his work, see Mark 9:39
II.
Scholars are divided as to the in
teryal OF time between verses 80 and
81, but the second section Is a won.
dcrful illumination OF the sort OF zeal
Jesus desires In his followers. Verse
IL Is one Of the most sublime In the
entire Bible. Where can We find any.
thing like It? Jesus saw not the bck.
erings OF the disciples as to place and
power; he saw not the sights cast
upon him by both Jew and Samaritan;
Jesus saw Jerusalem and beyond that
Calvary. and as steadfast as flint
he set his face to go to jerusalem
All OF redemption. all OF Pentecost.
all OF this age" and the glorious con
summation OF this age" is bound up
in that intrepid zeal OF him who when
the days were well nigh come that
he should be received up" set his face
''steadtastly."
Certain OF the Samartans refused
to receive him and his party. This
time John has another to speak with
him. james. They again show the
spirit OF intolerance and to 1t they
add that Of vindictiveness. As we 60
before him TO prepare the way are We
entirely free from making similar
mistake? These Samaritans acted In
ignorance. Perhaps, as revealed in v.
SO. they saw that he did not intend to
go to their village anyway (see also
John 4:i042).
Stories Of Three Men.
In the third section we have before
us the stories OF three men whom
Jesus met. each Of whom lacked suf-
iicient zeal to become his true follow.
ers. The first impulsiyely answers
some emotion OF his heart and as.
| sures Jesus that he will follow with.
ersoever thou goest" Jesus did not
rebrke him. for the man had but little
realization OF what was implied. "I'll
so with him through the garden" we
sing gllbly. Let US pause and honest.
ly answer the question, will I go?"
Am willing to pay the price,"
John l5:2O and |. Peter 2:3l.) He
who had set his face steadtastly sim.
ply opens as It were the deep loneli.
ness OF his heart and gives this man
faint suggestion OF that poverty Of
him who was rich. yet for our sakes
became poor" q Cor. 500. This is
one OF the few references Jesus made
as 10 his own condition. The second
man seems to be OF more Importance.
inferentially. at least. for Jesus com.
mands him to follow" Notice Jesus
does not say admire me, nor even
worship me. but follow me-" This
man seems to have a very high sense
OF duty, his obligation to his parents
and to the amenities OF society. This
mans mistake was in placing any.
thing. no matter how important, In
the place Of the kingdom. Jesus does
not mean for US to neglect such q
plain duty. but this man Is pleading
for delay, and had 1t not been this
excuse 1t would have been some other
| one.
The third man also had something
he wanted to do first. He expressed
great determination ". 6I. but like
Lots wife. he wanted one more look
at the world he was going to leave.
Christs words are significant Obey
the prompting OF your heart. Do not
look backward to the world. but look
forward to the kingdom. The only
possibility OF your running the race