The Green Forest tribune., 1912-03-22
Came to Call Sinners.


 Jesus hears of their complaint and his reply is a fine bit of irony and sarcasm "They that are whole have no need of 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, T came not to call the righteous but sinners" Jesus cannot save the self-complaccent right eous but can and will save those who will not lift up even so much as their eyes but cry Lord, save me sinner"
 Jesus chooses one of their own so- 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- well 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 I 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 lieanslicans; 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? If so, let us be sure we do it from the same motive. The disciples of John did the right thing to bring their perplexities to Jesus. He answers their question as we have seen and we are now in the day he mentions when there Is place for fasting. Jesus teaches us in his ref erence to the wine bottles Heather sacks which could bear but one Sl1SlNllAS PlONSoo buC lo ICi hiShle1 ton of the wine), that we are to be new creatures in him and must leave the old life and habits. We are not to make patchwork of this new Cos pei and the old law
 His Work That of Physician.
 There are two difficulties thus pre- sented in this lesson; first, that Je- sus should hold fellowship with those properly not of his circle or social standing for he was a rabbi or teach CT, and, 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, q came for this purpose to call not the righteous but the unrighteous." His work was to be that of Physician. He assumes that his authority is not of man but of God, and that this min istry 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 system of ethics a little higher than the prophets. Je- sus is more than a good man or even holy man; he is the Great Physician, able to heal both body and soul, a Saviour. There is a place and a great one, for godly consecrated physicians among the sick and a greater place for those who shall point the lost to the Saviour.
 Before these lost ones can be saved, however, they must realize they are lost, for we cannot save those who will not acknowledge themselves as being lost When we acknowledge we are sinners he will save us q Tim. | 1:15). Turn deaf ear to his call and there is no more hope Guke | 13:3)
 It has been suggested that the par able of the prodigal son and the elder brother was uttered at this feast in Lewis house; probably not, we do not know, but how truly it applies. The | prodigal representing those lost pub Hcans and sinners, and the selfish eld- CT brother the self-righteous pharisees. This lesson divides itself into three natural divisions:
 The call of Levi, V. 1914
 i The feast at Lewis house, V. 15-17 1 u-l~o ,,,art;nY, of fo cfipo