Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-09-04
LESSON FOR SEPT. 8
THE MISSION OF THE TWELVE

THE MISSION OF THE TWELVE
LESSON TExT-Matt- s:ss to IO:l5 and
GOLDEN TExT-"He that receiveth
Tou receiveth me. and he that receiveth
ne receiveth him that sent me-"-Matt-
0:40.
The first verse OF our lesson is
vivid picture OF the life OF our Lord.
Going about from village to village.
he taught, healed and preached the
good tidings Of his new kingdom.
Why? Not only because Of his COM
passionate heart as revealed in the
eecond verse of the lesson. but also
as a proof of his claims and. that be-
lieving We might have life through his
name" John 2O:30, 81. This does not.
however, lessen the force Of this sec
ond verse, for Jesus as the true Shep-
herd was indeed touched with feel
ing Of our infirmities." Seeing the
multitude thus without shepherd, SO
faint and weary as to lay down and
knowing that his great work was to
be carried on by others after he had
finished" it upon Calvary, he makes
special provision by choosing the
twelve and telling them definitely how
to carry on his ministry.
Jesus realized that no one man can
minister to all others except as he
multiplies his personality in the lives
Of others. So it is that he gives the
church OF today a powerful example OF
how to answer the prayer of verse 50
by his practical method suggested in
verse / OF chapter 10. His vision OF
verse SO is the passion of his life and
he intends it to be the passion OF our
lives.
Disciples Restricted.
Following this introduction We find
list Of the peculiarly chosen ones
who are to be his vicegerents after
his passing. and from verse on we
find the charge he delivers to them.
There is in this charge, first, the note
of limitation, verses 3 to Is; secondly.
the note Of warning. verses 10 to %,
and thirdly the note OF comparison.
verse "a to the end of this chapter
and including 1O:1. True, in this les
son we have only the first section, the
Limitation together with the final
words OF the charge which In reality
amounts to a complete Identification
OF his apostles with himself and his
life OF ministry.
Notice the grouping of the names
OF these disciples. First the three
| who formed that inner circle, Peter,
! James and John, and with them An
t drew. who first brought Peter to Je-
e sus John 1:41). After these the
d names are in groups of two. and II
8 was as such they were afterwards
( sent out, Mark 81. So We today are
S not alone. Matt. %: 20. Acts is.
b Let us observe the restriction placed
x upon these disciples. They are &c
d minister not to the Centiies nor ever
st the Samaritans, though Jesus did botf
[, during his life. John 4:4 and Matt
a. 1922. but not so these whom he nov
}; is sending, at least not till his work i
a complete and Israel has had its da.
in Of opportunity After Calvary this re
~ striction is removed. as We can Sc
ed from the book of Acts.
Another restriction is in the mes
sage and the method. The messag
is to be the good news of the kins
,o dom. They are 10 HERALD forth" tha
ou 1t is at hand. That the Messiah ha
come. We are told that they are nc
NJ to force the acceptance OF their me
or sage. That in its proclamation the
&c. shah receive all sorts Of opposition
do That they must look well to the
70, own character, they are to be as shee
WI amidst wolves. they shall be hale
before courts and potentates, but suc
persecution shall be a witness again
oil their prosecutors for his sake"
tho Bearino of Disciples.
civ What is to be their method? Fir.
not It is to be that of absolute Deepen
cal ence upon the Father. 1t is true tn
1t Paul labored with his own hands, b
at the same time he accepted {
bounty OF the churches and urged tn
or such fruit might abound. Phil. 4
too Is, IT. Jesus is here teaching us I
other lesson that the "laborer is WI
thy of Viz hire" The disciple is
milk heal. The ministry Of hospital, NJ
lors ing and cody physicians is a mary
Gus fulhllment of this command.
serve we'll the ministry of medi
missions There is no greater ins
ration to the Christian church. WI
y Is to be the bearing of these discipl'
1t is to be that of dignity and s.
respect, see Luke 1915.
oht While it Is true the disciple IS
S"' offer and not to force his mess;
- upon the people, yet for Israel to