The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-09-04
Sunday School Notes
Side Lights on Next Sundays
Lesson for Teachers and Pupils.
Sept. s.--The Mission of the Twelve.
Edited by cHAs. x. MEYERS.

Matt. 9, IS to 10, Is; 10, 40 to ii, i.
The lesson for this date relates how
{ Jesus sent out His disciples two by
two on missionary tour through
Judea. The bible record says that
His heart was moved with compassion
on the people, because they tainted
and were scattered as sheep having
no shepherd. At this time Jesus went
about preaching the gospel and heal
ing every sickness among the people.
The work seemed so great that He
exclaimed, "The harvest truly is plen-
teous, but the laborers are few
At this time Jesus gave special
commission that the disciples go to
the Jews and not the Gentiles. This
was because the Jews were better
educated to understand the message
of the disciples, in that they were in.
structed in the prophesies of the Old
Testament, and were looking for the
promised Messiah. Again Jesus want
ed to give the Jews a full chance to
hear the gospel before it was car.
ried with vigor to the Gentiles. He
gave the disciples power to cast out
devils and cure the sick. Freely had
they received these gifts, and freely
must they give them forth.
The commission to the twelve is
contained not only in the verse print
ed in the quarterlies, but includes
words to the forty-second verse of the
tenth chapter. Jesus foretold the
treatment they would receive, saying
that they were not above Him, and as
He had been i'll treated so would they.
They are told to fear not those who
could only destroy and torture the
body, for it was the living soul which
was precious. Then came the declar-
alton which is most precious to every
christian, for Jesus said that whose
ever shall confess Him before men,
such will He confess before God in
heaven. With this came the reverse,
that those who deny Jesus here on
earth, such will He deny before God.
1t seems to me as if you and | have
the best of this agreement, for we
have but to truly confess our belief
in Jesus and His gospel among our
friends and neighbors, and we have
the promise that Jesus will make men.
ton of us before God. We make a
great mistake if We do not grasp this
promise for our very. own and act upon
it.
1t is in the talk to the disciples at
this time that Jesus made the Oft
quoted statement that if we do so little
a thing as to give another cup OF
water in His there is reward. The
great thought of that magnificent
poem, "The Vision of Sir Launfal," is
that one need not look abroad for
startling things to do for Jesus, for
the most acceptable deeds are simple
ones right at our door, and about us
hourly in the day.
The picture of gloom, suffering
hardships which Jesus sets forth be-
fore His first disciples we of a later
day do not have to experience. The
early christia were hunted from
place to place, prosecuted and put to
horrible deaths. Would we now have
the faith and courage to endure such
things? Not many weeks ago after
leading a cottage prayer meeting in
a home in Denison one Of those par
ticipating remarked at the close that
we ought all to be thankful we could
meet free from fear of intrusion and
punishment, for he could remember
how in his native land it meant fine
and Imprisonment to gather for a
prayer service not in accord with the
established church of the kingdom.
Today in Iowa it is popular to be a
christian, thing which wins the re-
spect of neighbors. 1t has been sug-
gested by some that prosecutions
might make stronger christians and
arouse greater activities.
The lesson is often called the great
call on the part of Jesus for workers
in His cause. Not alone when He was
striving to present the new gospel to
the world, was there lack of laborers
and the harvest plentious, but now
the conditions are the same. There
is call both in the home and foreign
fields for men and women to devote
their lives to Gods service. Teachers
and parents should try to have some
member of their class or family ready
to devote their lives for the gospels
sake.
There is something for us in the
thought that Jesus had compassion
on the poor and needy, and certainly
in a spiritual way We are in that class.
Let it be noted Jesus says that those
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