Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-12-09
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson M.-fourth Quarter, For
Dec. 13, 1914.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text Of the Lesson, Matt. xviii, 1920;
Luke xiv. 44-49-Memory Verses.
10, 2o-Golden Text. Matt. xviii. 20.
Commentary Prepared by Rev. .. A..
Stearns.
The correct sequence OF events be-
tween His resurrection and final Wis
fble ascension from Olivet is not more
easy than the sequence Of some of the
events in His sojourn In His mortal
body. but the heart lessons are not
difficult. The summary In Acts l. 3. Is
clear and full. He showed Himself
alive after Hts passion by many In
fallible proofs. being seen Of them for
ty days and speaking of the things
pertaining to the Kingdom of God"
He always showed Himself tJohn
xxi. l. 14l. and this is our need-to
see no man any more save Jesus only
Mark TX. s.. He showed Himself alive.
and we must live as II we really be-
lieved that our great High Priest is
alive forevermore and has all power
In heaven and on earth.
He always spake of the Kingdom.
both In His earthly life and until His
ascension. and there is nothing SO Inn
portant as the coming OF His Kingdom
which IL We seek first He has assured
as Of all other things that we need.
(Matt- vi. 3Si. This appearance of our
lesson In Matthew may have been to
the eleven only. or 1t may have been
the same as when He was seen by
over 500 at once q Cor. XIV. 16o. From
the fact that some doubted 1t would
seem to have included the latter, for
surely the eleven had ceased doubling
ere this. There was another most In
teresting appearance in Galilee to sew
en- of the disciples after their night
of fruitless toll on the lake. when He
provided breakfast for them. apart
from their labors. and also filled their
net with 153 great fishes. 1t was then
that He asked Peter the thrice repeat
ed question. Lowest thou mey' spe-
cially commissioned him and foretold
his martyrdom John xxi. 1-24l.
Before His cruci6xion His instruc-
lions to the disciples were to go neither
to gentiles nor Samaritans. but rather
to Israel. but now that Israel had de-
cidedly rejected Him and In cutting
Him OF had also cut themselves OF
from all privileges as nation till He
shall come again the instructions are
different The messengers are to go
to all nations and gather to Him dis
ciples. They are to go into all the
world and preach the gospel to every
creature: they are to preach repentance
and remission Of sins In His name
among all nations. beginning at Jeru-
salem, but they were to wait at Jeru-
salem these first messengers, until
they should receive the necessary pow
er to do this In the form of special
enduement Of power by the Holy Spir-
it. for He would be sent to bear wit
ness to crucified. risen. rejected. as
cended Christ, to gather unto Him a
people for His name. who by special
training in this age would be fitted
to reign with Him In the next age,
when He shall come again to set up
His kingdom of righteousness and
peace verse 10: Mark xvi. Is: Luke
xiv. 1919, Acts Nv. 1918; lisa
xxi. 1. III.
There Is nothing whatever In their
commission about subduing the world
or winning the world to Christ or re-
forming or uplifting the race. but sim
ply to do as Paul tells us he did--de-
termine not to know anything but
Jesus Christ and Him crucifed: to
preach the gospel that Christ died for
our sins according to the Scriptures.
that He was buried and that He rose
again the third day according to the
Scriptures: to SO preach as by all
means to save some: to be ready to
preach the gospel anywhere as debtor
to all and never ashamed of it; to
preach the kingdom Of God and teach
those things which concern the Lord
Jesus Christ. knowing that some will
believe and some believe not: TO turn
people from idols TO God. to serve the
living and true God and to wait for
His son from Heaven; to speak always
not as pleasing men. but God. who
trieth our hearts Il Cor. Ii. 2. TX. 90;
XIV. 3. 4: Rom. |. 1916; Acts xviii. %.
"a. 81: | Thess. |. 8. 10; II. 4: ii Tim
ii. 15). Our responsibility Is to be
faithful witnesses. believing all things
written I'm the law of Moses and In the
prophets and the Psalms concerning
Him. quite sure that His Word will
not return to Him void.- but always
accomplish all His pleasure verse A:
lisa. Nv. III.
Whether we see much or little or
not any present results of our sowing.
we can leave that all to Him with
whom we are fellow workers unto His
kingdom, knowing that He shall not
fail nor be discouraged lisa. xiii. 4:
Cor. XIV. Isl, The devil sowed his
tares and went his way quite sure that
they would grow. and we must indeed
be people OF little faith II we cannot
have as much confidence concerning the
incorruptible seed of the Word Of God
as the devil had concerning bis tares