Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-06-17
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson xll.-Second Quarter,
For June Fl, 1914.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text of the Lesson, Mark X, 1871.
Memory Verses, 25-2z-Golden Text,
Luke xvi. f3-commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.

W NV -. w. ShcdfHos
Our lessons for many weeks have
been found only in Luke's gospel, but
now we have one recorded with nearly
equal fullness In Matthew, Mark and
Luke. Why the committee should turn
to Mark instead of Luke cannot tell,
but we will look at the harmony of the
three records. The preceding passage
concerning the little children is also
found In these three gospels, but lit
tie more fully In Mark, for he tells us
that Jesus was much displeased with
His disciples and also that He took the
children up in His arms and blessed
them Ozark X, II, 1el. Both Matthew
and Mark say that He put His hands
upon them. We shall not understand
the lesson of today concerning the rich
young ruler unless We get first that
main thought concerning the children.
If the number of times that an event
Is recorded gives an idea Of its impor-
lance these two items concerning the
children and the young man must be of
special Importance and those recorded
In each of the four gospels Of still
greater Importance The other records
Of this lesson are In Matt. xix, 1880;
Luke xviii, 1880. Mark alone tells us
that Jesus had gone forth into the way
and that the young man came running
and kneeled to Him. AS In the case Of
Zaccheus, he was certainly In earnest
and had no thought of his dignity as
rich man, for he ran and kneeled on
the road. The next item is nearly the
same in each record. Good Master,
what shall do that may inherit eter-
nal life?' as is also our Lords reply:
"Why callest thou Me goodf There Is
none good but one; that is God" If to
this young man Jesus was God, then he
should be willing to submit fully to
Him. If He was not God He was not
All who now profess to receive Jesus
Christ as good teacher, but will not
believe that He is truly God, should
side with the Pharisees and utterly re-
ject Him for making Himself equal
with God John V, Is; X, 33).
The young mans question reminds
US of another under different circum-
stances what shall we do that we
might work the words of God?" John
vi, 2S) Our Lord brought the young
man face TO face with the command
ments with the desire to convince him
of sin, that He might bestow upon him
freely the eternal life which he seemed
to be seeking SO eagerly, but he did not
see himself as sinner and thought
that he had kept all the commandments
from his youth up. The heart Of our
Lord went out greatly to him, and
Mark says that Jesus, beholding him,
loved him" verse 2D. Because He low
ed him He sought still further to con-
vince him Of sin, and by asking him to
sell all he had and give to the poor he
would show him that instead Of keep
ing all the commandments he was con-
tinually breaking the first one by
thinking more of his earthly posses
sions than of God, who gave them to
him, and that while he seemed to want
life eternal he really wanted his present
possessions more than treasure In
heaven and his present life in a NOR
tai body was more to him than the life
beyond. Only In Mark do we find that
Jesus said to him, take up the cross"
The cross means dying to self and
wealth and all that comes between us
and God, and he was not ready for it.
1t was hard proposition, but the Lord
Jesus knew his man, for He knew all
men, and 1t was the only way to deal
frankly with this man.
Not many congregations or minis
tiers or sessions or committees would
deal in this way with a rich, moral
young man today. Many would be only
too glad to receive him and be careful
not to ask him too many questions for
fear of offending him. Some would be
glad to take him in for the sake of his
wealth and influence and ask him no
questions. But our Lord saw the value
of his soul rather than all else and
never solght wealth or favor from any
one. He came to give, not to receive,
and the only way to obtain eternal life
IS to come empty, helpless, believing,
and receive the Lord Jesus, in whom
alone is life, as the free gift of God to
every truly seeking soul John /, u;
iii, 16; iv, 10; V, "a; vi, At; Rom. Iii, "a;
vi, %; John tx, II, 12). 1t is impos-
sible to obtain it by works or wealth
Rom. iv, 8; Ps. xix, 6, y.
1t is next to impossible for self
righteous or wealthy person to obtain
eternal life, for it is so difficult for such
to see or realize the need or empti-
hess in reference to things eternal.
Yet Zaccheus was rich man, and Saul
of Tarsus was a self righteous man,
and both became truly saved. with
God all things are possible"
Peter now comes to the front by say
ing: Behold, we have forsaken all and
followed Thee. What shall we have
THEREFOR" Matthew, Mark and Luke
each record the reply concerning the
hundredfold now and in the world to
come life. In Mark 1t reads, ''for my
sake and the gospels, but In Luke '.for
the kingdom of Gods sake" The gos-