The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-01-22
LESSON FOR JANUARY rs
SERVING JESUS.

LESSON TExT-Luke sa1-s: s:s7 g.;
GOLDEN TExT-'Inasmuch as ye did
II unto one OF these my brethren, even
the least, ye did II unto me."-Matt.
$50.
The first section of our lesson text
has no connection with the other two.
II is taken from time several months
previous to the time Of the Perean
ministry and was undoubtedly chosen
as an indication Of the company who
travelled with Jesus and his disciples.
and who provided for his needs. We.
must remember that Jesus was not,
supported by q board, church, nor by
some philanthropically inclined fellow
citizen. II Is to the second two Sec
lions therefore that we devote our.
chief attention.
Different Glasses.
]. Those who would follow Jesus,
9:57-62. Read carefully Matt. 8:1922.
Three different classes are here repre-
sented: ~ The impulsive follower
w. 81, 5S). This Is the man who 10.
moved by a sudden desire to accom-.
puhy thfb VCiOub cdCnCIt Uut bhOs
the man in the parable. does not sit
down and count the cost ere he starts
to build his house. This thought is.
emphasized when we read Matt. SID.
that this man was a scribe, one who
would not be expected to make such
q resolve. He must have been deeply
stirred by what he had seen and heard
in the life of Jesus. Such q resolve.
promised well, but Il 10 soon revealed
to him that he did not realize what,
was involved In his promise ". 5S)..
Jesus showed the man that to 60
"whithersoever' with him means to-
share his experiences, his fare. his
quarters, and to receive the same
treatment he received, Q Tim. 3:12. II
is q mistake to tell folk that the road
Of righteousness is q primrose path
one, as the man who went to Jericho
found. still the road Of righteousness
is a narrow one, Matt. 1913, IA. Every
follower of Jesus must be willing to
take what he took, and to receive
what he received, John 1920; 1 Pet.
2:21.
This sentence ". 5S) has done
more to give US q comprehension OF
the earthly surroundings Of our Lord
than any other in the gospels. Q Cor.
SO. (2) The procrastinating follower
". 6s). Jesus did not forbid the first
man. he simply showed him what was
involved. This man, however. Jesus
invited to a place as disciple-learner-
That he was willing to accept is evil
dent, only he was not yet quite ready.
II will, but" II Is not at all proba-
BILE that this mans father was await
ing burial; had his father but just
died, and awaiting burial, Jesus would
not have prevented. Rather he was
indicating a father about to die and
that he would follow after his fathers
death. Hence the sharp words Of the
| Master, Let the dead bury the dead"
A proper duty. q sacred duty, but not
20 proper nor SO sacred as to have pre-
cedence over the claims Of Jesus, Matt.
6:33; 1887. /.
Ever Ready to Serve. !
III. Those who did follow Jesus.
| 10: 3S-42. We now turn to consider
this little company who were even
| ready to serve our Master. From v. 81
we know that not every home was.
| open to receive Jesus as was this one
in Bethany. John III. Though this
was Martha's home Q0:3s), and there
fore she felt the burden Of hospitality;
yet she did not hear the word as did
her sister Mary, Mark 4:19. Martha
was occupied with duty and Nary
with Jesus. Martha was occupied with
many things. Mary was occupied with
the "one thing needful." The result,
was that Martha was "distracted's
(R. W, while Mary was at rest. Jesus
wants his disciples, his followers, to
sit at his feet and to learn Of him. HeN
knows all about duty's dull demand.
but the one thing needful Is. first OF.
all, to learn of him. Martha's love-
prompted the service, but there was
doubtless much pride that accompa-
MED 1t. Jesus, as We have seen. was
not numbered with much comfort. and
! Il is doubtful that he was DESTROYS or
big dinner. Jesus does. however,
commend communion with himself as
being, that good part" Afterwards
when death invaded that circle. 1t was
Martha that had the most intimate
dealing with our Lord. see John. chap
ter IL, hence we conclude that she
learned on this day the lesson Jesus
sought to teach. viz, that in the life
OF quiet communion lisa. 30:15) We
shall receive that strength that is alb
solutely essential. II We are to serve
him acceptably. We must not allow
the daily. legitimate demands Of duty
to interfere with life Of full, free. feL
lowship with the Master.
Summary-It has never been re-
corded that Jesus ever complained or
the hardships Of life, yet he had his
intimates who were glad to minister to.
his needs. The call to companionship.
with Christ. the call. follow me-" Is.
the most stupendous program yet pre-,
| sented to man. The perfect disciple.
as well as the ideal woman, is the one,
who 10 blend OF the divergent char.