The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-04-18

shall lose his hfe for my sake shall find
IT." Matt. l6:25.
While this discourse Is recorded
only by ST. Luke, still there are many
things mentioned here to which oul
Lord made reference on other occa
sions Last Sundays Easter lesson
made a break in the sequence of les
sons we have been following, and shall
follow for several succeeding Sundays.
Leaving the chief Pharisees house
wherein he criticized both host and
guests. great multitudes' followed
our Lord Turning, he uttered some
of the severest and yet the most won
derful words that ever fell from his
lips. as We shall see if we follow all
of this part of our lesson series.
Multitude Rebuked.
!. A Caution, v. 20. On another oc-
casion. John 6:2G, Jesus rebuked the
multitude which followed him. This
multitude who pressed about him did
not realize what was involved in
true following. They were Influenced
by the psychology of the crowd. and
did not count the cost. Jesus does not
mean that our discipleship will lessen
our love for our kin (Eph. 5:25, 2S-3l;
10, but as compared with our love
for him it is aversion. See Matt.
1887; Phil. 81, S: Ps. %, &c. Aver
| sion Is to turn aside, and the Master
! told us that those who shall turn aside
| thus shall have an abundant reward,
! see Mark 10:2S-30. Jesus Christ must
| be supreme in Christians affections.
| He who freely gave his own self John
3:l6, Phil. 2:S) has right to demand
like devotion to himself, and as
men have approached nearest to such
a conservation he has exalted them.
The Cross means the shame, sorrow,
| pain and death of self and all that lies
in the pathway of loyalty and devo-
ton to him. II Tim. 1912, Acts 14:22.
| Our cross is that particular thing
which crosses the path into which God
is calling us. 70 avoid 1t that we may
escape the shame Is to be disloyal to
him, therefore he cannot be
my disciple" This frequently costs
much, but has an abundant reward,
John 1916.
u. A ChalIange, w. 27-32. % The
instruction, v. 27. AS II to make this
caution more solemn, Jesus sets be-
fore the multitude the manner of his
approaching death and the condition
of discipleship He here lays down
the first declaration Of the severe
terms of discipleship, but explains
the meaning OF his words. There Is
new meaning Of this passage sug-
gested BY the Revised Version OF v.
33, so likewise" is rendered, so
therefore" Our Lord does certainly
insist that those who build tower or
conduct a war must count the cost; so.
likewise, they who follow him. But
by this change the opposite thought Ia
suggested, viz, that those who follow
him must do SO whatever the cost may
be. CD The Illustrations. (a) The
builder of a tower, Wv. 20, 80. and Cd
The King at war, Wv. 81. 80. Too often
we present to men what is to be gained
by Christian discipleship. The gain
does outweigh the cost, but as wise
builders we must present the cost SIDE
Of the transaction. The man VINO
builds the tower is master of his own
enterprise and the king need take coun'
sci but of himself Our Lord as the
Master Builder and the great King can
build his towers or conduct his cam
paigns only through workers and SOL
diers upon whom he can depend abso-
lutely. This throws light on the con-
Meeting therefore" of verse 80.
Homeiy illustrations.
M. The Conclusion, w. 1886. we
have already indicated the conclusion
towards which Jesus was leading with
terrific logic, and by looking back 10
the first verse OF the lesson we see
what 1t was he was seeking tn impress
upon the minds of the thoughtlese
multitude. Again the Master uses
one of those homely illustrations
gathered from the common expert
ences of life which he employed q
frequently to amplify or to drive home
a great truth. There must be quality
as well as devotion to this disciple
ship. Salt preserves from corruption
seasons insipidity, freshens and sweet
ems. These qualities are referred II
abundantly by Scriptural writer's. Sal
is highly priced in the East. Tit
natural man is presented also as be
ing corrupt. Gen. GIL; 1921; Ps. IA: 2
3; Eph. 2:1-3. The remedy for this !
the active presence of his disciple
among their fellows. The true dis
ciple is like salt with a good savol
On the other hand. salt that has los
its SAVIOR is not even fit for a dunt
hill, but is thrown out and trodden VI
der foot of men. So our Lord set
aside that disciple Of his who has los
his usefulness. This expresses on
4 Lords contempt and scorn Of thoa
who lack. not merely a certain kin
of character, but those whose profe
sion and appearance would indicate
better expectation. Ears are mad
Il that we may hear; happy is that ma
who has learned to listen to Jesus.
4 This lesson presents the severi'
4 Of the claims of Jesus. 1rresistibly
drew the multitudes to himself. WI
IN ness the crowd following him as
IN leaves the house of the ruler. But
L. LAG