Middletown transcript., 1914-01-24

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j It 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 board, a church, nor by
some phranthropically inclined fellow
citizen. 1t is to the second two sec
tions therefore that we devote our
chief attention.
Different Glasses.
I. Those who would follow Jesus,
9:57-62. Read carefully Matt. S:19-22.
Three different classes are here repre-
sented: ID The impulsive follower
| ". 81, 58) This is the man who Is
moved by a sudden desire to accom-
pany this marvellous Teacher, but like
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. 8:19)
that this man was scribe, one who
would not be expected to make such
a resolve. He must have been deeply
stirred by what he had seen and heard
| in the life of Jesus. Such a resolve
promised well, but 1t is socn revealed
to him that he did not realize what
was involved in his promise ". 58),
Jesus showed the man that to go
'whithersoever" with him means to
share his experiences, his fare, his
quarters, and to receive the same
treatment he received, 2 Tim. 1912. It
is a mistake to tell folk that the road
Of righteousness is a primrose path.
The road Of disobedience is a rough
one, as the man who went to Jericho
found, still the road of righteousness
is narrow one, Matt. 7:13. IA. Every
follower Of Jesus must be willing to
take what he took, and to receive
what he received, John 1920; Pet.
2:21.
This sentence ". 58) has done
more to give US a comprehension OF
the earthly surroundings Of our Lord
than any other in the gospels, Cor.
S:9. (2) The procrastinating follower
". 59). Jesus did not forbid the first
man, he simply showed him what was
involved. This man, however, Jesua
invited to a place as disciple-learner.
That he was willing to accept is evil
dent, only he was not yet quite ready,
81 will, but" It 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, a sacred duty, but not
so proper nor so sacred as to have pre-
cedence over the claims Of Jesus, Matt.
6:33; 1O:37. Men do not as a rule
miss opportunities to make money, to
serve their ambitions nor to crafty
their desires, by the excuse Of waiting
to look after aged parents. Jesus
would have US bury the dead when
they are dead, not to neglect them
while living by any means, but at the
same time to follow him. (S) The IT.
resolute follower wv. 81 1,62). This man
was not troubled so much with going
back as with looking back. Ultimately
he intends to follow, but his desire is
still with others than being set upon
Jesus. Like Lots wife, he is looking
back rather than embracing the op-'
portunity to follow. This generally
ends in forgetting to follow at all, see
Luke 1882 and Gen. 1926. Such ones
are not fit for the kingdom, e. g., are
not ready to enter, nor are they really
desirous to enter, Phil 3:13; Heb.
1898, SO. Jesus reference to the
plow ". 62) recalls the call Of Elisha.
He with safety did bid farewell to
loved ones and returned to worship
with the prophet, Kings 19:19-21. Je-
sus intimates that such step Is apt
to be fraught with fatal consequences.
It is in this case, the spirit Of resolu-
ton that Jesus commends. No furrow
can be plowed straight, when he who
holds the plow is looking backward.
Ever Ready to Serve.
II. Those who did follow Jesus,
10:3S-42. We now turn to consider
this little company who were ever
ready to serve our Master. From v. So
we know that not every home was
open to receive Jesus as was this one
in Bethany, John 11:1. Though this
was Martha's home (10:3S), 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 Mary
with Jesus. Martha was occupied with
many things, Mary was occupied with
the ''one thing needful." The result
was that Martha was distracted"
(R. W, while Mary was at rest. Jesus
wants his disciples, his, followers, to
sit at his feet and to learn Of him. He
knows all about duty's dull demand
but the one thing needful is, hrst OF
all, to learn of him. Martha's love
prompted the service, but there was
doubtless much pride that accompa-
MED it. Jesus, as we have seen, was
not numbered with much comfort, and
it is doubtful that he was desirous Of
a big dinner. Jesus does, however,
commend communion with himself as
being, that good part" Afterwards,
when death invaded that circle, it was
Martha that had the most intimate
dealing with our Lord, see John, chap
ter Ii. 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 4
solutely essential, If we are to serveh
him acceptably. We must not aIloWt