Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-04-17

GOLDEN TEET--'Whosoeve would
save his life shall lose 1t; and whosoever
shall lose his life for my sake shall find
it," Matt. 1925.
While this discourse is recorded
only by st. Luke, still there are many
things mentioned here to which our
Lord made reference on other occa-
sions. Last Sundays Easter lesson
made break in the sequence of les
sons we have been following and shall
follow for several succeeding Sundays.
Leaving the chief Pharisee's 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. 26. On another oc.
casion, John 6:26, Jesus rebuked the
multitude which followed him This
multitude who pressed about him did
not realize what was involved in a
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, 1881;
6:1-4), but as compared with our love
for him it is aversion. See Matt,
10:37; Phil. 81, s; Ps. 1925, 26. 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 aust
be supreme in Christians affections
He who freely gave his own self John
3:16, Phil. 2:S) has right to demand
like devotion to himself and as
men have approached nearest to such
conservation he has exalted them
The Cross means the shame, sorrow,
pain and death of self and all that liei
in the pathway of loyalty and devo
| tion to him. II Tim. 3:12, Acts 14:22
| Our cross is that particular thing
which crosses the path into which God
! Is calling US. To avoid It that we may
escape the shame is to be disloyal to
| him, therefore ). he cannot be
1 lily QlSClpl6. Ills lI6QuSuLly COSLs
much, but has an abundant reward
John 1915.
IL. A challanee, wv. 27-32. ID The
instruction, v. 27. AS If to make this
caution more solemn, Jesus sets be
| fore the multitude the manner Of hii
approaching death and the condition
| of discipleship. He here lays dowr
the first declaration of the severe
terms of discipleship, but explains
the meaning Of his words. There is a
new meaning of this passage sug
gested by the Revised Version of "
33, $50 likewise" is rendered, "so
| therefore" Our Lord does certainly
insist that those who build tower OF
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
j be- (2) The illustrations. (a) The
builder of tower, Wv. 20, 80, and (b)
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 who
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 33.
HomeIy Illustrations.
| III. The Conclusion, wv. 1885. We
have already indicated the conclusion
towards which Jesus was leading with
terrific logic, and by looking hack ito
the first verse Of the lesson we see
what it was he was seeking to impress
upon the minds of the thoughtless
| multitude. Again the Master uses
one of those homely illustrations
gathered from the common expert
ences of life which he employed so
frequently to amplify or to drive home
a great truth. There must be quality
!
ship. Salt preserves from corruption.
seasons insipidity, freshens and sweet
ems These qualities are referred to
abundantly by Scriptural writer's. Salt
is highly priced in the East. The
natural man is presented also as be-
ing corrupt, Gen. Gil; 8:21; Ps. 14:2,
g.: Eph. 2:1-3. The remedy for this is
the active presence of his disciples
among their fellows. The true dis
ciple is like salt with good SAVIOR.
On the other hand, salt that has lost
its SAVIOR is not even fit for dung
hill, but Is thrown out and trodden un-
der foot of men. So our Lord sets
aside that disciple of his who has lost
his usefulness. This expresses our
Lords contempt and scorn of those
who lack, not merely a certain kind
of character, but those whose profes-
sion and appearance would indicate a
better expectation. Ears are made
that we may hear; happy is that man
who has learned to listen to Jesus.
This lesson presents the severity
of the claims of Jesus. Irresistibly he
drew the multitudes to himself Wit
ness the crowd following him as he
leaves the house of the ruler. But he
paused and by his teaching sifted
them, and seemingly made it difficult
to follow him. Those who would fol-
low must forsake all, and renounce all,
even the tenderest of human ties, yea,
even life itself must not be counted of
value. There must be absolute un-
qualified loyalty. To bear cross is
to renounce ease and rights in the in
terest of others. The disciple must
empty himself and enter the life Of
fellowship and suffering with his Mas
ter in his work Of redeeming men and
establishing the Kingdom.
What is the purpoSe of discipleShip?