The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1914-01-22
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNANSOlOOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR JANUARY rs
SERVING JESUS.
(By r. o. SELLERS. Director of Evening
Department. the Moody Bible Institute.
Chicago)


LESSON TExT-Luke s;1-s; s:57-s2;
10:3S-42.
GOLDEN TExT-'Inasmuch as ye did
It unto one of these my brethren, even
$40.
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 board, church, nor by
some philanthropically inclined fellow
citizen. 1t is to the second two sec
tions therefore that we devote our
chief attention.
Different Classes.
l. Those who would follow Jesus,
9:57-62. Read carefully Matt S:19-22
Three different classes are here repre-
sented: % The impulsive follower
". 81, 5S). This Is the man who is
moved by 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 s: 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 it is soon revealed
to him that he did not realize what
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. 3:12. 1t
is 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; 1 Pet
2:21.
This sentence ". 5S) has done
more to give US a comprehension o1
the earthly surroundings of our Lore
than any other in the gospels, 2 Cor
$50 (2) The procrastinating follower
". 59). Jesus did not forbid the frs
man, he simply showed him what was
involved. This man, however, Jesu:
invited to place as disciple-learner
That he was willing to accept is evi
dent, only he was not yet quite ready
81 will, but" 1t is not at all proba
BILE that this mans father was await
ing burial; had his. father but jus
died, and awaiting burial, Jesus woult
not have prevented. Rather he wal
indicating a father about to die ant
that ne would follow after his father
death Hence the sharp words of tn,
Master, Let the dead bury the dead.
A proper duty, sacred duty, but no
so proper nor so sacred as to have pre-
cedence over the claims of Jesus, Matt
6:S3; 1887.
Ever Ready to Serve.
II. Those who did follow Jesus
1O:38-42 We now turn to conside
this little company who were eve
ready to serve our Master. From v. 8
we know that not every home wa
open to receive Jesus as was this on
in Bethany, John I'LL. Though thi
was Martha's home 40: 38), and there
fore she felt the burden Of hospitality
yet she did not hear the word as di
her sister Mary, Mark 4:19. Marth
was occupied with duty and Mary
with Jesus Martha was occupied wit
many things, Mary was occupied wit
the "one thing needful." The resul
was that Martha was distracted
{R. W, while Mary was at rest. Jesu
wants his disciples, his followers, t
sit at his feet and to learn of him. H
knows all about duty's dull deman(
but the one thing needful is, first c
all, to learn of him. Martha's low
prompted the service, but there wa
doubtless much pride that accompi
MED it, Jesus, as we have seen, wa
not numbered with much comfort, an
1t is doubtful that he was desirous {
a big dinner Jesus does, howeve
commend communion with hlmself q
being, that good part" Afterward
when death invaded that circle, 1t wa
Martha that had the most intimat
dealing with our Lord, see John, chal
ter Ii, hence we conclude that sh
learned on this day the lesson Jesu
sought to teach, viz, that in the III
of quiet communion lisa. 30:15) W
shall receive that strength that Is al
solutely essential, II we are to sery
him acceptably We must not allo
the daily, legitimate demands of dut
TO interfere with life of full, free, fe
lowship with the Master.
Summary--It has never been r
corded that Jesus ever complained {
the hardships of life, yet he had b
intimates who We're glad to minister
his needs. The call to companionshi
with Christ. the call. follow me-"
fho f,aoat ofunandOua nr0grar m vaf mr.