The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1914-01-23
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson IV..-First Quarter, For
Jan. rs, 1914.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text of the Lesson, Luke viii, is;
x, 38-42-Memory Verses, Luke x, 40
42-GoIden Text, Matt. XIV, Accom-
mentary by Rev. D. M. Stearns.

The title of this lesson. "Ministprin.
to Jesus" is Il fascinating one and is
found in chapter viii. 3. concerning the
women who miniStered unto Him
of their substance. Angels delighted
to minister unto Him when He was
here in humiliation. as they did in tie
wilderness after His conflict with the
devil Nlatt. ". III: also ut Ills birth
and in GethsemaEc and ut His re>ur-
rection and no doubt always. according
to Ps. CHI. 20. 21. where we read uf
them us ministers of His that do His
pleasure. heartlening unto the voice of
His word
What an honor unSpcakable for us
who are saved sinners. to minister in
any way unto Him who made us. VINO
came from heaven To redeem us. who
died for our sins. who as the risen
Christ lives for MS ut Gods right hand
and will share Ills kinGGom and glory
with us. He was always showing the
glad tidin~S of the Kingdom of Gol
viii II and Givin" Samples uf life in
the Kingdom by healing all manner of
disease Matt. w. ~. for when the
kingdom COMES the inha hitant shall
not say. am sick. and the people that
dwell therein shall be forgiven their
iniquity'' lisa. XXXiii. 24r.
Forgiveness Of sins is the first step
toward the kingdom. as we learn from
Luke xiv. III. II: Acts xiii. IS 30. and
that this is the privilege of all who re-
ceive Him is plainly set forth in Eph
i, 6. /; Col. i. 12-1i: Rev. i. =. G. We
must not think of the church as the
Kingdom nnr christ in uS nor auGht
but that sI'"kcI Of by our Lord when
He taught VS. to pray. Thy Kingdom
come. thy will be done. as in heaven
so Oh earth Luke ri. -. 1t will begin
with Israel who shall he all righteous
and I'LL of them shall know Him from
the least nf them unto the greatest ri
them.
Jerusalem shall ne the throne of the
Lord. and aII he nations shall he gath
cred unto it to the name of the Lord.
for it shall lie the first city of truth nu
earth lisa. TX. 81: Jer. XXI. "a: iii. II:
Zech. viii. :. :. =. ~ 23l. While we
wait for the kingdom and live to has
ten it mot extend it. for we cannot ex-
tend that which has not vet begun We
may daily minister unto Him in al!
that we do. These women were true
believers. and all believers are kings
and priests unto God REV. /. >, 81.
We are reminded of a sentence con
corning the priests in Israel. That he
may minister unto me i'm the priests
office" (EX. xviii. I. 5. 4. and else
where). these ten words being the
translation of two little words in He
brew.
The words unto Him" in verse 8 of
this part of our lesson suggest many
most helpful words for our daily life.
such as Unto Him that loved us"
Unto Him that is able Unto Him
be glory" Unto Him who died for us
and rose again" Gtev. i. j: Eph. iii. 20.
ministering. note Paurs reference to
the women who lahOred with him in
the gospel phil. iv. 81: that the gospel
was first preached in Europe mt wO-
mans PRAYER meeting. and the first
convert seems to have been Lydia. who
received the apostles into her house
and took care of them (Acts xvi. 1870.
Note also the revised version of Ps
xviii, IL.
Whatever He may give us the privi-
lege of doing. He only expects Us to do
as He gives the ability. and our aim
must be that God in all things may be-
glorified through Jesus Christ q Pet
iv, III. However much we may he
able to do. We should always say as
David did. "All things come of thee.
and of thine own have we given thee
Il ChrOn. xxx. III.
In the second part of our lesson we
have a home scene. that blessed and
honored home in Bethany. and the two
sisters ministering. each in some
what different way. Mary could not
have been idle or neglectful. else the
Lord would not have commended her.
that was necessary. evidently all that
the Lord thought necessary. and then
she found time to sit at Jesus feet
and hear His word. Martha wanted
more than either her sister or the
Lord thought needful and was bit
put out with Mary for not thinking as
she did
Happy are those hOusekeepers who
would rather please the Lord than
their visitors and who always count
Simple fare is more acceptable TO Him.
who was oft content with bread and
fish. than the superfuities of life
Although Martha did not serve as
care free as Mary on this OCCASION yet
it is written. Now. Jesus loved Mar
tina and her sister and LAZARUS Uohn
ri. -. He loved them ALL But why is
Martha there mentioned by name and
not her sister? Is it because weakest
lambs have largest share of the shep-
herds love?
Was it for the same reason that He
gave Simon Peter a special interview
alone on the resurrection day? duke
xiv. 34) After the resurrection of
Lazarus He was again in this loved
home. and Mary anointed him before
hand for his burial. They made Him
A supper. and Martha served. but there
Is no further mention of her being
numbered John xii. IN.