The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-09
INTERNATIONAL
LESSON
LESSON FOR DECEMBER Is
By E. o. SELLERS, Acting Director Of
Sunday School Course.)

Sunday School Course.)
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 13
THE GREAT COMMISSION.
LESSON TExT-Matt. 2s:1e-so: Luke "A,
ss-4s. 81
GOLDEN TExT-Lo, I am with yon9aI-
ways, even unto the end OF the world
Matt. 8!a0.
This lesson consists Of two para
graphs which constitute what might be
termed two commissions or two parts
Of the Great Commission. There are
four distinct accounts of the fnalscom-
mands of our Lord to his disciples,
each, presenting a different phase OF
the work he committed to his follow:
ers. In this lesson We have for our
consideration two Of these aspects
which ought not to be confused. We
will consider them In their chronology
ical order.
J.. The Appearances In Jerusalem,
Thomas Being Absent Luke 24:s64s.
~ The Resurreeted Lord, w. 36-43.
The Emmaus disciples reported to the
disciples, and those gathered with
them In Jerusalem, the things they
had experienced, especially in the
breaking Of bread. This occurred late
In the evening (see Luke 1929, 33).
While they, and the others, were re.
hearsing the many things that had taet
ken place on that first eyentfui day,
Jesus himself suddenly appears in
their midst without the opening OF o
door and asks them Of their thoughts.
Once before he had thus searched
them duke 9:46, ~ but now the foc
casion Is quite different. Feartof the
Jews had crowded them Into this room
but no closed door except that OF the
human heart can keep out the risen
Lord. Simon's report (eh. 24:34) and
that of the Emmaus disciples were not
sufficient to allay their fear. Fear at
this visible evidence of the supernat-
ural is true Of US all, but when Jesus
truly Is present there is peace mo-
matter what may be the turmoil with
out, or the fear within.
Man Of Flesh and Bone.
This appearance was a demonstraS
ton that it was he himself, and TO add
proof upon proof he first showed them
his pierced hands and feet, and then
called for fish and ate 1t before, and
doubtless with, them. Jesus is today
q man Of flesh and bone as much az
when he walked Galilee's hills. His
blood he poured out upon Calvary
The evidence OF the literal, physical
resurrection of Christ is so overwheln-
Ing that the unbelieVer does violence
to his reason not to accept 1t.
(2) The Assembled Lord, wv. 49,.
This coming Of Jesus and his message
of peace and assurance brought also
a commission that this great fact be-
told to others. The event recorded In
these verses did not occur In Jeru-
salem but upon Mount Oiyet and con-
stitutes the final appearance OF Jesus.
As he had done often before, so now
he sets his seal upon the Old Testa-
ment, expressly speaking Of Its books
under their accepted threefold divt-
sion ". Az. In these there are be-
tween three and four hundredstdirect,
not to speak of the indirect. prophe-
cies concerning him. What we need
is to have the Holy Spirit that we may
understand" ". 49,, the purpose OF
his life and death. Jesus taught his
disciples what that purpose is ". 40.
viz, the remission Of SINS" based on
the sure ground>of his finished work
This, and this alone, is the gospel and
it Is to be preached in his name unto
all nations-a missionary suggestion
but beginning at home, in Jerusalem.
Verse 40 tells us of that other needed
preparation to make us effective wit.
nesses, the enduement of. the Holy
Spirit. -
Some Disciples Doubted.
H.. The Appearance to the Eleven
In GaIiIee, Matt. 2a:16-20. This event
took place much later than that men
toned in the first part Of the previous
section. AS we carefully read this
section it suggests that Jesus was
somewhat removed from the dis
ciples, yet their vision was so clear
that they worshiped him, though some
doubted. Drawing near to the dis
ciples he first Of all emphasizes his
supreme authority, "all power is given
unto me-" and on that authority he
commissioned them to their work Of
d~iscipling "all nations" Marks rem
dering Of this commission (16:15, 16)
Ia more inclusive, ITO the whole crea-
tion," including all Of mans welfare,
social as we'll as spiritual. For Jesus
thus to claim authority and to send
forth his ambassadors and still not be
"the very God of the very God" is to
stamp him either as an impostor or a
lunatic. Because all power is his,
therefore the obligation and the ae-
companying Holy Spirit who will en-
able US to teach the things he has COM
manded. There is back of the COM
mission "all power" and accompany
ing 1t a blessed fellowship, 10, I am
with you all the days"
The chief value Of these two Sec