The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1914-01-16
LESSON FOR JANUARY rs
SERVING JESUS.

| has no connection with the other two.
! 1t is taken from Il 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 mis- needs. We
| must remember that Jesus was not
supported by board, church, nor by
some philanthropically inclined fellow
citizen 1t is 10 the second two see
lions therefore that we devote our
| chief attention ~es
Different Glasses. e
| l. Those who would follow Jesus,
9:57-62. Read carefully Matt. S:19-22.
| Three different classes are here repre-
scented: ID The impulsive follower
| ". 81, So 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. $40
| that this man vas a 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 d resolve
promised well, but it is soon revealed
! to him that he did not realize what
was involved in his promise ". So.
! Jesus showed the man that to &c
'whithersoever'' with him means to
share his experiences, his fare, his
| quarters, and to receive the same
| treatment he received, > Tim. 3:12. 1t
! is a mistake to tell folk that the road
| of righteousness is primrose path.
| The road Of disobedienCe is rough
one, as the man who went to Jericho
| found, still the road Of righteousness
| is narrow one, Matt. 7:13, Ii. Every
follower OF Jesus must be willing to
| take what he took, and to receive
what he received, John 15:20; l Pet.
| 2:21.
This sentence ". So has done
more to give us a comprehension OF
| the earthly surroundings OF our Lord
| than any other in the gospels, Cor,
| SO (2) The procrastinating follower
! ". so. Jesus did not forbid the first
man, he simply showed him what was
| involved This man. however, Jesus
| invited to place as disciple-learner.
| That he was willing to accept is evil
| dent only he was not yet quite ready,
| 4 VIII. but" 1t Is not at all proba-
bic 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 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, q sacred duty, but not
| SO proper. nor so sacred as TO have pre-
! cedence over the claims Of Jesus, Matt.
| 6:33; 1921 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 al the
same time to follow him. f3) The ir-
| resolute follower wv. 61,62l 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. ne is looking
| back rather than embracing the OPP
! portunity TO. follow. This generally
| ends in forgetting to follow at all, see
| Luke 1892 and Gen. 1926. Such ones
are not fit for the kingdom, e. g., are
| not ready to enter. nor are they really
| DESTROYS to enter, Phil. BIB; Heb.
| 1923, SO. Jesus reference to the
| pillow ". 62) recalls the call of Elisha.
| He with safety did bid farewell to
| loved ones and returned to worship
| with the prophet. l 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.
| RI. Those who did follow Jesus,
| I0:3S-42 We now turn to consider
/ this little company who We're ever
ready to serve our Master. From Y. IS
we know that not every home was
| open to receive Jesus as was this one
/ in Bethany, John ILL. Though this
was Martha's home 00:38), and there
| fore she felt the burden OF hospitality
yet she did not hear the word as did
her sister Mary. Mara 4:l9. 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. VI. 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, first 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 dsy the leSson Jesus