The Brinkley argus., 1918-01-11
LESSON FOR JANUARY 13
JESUS BEGINS HIS WORK.

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR TEACHERS-Matt. 41-11; S:lS-22; Luke 4: 1-15; 9:57-62; Heb 4:1i-16; Acts 91-9; John 434-SS
 PRIMARY ToPIc-Jesus chooses four
 MEMORY vERsE-come ye after me- Mark 1:17.
 INTERMEDIATE TOPIC = Overcome temptation
 MEMORY VERSE; Cor. 16:1s.
 SENIOR AND ADULT TOPIC-How Je- sus faced his task.
 I. Introduction (vv. 12. 13). Mark de- votes little or no attention to the early incidents of the life of Jesus, and only suggests the events immediately fol- lowing his baptism. Indeed, for the record of the Temptation and the Ser mon on the Mount, we have to look to ing the lesson we must not, however, overlook making some reference to these two outstanding events in the life of our Lord.
 II. John the Baptizer (vv. IA, 15). This section not only dispOses of John as having been put into prison, but immediately plunges Jesus into his public ministry. Jesus entry into Galilee was a part of his connection with John, inasmuch as he withdrew himself to'that place (See John 4:1-3). and made Capernaum his headquar- ters (Matt. :13). The message here recorded as proclaimed by Jesus was the identical summons which John the Baptizer had uttered. Jesus speaks of this new kingdom as beipg already come referring of course, to his own person and ministry, but in it's actual establishment I: was not really "at hand" until he shed his blood upon the cross and the Holy Spirit descended on the day of Pentecost, when there was opened the fountain for sin and un- cleanliness for the world at large.
 III. His Helpers Called. (vv. 16-29). Tn this record, we have the call Of four of his helpers: Simon, Andrew his brother, James and John his brother, the latter being the sons of Zebedee. Luke tells us (5:3) that Jesus was teaching. Those called were certainly at work and God al- ways issues his call to those whose time and effort are being occupied, even though perhaps for selfish pur- noses. There is no place for an idler in the spiritual kingdom. This call was to "come .ye after me- (v. ID, the purpose being that they might be- come ''fishers of men," Notice he be- gan upon the common, familiar ground of fishing, something mu ually and thoroughly understood, and led them from that to a spiritual truth. In this we see a good pedagogical hint and a wise suggestion to the preacher ana teacher, viz, that we must begin to teach our lessons through the medium of past experience and of present in- terests. Simon Uuke 5 :5) appears to have been q doubter when Jesus called him. Nevertheless, he was will ing 10 try Christ at least once, and so it his word, he let down the net. The evidence of obedience is found inverse i9. and Matthew (4:s) also Luke O.; l1 tells us that when they left their nets, "they left all.'
 ". His Helpers Trained (vv. Fl, 22). The result of this call was tsee '. 21) that as they went into the city they entered into the synagogue, where Jesus taught them. The lnfer- ence of course, is plain. Whenever God calls a man into his kingdom, he begins at once to teach him the uu- ties and responsibilities of the king- dom. Notice that in becoming nshers of men, then began close at nome. Brother sought brother. This was not the first time that Jesus had called these brothers. (See John l: :4o, HI. Tn the call, as accorded by St. John' we are led to believe that John lthe nnmentioned disclple) first sought an interview with Christ. The question of harmonizing the various calls Whlch Jesus gave to his disciples is an in- terasting one and one which has gwen rise to good deal of discussion. lhe one recorded in the first chapter or John occurred in Judea; this one oc- cured in Galilee. As to whether this is the one recorded in the fifth chap ter of Luke, there seems to he gen eral opinion that it is not the same though we can with profit compare the two callings in teaching thls ies' son. The probabilities are that there were three calls: First. the one re- corded in John 1 :35:42; second thal one recorded in Matthew AIS :ZZ anu the third and last was that which oe- cured just before their appointlnen. to become apostles, the one recoroeu In Luke five.
 Conclusion. When Jesus faced ms great task, he did not face 1t alone ne had first of all the approval or uoo the Father. He also had the annoint ing of God the Holy spirit anu he called in the cooperation and heip oi human agents. Jesus met his tempea- tion and his tasks not in ms own strength, but in the strength or ,h'