The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1918-01-10
LESSON FOR JANUARY 10
JESUS Begins HIS WORK.

JESUS BEGINS HIS WORK. /.
LESSON TExT-Mark 1:12-22.
GOLDEN TExT-Repent ye. and believe
In the Gospel.
la: $3.50: Heb. %:lA-16: Acts 9:1-S: John
lA-ss.
PRIMARY ToP1c-Jesus chooses four
helpers.
MEMORY vERsE-coms 70 after me-
INTERMEDIATE TOPIC - ov.room.
temptation.
MEMORY verse; Cor. 1918
SENIOR AND ADULT TOPIc-How Je.
sus faced his task.
!. Introduction wv. ~, 1877. 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
the other Gospel writer's. In teach.
Ing the lesson we must not, however,
overlook making some reference to
these two outstanding events In the
life Of our Lord.
u. John the Baptixer wv. IA. 15).
This section not only dlsposes of John
rs 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. rs he withdrew
himself to that place (See John 4:1-3).
and made Capernaum his headquar-
tiers (Matt. 4:13). 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 beirg already
come, referring, of course. to his own
person and ministry, but in its actual
establishment 1t 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.
~. His Helpers Called. wv. 1920.
In 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 PSF
poses. There is no place for an idler
in the spiritual kingdom. This call
was to 'come ye after me" ". 1O.
the purpose being that they might be.
come Fishers Of men," Notice he be-
gan upon the common. familiar ground
Of fishing. something mutually and
thoroughly understood. and led them
from that to spiritual truth. In this
We see a good pedagogical hint and a
wise suggestion to the preacher and
teacher. viz. that we must begin to
teach our lessons through the medium
Of past experience and Of present in
terests. Simon duke 5:5) appears to
have been doubtef when Jesus
called him. Nevertheless, he was will.
ing to try Christ at least once, and %
Mt his word. he let down the net. The
evidence Of obedience Is found inverse
10. md Matthew (4:s) also Luke Is:
11) tells US that when they left their
nets. ''they left ALL"
". His Helpers Trained wv. n.
22). The result Of this call was (see
v. 2l) that as they went into the city
they entered into the synagogue,
where Jesus taught them. The infer
ence. Of course. Ii plain. Whensvsf
God calls a man into his kingdom. hs
begins at once to teach him the do
ties and responsibilities Of the king
dom. Notice that In becoming fishers
Of men. then began close at home.
Brother sought brother. This was not
the first time that Jesus had called
these brothers. !Bee John I 40. 4D.
In the call. a. accorded by st. John.
we are led to believe that John 1.-THE
unmentioned disciple) FIRST sought IN
interview with Christ. The question
Of harmonixing the various calls which
Jesus gave to his disciples In an 10.
tercstlng one and one which has given
rise to a good deal Of discussion. Tho
one recorded In the hrst chapter Of
John occurred 10 Judea: this one oe'
Cured In Galilee. Al to whether this
II the one recorded In the nth chap'
ter Of Luke. there seems to be . gen
crnl opinion that II 10 not the same.
though We can with profit compare
the two callings In teaching this LEI
son. The probabilities are that there
were three calls: First, the one re-
corded in John ! :3S AZ: second. that
one recorded In Matthew 4 :10 20; and
the third and last was that which oe.
Cured Just before their appointment
to become apostles, the one recorded
In Luke Ave.
Conclusion. When Jesus faced bic
ereat task. he did not face It alone. he
Ind first Of oil the approval Of COD
the Father. Hs also had the annoint'
Ing Of God the Holy Spirit and be
called In the cooperation and help OF
human agents. Jesus met his tsmpta'
A.