Mexico Missouri message., 1918-02-14
pgPROvED UNIPORA INTERNATIONAL
SUND6XSOOOL
LESSON
CBy ID. o. SELLERS, Acting Director Of
the Sunday School Course of tho Moody
Bible Institute, Chicago)
lcopyright, 1917, Western Newspaper Union
LESSON FOR. FEBRUARY 10
JESUS CHOOSES THE TWELVE
LESSON TExT-Mark s:7-25.

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
TEACHERS-Matt. 1914; Luke 6:12-16;
John 15:15-27; Matt 5:13-16; 16:A-25; John
1858; II Tim. 4:7-s.
helpers.
INTERMEDIATE ToPIC-The twelve
and what we know about them.
SENIOR AND ADULT ToPIC-What Il
means to be q disciple Of Jesus.
No man can alone accomplish any
great task. Every great leader has
been blessed by one or more equally
great helpers. Luther had his Melanc-
thon; Wesley, his brother Charles,
Whitfield and others; Moody had
Whittle, Bliss, Sankey, Towner and
more. These leaders but followed the
example of our Lord. Jesus ministry
made him much observed and greatly
multiplied his duties and burdens
When, therefore, he chose these dis
ciples, he desired not only to obtain
help and to begin to teach those who
were to take his place, but, like every
other act, he desired to teach lesson
to those who were so carefully observ-
ing him. In verse ii we are told that
he chose twelve, which was a signifi-
cant number, corresponding to the
twelve tribes, and at once confirmed
his assumption to the Messiahship and
meant that the wondrous prophesies
were being fulfilled. 1t also served to
stimulate those upon whom the choice
fell. Jesus, as we know from other
passages, retired to the mountains to
nh
". 13), and those called "went up" to
him for preparation and for quail
fication. The call is purpose
full one, for 1t is not enough to go up;
we must also go down and out, hence
these are "sent" wv. Ia, 15). Only
those who are authorized, however, are
sent. Those whom Jesus sent out were
to found new kingdom and to do a
greater work than merely to judge the
people, because they were not only to
Judge results, but they were to change
results by altering causes; hence they
had power over demons, even as the
Master, for evil has no rights. The
source Of their power is to be Jesus,
for he is to be with them, our own pro-
lection as well (Matt. % :20) ; and their
power is to grow with its usage, for
we learn by doing. These men were
originally united, not by a creed but
by an ideal not by doctrine or teach
ing, but by actions; not by a subscrip-
ton to confession. At once they met
with conflict. First of all by a BIAS
phemous unbelief. The Holy Ghost is
no more holy than Jesus; but, If we
SANDER him In his yelled condition and
before his unfinished work, great shall
be the penalty. Those who hate God
shut out the light. Secondly, by con-
flict with misdirected zeal. There were
those about Jesus who watched over
him, whereas rather they should have
had him watching over them ". Ply.
On the other hand, the scribes accused
him of being possessed of devils. They
attributed to the devil the work that
the Holy Spirit and Son were doing.
What strange picture Friends seek
ing to restrain, enemies accusing and
relatives interposing, yet nothing can
stop the onward march of the kingdom
of God. Luke tells us that these twelve
were selected from among the rest of
the disciples. They were to have
greater nearneSs and more extended
authority and, Of course, greater test.
ings than the others who were disci.
to be the light of the world. The Chris
tian, "who is the salt of the EARTH"
loses his identity and will lose his salt.
ness and become like the world, If he
keeps not near unto Christ. AS light
is a good thing to preserve, purify and
TO cleanse, so are the Christians, yet
there is greater thing, when we ener-
gize, direct and believe. This is what
the apostles were to do. The aggres-
siye Peter and the other "SOn of
Thunder" the reflective, cautious
Thomas, these were the men who were
sent forth as public heralds John
:36.) Some they are to win by per
sonal solicitation Games :41). 9th.
ers by public proclamation (Acts
. :39-41.) Men are saved through men,
and those whom he sends forth lre
those who have first learned to follow.
Their work is made permanent only as
"they abide in him." God wants the
hearing ear, the believing heart and
the confessing mouth (ROm. 10 :1D.
The one who would preach Jesus and
have power in his name must first Of
all 'be with him." that is, he must en-
Joy n deep, abiding, victorious life Of
fellowship with Jesus. Jesus gave di-
rectionS TO those he sent out, first to
preach; second, to heal illness; third,
to east out demons.
Our mission Is to both body and
soul, but Christ puts the spiritual
needs first wv. II, 10; see Matt.
1877. 81 The difficulty with many
healers Of today is that they invert
this order. Those whom Jesus sends
out are to offer his kingdom to men
and not command men to receive It.
Their work will bring variance upon
the earth, even among those In the
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