Evening star., 1918-03-16
JESUS SENDING FORTH THE
TWELVE
Mark, 6:1-31.
Golden Text: Freely ye received.
freely give.-Matthew, 1913.
By Rev. Hugh 7. Stevenson.


t~Few lessons bear so closely upon the
problems of present-day Christianity
and touch so many aspects OF con-
ditions facing America today as the les
| son before US. 1t is one OF the proofs
| of the eternal and abiding character of
the gospel message that it can be ap-
piled to all times, circumstances and
| classes of men. Just as the diamond
when turned about reflects it's dazzling
rays. so the word of God brings fresh
to our spirits and we see
new aspects of it's meaning.
| After months of patient teaching
Jesus is about to launch forth on a
campaign of expansion 1t was a pro-
! a handful of disciples who were about
| to become apostles, and ministering to
the physical and spiritual needs OF the
community in which they lived. and
then spreading out to take in the sur
| rounding country. This circle is yet
unbroken Each messenger of the Cross.
! each missionary of the gospel, each
medical missionary Is carrying on to-
day the work which the Master mapped
out to the twelve.
they were carefully prepared for their
tasks. Modern business in America has
adopted this policy. The successful in
dustrial and financial corporations Of
the land are taking great care in the
selection and training of their repre-
sentatives, both for domestic and for
| eign service. Many large institutions
are maintaining miniature colleges or
training schools in order to prepare
young men for scientific salesmanship.
No company today would think of send
ing out a representative who did not
learn its business from the very
bottom up. Departments have been
established for the selection and en-
ployment of men and women. capable
Of accomplishing things. eager to
learn. desirous of being of service in
the great commercial struggle. Yet all
this is merely an adoption of Jesus
Christ's methods as exemplified in our
lesson. The twelve had been in constant
They had had the inspiration of His
example. They had seen Him working
miracles, healing the infirmities Of the
flesh. and rebuilding human character.
1t was opportune that they should now
be sent forth to put into practice the
lessons they had learned.
These first Christian missionaries
were sent out by the Master to minister
unto the lost sheep of the house of
Israel" But before their departure
they received the final instructions or
marching orders. Realizing the dan
gers that would beset them on every
hand, Jesus wished to guide their work
and to give them parting advice as to
the methods to be followed. for, as the
first ambassadors, it was absolutely
necessary that they should rightly rep
resent Christianity.
The instructions that they received are
full of significance to the modern dis
ciple that desires to bear creditably
the name of Christian and to be a true
apostle OF Righteousness. Jesus Christ
laid the emphasis on the spiritual phase
OF their work. 1t was not His wish
that His Representatives should worry
about finances. They should carry no
money in their purses. They should
wear plain. simple sandals. rather than
bright, ornate and expensive shoes
They should not put on two coats-one
would be ample protection. All of these
instructions told what the twelve
should not do, what they should not
give, as the chief concern in prepara-
ton for the journey.
The divine mission upon which they
started was singularly spiritual. AS
| tlan worker must consider people of
more value than purses, souls of more
consequence than shoes Purses shoes
and slaves have their relationships but
the moment one of them seiZes the CEN
| ter of the soul, that moment the sent
one fails in equipment for the divine
message. Jesus wanted to relieve
them OF temporary anxiety and to have
the disciples devote their whole ener-
gies and souls to interpreting to a sin
sick world the healing truths of Chris
tianity. Today the preacher eyaneel-
lst or Christian that turns aside from