Evening star., 1918-03-30
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.

the sympathy of Jesus. who can re-
main unmoved and Indifferent in the
presence of disease and pain. whether
1t be physical or mental. The world
needs today another touch OF the min
istry of Jesus, who demonstrated his
power by forgiving sins and healing
the paralytic, even on the Sabbath day.
We have seen the Master as we Sc
lect from among His followers the
twelve disciples who were to be the
nucleus of the church which He came
upon earth to establish. Have you ever
wondered at the men selected? They
were not the educated, trained theoio-
gians, skilled in the letter Of the law.
They were not possessed OF great
wealth Yet. yielding to the teaching Of
the Christ, they became disciples and
then apostles. They followed Jesus at
a great sacrifice. Home was left be-
hind. Business was cast aside. The dt-
vine service on which they had entered
called for their whole allegiance. for
answering. undivided attention. For
months they were to stay under the
Masters constant tutelage. They were
to be ever in His presence, learning the
ideas and ideals which prompted Him.
What was the result? These ordinary
men were transformed into Gods mes
sengers who preached the Word with
power. The plain fishermen. the publi-
can tax gatherer. the self-seekers and
towards became, through contact with
Jesus. valiant soldiers of the cross
who preached without fear and carried
on the work in spite of persecution and
prejudice. No one who hears the call
to Christian service needs to hesitate.
The leader who nodded the character
of the twelve and gave them inspira-
ton stands ready to aid today the one
who takes up His cross and follows
HiE.
Two of our lessons have been part of
great sermon which Jesus preached
TO the multitude by the Sea of Galilee.
The teaching of truths by parallels was
nothing new, for it had been an ac-
ables which fell from the Masters lips
were different. They reflected His
greatness as teacher, and as we read
them we realize why the people mar
veled and why they felt that He spake
as one having authority" In a simple
theme Jesus could find divine mes
sage So He takes his illustrations
from their daily life. They all knew
what 1t meant to till the SOIL they all
nad seen the grain of mustard seed
grow into tree. Speaking from out
OF their experience, He was thus able
to bring home to them the spiritual
truths underlying the parallels. Yet
now rev really understood; even the
lesson. And if We only have spiritual
sight. how much we would see in the
world around US. We would see the
hand OF Providence. working out the
VI HiSIls ana nations. We would
see the reason for the storm. the pur-
pose OF the earthquake and the motive
IN every act of our Heavenly Father.
=, rev lessons are Of more interest
man man the last lessons of the quarter.
humanity likes to look upon the Mas
ter as the Prince of Peace and to study
Hlm as He went about bringing health
ana happiness in the place of sadness.
IN TINS hour, when the thought of the
world has been set on a world peace
let us not forget that the Master came
to bring not only peace upon earth"
but also the sword. With Jesus there
was no compromise with wrong. Evil
was ev,l ~ ana right was right. and be-
struggle. And there was no neutral
territory. Each soul must decide
where it will take it's stand in the
struggle Jesus did not extemporize
of Galilee. He did not hold a clinic
over the daughter of Jairus. There
was human need to be met and Divine
aid was not withheld.
AS soon as the twelve had been
sufficiently trained Christ sent them
out in pairs to teach and preach and
to heal. The days of apprenticeship
were about to end, The task was soon
well that they should get experience.
have their baptism of fire" while He
was still with them to encourage and
to correct. Like soldiers. they had
boiiS tiii out'H q pVi iiou OIL training.
was now time for them to enter the
trenches in the struggles against
sin. But, unlike the soldier, material
equipment was of little consequence.
The sword of the Spirit" was Of more
avail than money or clothes or san
dals. Let US not forget. though. that
the soldiers of freedom in France and
the sailors upon the high seas have
as one of the greatest assets the calm
and determined spirit which results
from sense. of the justice >of their
cause. For, after all the spfrit of