Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1918-03-13
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Lesson 11.-First Quarter March
II, 1918
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES
Lesson Text, Mark 6:T-13. So--Mem-
cry Verses, Matt. %: 1s-2o-eoiden
Text, Matt. o:s-commentary Pre-
pared by Rev. D. M. Stearns.

The opening verses of our lesson
chapter find Jesus teaching in the syna-
gogue among his own people who could
not understand how he, whom they
had known from childhood. could teach
as he did. and do such mighty works,
They knew his brothers and sisters
Mary's other children of whom he was
the frstborn FPS. 60 IS; La. $50. and
supposed that he was like them of or
binary human parentage. not knowing
or not believing the manner of bis
birth Matt. l 20, 21). Their unbelief.
at which he marveled, hindered him
from doing any mighty works among
them except healing a few sick folk
t4-6) but he went round about among
the villages teaching. If some will not
hear others will and there will always
be an open door somewhere for those
whom he sends forth In his name. We
saw In a fermer lesson that he called
unto him twelve that they might be
with him, and that he might send them
forth (3-l4, 15) and now we see him
sending them forth, by two and two, to
teach and heal In his name Glib.
They were not to go to the Gentiles or
Samaritans, bat only to Israel; and
proclaim the kingdom of heaven as at
hand, healing the sick, cleansing the
lepers, raising the dead. casting out de-
mons, and doing all freely Matt. 10 IS
y. The kingdom must begin with
Israel, and will begin there when it
shall be set up at his return. Because
Israel rejected him and his kingdom,
the gospel is. In this age of his rejec-
ton, and a postponed kingdom. to be
purchased among the nations TO take
out of them people for his name. the
church which is his body and bride;
and then shall Israel be saved, and
then all nations (Acts 15:13-1S).
Inasmuch as human hearts are al
ways the same, enmity against God
(Rom. 81, 81, we may still expect
much of the same treatment which the
twelve were told they would receive
Matt. 1o:16-25). and we must be con-
tent to be as sheep in the midst Of
wolves, for his sake killed all the day
long. We are not to fear the actual
death of the body. knowing that for the
believer to die Is gain. and absent from
the body means present with the Lord,
Matt, 10 $3.50; Phil. l21. %: Cor.
b:S). Our standing orders are to pro-
claim repentance and remission of sins
among all the people In his name, and
tell them Of Judgment to come and
of him who has been appointed the
judge of all, Christ risen from the dead
Gu. 24:464S; Acts II 80. 81. He
taught them, and US through them. that
whatever treatment they received
would be counted as IL done to himself.
and also that as they went In his name
they must have no anxious care about
food Or raiment or recompense Tvs.
$40; Matt. 1919. 10, 40-42). On the
last night before he was crucified he
asked them, when | sent you without
purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked We
anything?" and they said, Nothing"
Luxe p :35. 1t stands ever true for all
his faithful followers, that If we make
the coming of his kingdom our chief
concern, he will see to the supply OF
all our needs Matt. 9 :33: Phil. 4:1e).
AS to anything we may be called upon
TO bear for his sake. we must count
that a privilege, and be comforted by
the assurance that such affection or
trial is working for us far more ex-
ceeding and eternal weight Of glory.
and that the sufferings of this present
time, are not worthy to be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed
In us. Phil. 1 20; 2 Cor. All, IS;
Rom. S:1S). As Herod and his COM
panions heard of the wonders wrought
through Jesus Christ, some said that
he was Elijah, but Herod's guilty con-
science remembered the birthday party,
and how to please a wicked woman he
had caused John to be beheaded, and
he said: 1T is John risen from the
dead" Tvs. 14-16). II the terrors of a
guilty conscience are so awful here In
eS ''OAA1s HhO Nh4 AA4AdkiAc Nt4dl the
torment Of the lost must be even be-
tween death and resurrection, and then
In the lake of fire duke 10 %, "a /;
Rev. 14:9-1D. Does IT not seem that
IL we really believed God concerning
the happiness of the redeemed and the
sufferings Of the lost we would have
more Of the zeal Of Paul, or a d. L.
Moody. or William Sunday in reach.
ing after sinners to deliver them from
the wrath to comet 1t would be a grea,
thing for every teacher and preacher
and for every true believer. to do every
evening as the disciples and apostles
did after the burial of John the Bap
lists body-tell Jesus all things thai
had been done and said through ths
day Tvs. 20. 30). II II was our custom
to rehearse to him all we have sale
and done. we might perhaps learn t,
leave unsaid and undone many things
and to say and to do others which W,
are negiectlng. He does not need tina
we should tell him. for he sees ant
hears and knows all. but II would be