The Dermott news., 1918-02-07
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 10
JESUS CHOOSES THE TWELVE
LESSON TEXT-Mark a:7-25.

that he might send them forth to preach. Mark 3.l4.
 ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR TEACHERs-M 10:1-4; Luke 6:12-l6; John l5l5-27; Matt 5;1S-l6; 16:24-25; John 176-26, II Tim 47-s.
 PRIMARY T0PIC-Jesus chooses twelve hep~gs.
 'NT4,RMEDIATE TOPIC-The twelve anS wlat we know about them.
 SENIOR AND ADULT TOP1C-What it means to be disciple of Jesus
 Ne man can alone accomplish any great task Every great leader has been blessed by one or more equally great helpers. Luther had hls 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 q lesson to those who were so carefully ohserv- ing him. In verse 14 We are told that he chose twelve, which was a signiti- can't number, corresponding 10 the twelve tribes, and at once confirmed his assumption to the Messahship and meant that the wondreus prophecies were being fulfilled. It also served to stimulate those upon whom the choice fell. Jesus, as we know from other passages, retired to the mountains to pray The call came from on high (v. 13), and those called went up" to him for preparation and for quail fication. The call is purpose full one, for it is not enough to go up; We must also go down and out, hence these are "sent" (vv. Ii. 151. Only those who are authorized, however, are sent. Those whom Jesus sent out were to found new kingdom and to do 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 N3ilt ' VI Al4'#AA l'hN'i lN A' At HAE>t47H' for he is to bc with them. our own pro teetion us veil tMutt. = .9o) and their power is to grew With lts usage. for we learn hv doing. These men were originally united, hot hy a creed but hF an ideal Het hy a doctrine UT teath- Ing. La, hy aciloas; uat ty H suhserip- con to a confession. Al oaro they met with conflict First of aIl by il blaS- pIameHs E8Helief. The Holy Ghost Is na moro holy than Jesus; but if We sander h.m in his yelled condition and befer, Als unfinished work, great shall be tie penalty Those who hate God shut cut he light. Secondly by con. fiet with misdirected zeal. There were those about Jesus who watched over him. whereas rather they should have had him watching over them (Y. 21). on the other hand, the serihes 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 iuterposlng. 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 n greater nearneSs and more extended authority and. of course. greater test ings than the others who were disci. ples or learners" These disciples are to he the light of the world. The Chris tan. "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, vet there Is greater thing, when We ener- gize. direct and believe. This is what the apostles were to do. The aggres- Sjve 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. Sonai solicitation Games ;4D. Oth. CTS by public proclamation (Acts :39-I1) Men are saved through men, and those whom he sends forth are 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 confeSslng 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 a deep. abiding, victorious life of fellowship with Jesus. Jesus gave d. reetions to those he sent out. first to preach; second, to heal illness; third to cast out demons.
 Our mission is to both body and soul, but Christ puts the spiritual needs first (yy. Ii. 15: see Matt 10:7. s. 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. ThNr work will bring variance upon the Sarth. even among those In the