Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1918-01-12
IMPROVED UNlFORM INTERNATIONAL
'S0NlAXSQ100L
LESSON
by f. o. SELLERS. Acting Director d
the Sunday School Course Of the Moody
Bible Institute. ChicaSo.)
Copyright. 1917. Western Newspaper Union.l
LESSON FOR JANUARY 10
JESUS BEGINS HIS WORK.

LESSON TEXT-Mark 1:12-22
GOLDEN TEXT-Repent We. and believ
IN the Gospel
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL TO
iEACHERS-Matt. 4:1-11; 1882; Luke
L3i-3S.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Jesus chooses fou
helpers.
MEMORY vERSE-Come ye after me-
Mark Ill.
INTERMEDIATE TOPIC - Overcom
temptation.
MEMORY verse; Cor. 1913.
SENIOR AND ADULT TOPIC-How Je
rus faced his task.
!. Introduction wv. -. 49,. Mark de
votes little or no attention to the earl1
Incidents of the life of Jesus, and only
suggests the events Immediately fol
lowing his baptism. Indeed, for thu
record of the Temptation and the Ser
mon on the Mount, we have to look te
the other Gospel writer's. In teach
Ing the lesson we must not; however
overlook making some reference te
these two outstanding events in thu
life of our Lord.
u. John the Baptizer (vv. IA, 15)
This section not only disposes of join
as having been put into prison, but
Immediately plunges Jesus into his
public ministry. Jesus entry into
Galllee was part of his connection
with John, inasmuch as he withdrew
himself to that place (See John :1-3)
and made Capernaum his headquar
tiers Matt. 4:13). The message here
recorded rs proclaimed by Jesus was
the identical summons which John tho
Baptizer had uttered. Jesus speaks
of this new kingdom as being already
come, referring, of course, to his OWL
person and ministry, but in it's actual
establishment it was not really "a,
hand' until he shed his blood upon the
cross and the Holy Spirit descended on
the day of Pentecost, when there was
opened the fountain for sin and I'M
cleanliness for the world at large.
III. His Helpers Called. wv. 1921
In this record, we have the call Of
four of his helpers: Simon, Andrew
his brother, james and John hi
brother. the latter being the sons Of
Zebedee. Luke tells us (5:3) thai
Jesus was teaching. Those called
were certainly at work and God nj
ways issues his call to those whose
time and effort are being occupied
even though perhaps for selfish pur
Doses. There is no place for an idlel
n the spiritual kingdom. This call
vas to ''cOE1e We after me-" ". IT,
he purpose being that they might be
'ome FISHERS of men," Notice he be
AN upon the common, familiar groun{
# fishing, something mutually and
thoroughly understood. and led then
rom that to n spiritual truth. In thia
We see a good pedagogical hint and
rise suggestion to the preacher and
eacher. viz, that we must begin Il
each our lessons through the me,liuH
f past experience and of present in
nrests. Simon duke 5:5) appears Il
ave been dOubter when Jesus
allied him. Nevertheless. he was will
lg to try Christ at least once. and 81
t his word. he let down the net. The
violence of obedience is found in versl
,. and Matthew (4:S) also Luke Is,
u tells us that when they left theii
cts, ''they left ALL"
~. His Helpers Trained wv. q
y. The result of this call was (sel
Ply that as they went into the city
icy entered into the synagogue
here Jesfs taught them. The infer
ice, of course. is plain. Whenevel
ID calls Il man into his kingdom. hi
gins ut once to teach him the du
IS and responsibilities of the king
m. Notice that in becoming fishert
men, then began close at homo
other sought brother. This was not
e first time that Jesus had called
csc brothers. (See John l 40, Az
the call, as accorded by St. John
!. are led to believe that John (the
disciple) first sought an
erview with Christ. The .questiOa
harmOnizing the various calls which
sus gave to his disciples is an In
esting one and one which has given
e to Il good deal of discussion. The
: recorded in the first chapter OF
IN occurred in Judea; this one oc
red in Galilee. AS to whether this
tn
Of Luke, there seems to be a gen.
l opinion that it is not the same
ugh we can with profit compare
two callings in teaching this les.
/. The probabilities are that there
e three calls: First, the one re.
led in John 1 :35 40; second, that
recorded in Matthew 4 :1S 90; and
third and last was that which &C.
red just before their appointment
become apostles, the one recorded
Luke five.
onciusion. When Jesus faced his
1t task, he did not face it alone. He
first of all the approval of God
Father. He also had the annoint.
Of God the Holy Spirit. and he
ed in the cooperation and help Of
AN agents. Jesus met his tempta.
and his tasks not in his own
Myth. but in the strength of the
it of God. At the same time be.
God, he called to his side those
in turn were to become fishers of
leaders of others. His call to
e disciples was three-fold; (a),
iscipleship, namely, they were to
me learners; (b), to fellowship
hey were to enter into and have
Of his toll, tasks, temptations end
'ws (Phfl. 5 10y; and tc), to serv.
They were to 60 out as his am.
adors and representatives. This
d always demands the busy mGnL
60 %h@k