Evening star., 1922-11-25
BY REV. HUGH t. STEVENSON.
JESUS THE GREAT MISSION
ARY.-Luke, S.1,56.
Golden text.-The Son Of Man
came to seek ana to save that
which Was lost.-Luke, 1910.

j HOiUSn IeXL.-vn0 son OF MAN L
came to seek ana to save that
which Was lost.--Llke, 1910.
Christ's second missionary tour
through Galilee furnishes us the op-
portunity of seeing something Of the
Masters missionary purpose and
power. Jesus was the founder of
modern missions. They expresB His
love and passion for lost world.
The opposition that we saw develop
ing in our previous studies caused
the Lord to change His methods of
work when He started upon His sec
ond missionary journey. He was ac-
companied by the twelve, whom He
was teaching by precept and practice
how to carry on His work. after His
departure, and by band Of won Ell,
whom He had won by His ministry
OF love.
Women owe to the missionary work
of Jesus their freedom and emahci-
patton from the bondage of slavery.
The noble group of women who fol-
lowed Jesus and ministered unto Him
and His apostles had been healed
firmities and evil spirits. Their
presence made a tremendous appeal
to the women OF the various commun-
tiles they visited. Some of them. like
the wife of Herod's steward. held
high social positions. They gave of
their funds and found in the COM
monest tasks for His welfare the
Joy and privilege of worship. Women
have recognized their debt to Christ
and have been during all the CEN
turies OF Christian history His most
loyal supporters and promoters of
His missionary program to win the
nations Of the world for His kingdom.
Jesus recognized the dangers of
popularity. He was not deceived by
the crowds that f1ocked out of the
cities and communities to hear Him
speak along the shore Of the Lake Of
Galilee. He depended upon winning
men and women one by one for His
cause. He proclaimed His greatest
truths to one woman at the we'll of
Sychar. Pulpit power has not always
promoted the upbuilding of the king
dom Of God. The church that carries
the message of sympathy for the
needy and of the gospel for humanity
counts most in His plans. He warned
them against counting too much upon
character Of His hearers.
1t was about this time that Jesus
commenced new method of teach
ing. He adopted the illustrative
method of instructing His apostles
and disciples by using the parallels
that veiled His message from those
who possessed no spiritual Insight
One of his matchless parallels, which
is generally called that of the sower.
is in this weeks lesson. He was seek
ing. to impress upon His students
during this period of His missionary
activities the nature of the kingdom
OF God. He could not openly teach
that truth without being misunder-
stood by those who looked upon a
Romans These men were present as
spies. seeking to catch. contradict
and condemn Christ's teachings. He
was speaking upon a dangerous sub
ject even when He tried to make the
disciples understand that it was a
divine seed. He has given us in His
own words the Interpretation of the
parable which He could have drawn
from nature that presented itself to
Him from His floating pulpit that
early spring morning when He
preached to the crowds upon the sea-
shore. The receptfvity of human
hearts determined the success of mis-
sionary effort. This places the re-
sponsibility upon each Individual soul
for His own fate.
The Pharfsees could only explain
the miracles of Jesus on the ground
that He was being used OF Satan.
They claimed that it was due to the
power of the evil one that He per-
They must have influenced the Mas
ter's family to look at the activities
of the Lord from a similar viewpoint,
for upon one of the occasions when
He returned to His headquarters in
Capernaum His mother and the other
of Itr fan ~,
from Jerusalem determined to bring
Him home with them because they
feared for His safety or possibly
thought He had overworked and was
broken down. When they reached His
home they could not get in because
to come out to them. The Lord de-
clined His mothers request, because
of His duty to His heavenly Father.
There must have been something of a
surprise when Jesus mildly rebuked
His kinfolk, who wished to interfere
with His carrying out His missionary
work. by the declaration that spirit
ual fellowship was more vital than
any human ties. Obedience to His
word freed the Christian brotherhood
from the burdens of the synagogue
and traditions of men. 1t emphasized
the spiritual unity Of His followers.
Worn out and weary from the ac-
disciples to turn the boat. which had
served Him as a pulpit, to the east
side Of the lake, where our Lord fire.
quently sought quiet resting place.
While the boat moved toward the
secluded section of the lake Christ
sought rest by sleeping upon the
steersman's cushion. Suddenly one Of
those terrific storms which quickly
arise on that lake because of it's
position filled the; disciples with ter
ror. In their frenzy they aroused the
sleeping Master, who demonstrated
His divine power by calming the
winds, and waves. He. rebuked the
disciples for their lack Of faith in
Him. as He probably would criticize
our failure to trust His protection
when He is with us. as He has as
sured US He would be IL we obeyed
His great missionary command.
The balance of the chapter is re-
lated to the Masters medical mission
ary activities. The cure OF the Ga
mn m NJ An III