The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1926-12-30
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Prepared Especially for Readers of
The Republican by Rev. U. S.
Wright, D. D.

Wright, ID. u.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 2, 1926.
THE CHRISTIAN A FOLLOW
Err OF JESUS.
Mark 1:16-20; 2:13-17; I John 2:6.
He saith unto him. follow me. And
- he arose and followed him-Mark
2:14.
WHO CALLS?
There can be no following without
some one to follow. There can be no
call and no called men without a cal
Ter. That lies at the foundation Of
these three months of study in the
Christian life, for it all harks back to
the heart of it in the Lord who calls
men to follow Him. He walked across
the world as an historic figure. Cues
toned as that is by some there is
abundant proof of the character that
is depicted by the Gospels. An in
stitution as stable as the Church
needs more than myth for its foun-
dation. A day as much used as Sun
day needs more than expediency to
explain the change from the seventh
day. If the four Gospels are fiction it
is passing strange that no other bit
of literature in all the world has
dreamed of centering its story upon
such a character, or has dared to de-
pict another such as He. The only
adequate explanation of so great an
Influence as has passed into the life
of the world through Him is to ac-
cept the record and the Man of the
record.
But He is more than figure of his
tory, high as He towers in such a
capacity. He is a living fact to be
reckoned with in the life of today.
Other great men have been figures of
history. Lincoln is known and loved
about the earth. His name is familiar
in the tongue of many nations. His
shadow falls farther than that of any
other man of America, but no shrines
are built to him No child is taught
to lisp his name in prayer. He is
dead and only a figure of history
whose work abides. But there are
millions who declare that they have
spiritual commerce with Jesus; that
He has redeemed them from sin and
its habits, that He works in them and
through them wonderful character
products in this year of our Lord,
1927. When Mel Trotter was being
examined by the Presbytery for his
ordination one question was, GLOW
do you know you are converted?" AS
quick as flash the response came
back, 81 was there" 1t is that con-
seriousness of the living, present Lord
that differentiates Him from all other
characters that appear in the records
of earth. And He it is that calls
men to follow today in the same tone
as yesterday that makes the Christian
the called person.
WHO FOLLOW? HEARERS.
In that old day when Jesus walked
beside the sea and visited in the
homes of Galilee He made his friends
as others do. He knew John the Bap-
tiser as we would know him. He
talked with Peter and James and
John and Andrew as we would do.
And then seeking to create a living
cause and knowing that there was no
way except by teaching a group the
truth of it He began to gather those
that He felt could be used for such a
purpose. Not all whe were called fol-
lowed. There was the rich young
ruler who refused the invitation.
There was the man who wished to go
and bury his father, the one who
wished to turn back for the protract-
ed farewells of the oriental. There
must have been many more who were
hidden to come. But these heard the
call. They had listening ears. The
speech of the spirit caught their at
tention that was not dulled by the
roar of the world. The swish of the
net, the splash of fish, the rush Of the
boat died away into a stiffness under
the tones of Jesus. With Matthew
there was the continuous clink of coin
but it no longer dinned upon his sens
ses when Jesus spoke his name. All
who followed were listeners for the
call Of the highest. There was a
spiritual expectancy in their being
that waited for the coming of their
Great Guest. And that is the perpet-
ual characteristic; there are no fol-
lowers who are not hearers first.
WHO FOLLOW? LEARNERS.
They were disciples and the disciple
is a learner. 1t was after they had
learned that they were called Chris
tians at Antioch. Not one of them
faced Jesus with the attitude of know
ing it all. Even in their chosen pro-
fession in which field anywhere such
a feeling may exist His direction was
accepted. 1t was after a fruitless