The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-01-01
RECEIVING JESUS
As THE SAVIOR
OF ALL THE PEOPLE
DR.. GiIroy Draws Interesting
Thoughts From First
1927 Lesson.
The International Uniform Sunday
School Lesson fer Jan. >. Receiv-
ing Jesus as Savior and Lord. Mark
1:l6-2O; 2:l3-l1.
By VIM. f. Gilroy. ID. d..

Editor of The tOngrega tlOndllSl.
From the Old Testament period of
Moses to Samuel we now progress
into the New Testament. and we
come to it's very heart. in this story
of he relation Of individual men to
Jesus, their discovery of Him and
their taking Him into their lives as
Lord and Master. II is the story OF
the calling of Peter and Andrew and
Levi. or Matthew. to the inner circle
of discipleshiD.
We are so accustomed to think or
these three men as among the
Twelve" and the Apostles them
selves stand forth 50 prominer$4H
among the great men of history.
that we are apt TO miss the orig
inal significance of the call of these
men and of their acceptance Of
Jesus.
If we would understand the mean
ing of their response we must brush
aside all these conceptions of great
ness and fame that were not pres
ent at the time. 1t was the attrac-
lowly and without world recognition.
that led these men to Him.
Men and Their Leader
One can form only a dim concep-
ton OF the wondrous personality OF
this man who led men at his call
to leave their particular jobs and
follow him. But one should realize
also the quality OF the men who had
in them the freedom and courage
that made them responsive.
Most of us would find ii hard
under such circumstances. to see the
vision that would move us to such
cleavage with our environment. Yet
is it not true that Jesus comes to us
in much the same way today? We
can not always see Him any more
than did many men, who were in
the same community ~ which
Peter and Andrew andV Matthew
lived. saw him long ago. nor is his
call heard except to those whose
hearts are attuned to hear
But when one sees Jesus and hears
his call. life takes on new mean
ing. Inevitably the call is to new
ness of life and action. Some who
listened to Jesus in his earthly min
istry said, I'VE never saw it after
this fashion" That is exactly what
Jesus does for us. He opens up fol-
us new world.
The title Of this lesson is Re
ceiving Jesus as Savior and Lord.
Does man need a Savior? Does he
need a Master? Some say not. Some
think that sin and salvation are old
and exploded terms and some say
that it is a mans business TO save
himself.
Some rebel against the idea NJ any
mastership. They like TO talk OF
themselves as the master of their
own souls. But when we look into
our own hearts and lives. when We
look into the lives around us. can we
say that this is so. that man does
not need Savior and that he does
not need a Master?
Power Within
1t is not rather true that life be
ZONES great only as n man feels
within him the influences of a power
greater than himself? Is not all
masterful living due to the fact that
one has given his life to the power
of overmastering ideals? 1t is the
distinction of the great Christian
that he has given his life to the
overmastering power of Jesus, who
than Jesus? If it is wealth he seeks,
went about doing good.
Can man have a greater Master
or power, he may give his life over
to some other great leader and to
some other ideal.
But, If, above all things, he wants
to make his character sound and his
life influential for good, he will seek
not only a Master but a Savior, and
in finding in Jesus of Nazareth a
Savior and Master he will find also
a companion and a friend. 1t was to
these same disciples and to others
in their group that Jesus said: Il
have not called you servants, but 1
have called your friends"