Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-22
Sunday School Lesson
Rev. Hugh T. Stevenson.

A contest followed with the religious
authorities from Jerusalem, who mao
reached Capernaum determined 10
crush the Master, about ceremonial
ablution. The mass of the people dio
not understand the technical ana
theological differences between tneH
| ecclesiastical leaders and the Master.
They showed their loyalty to HIM IN
| such a manner that Jesus recognized
| that the hour demanded that He retire
! for a season with His disciples into
| Phoenicia, where He expected that, free
| from the persecution of His enemies ana
| the peril of Herod's power, He could
continue to teach the twelve Whlle tney
rested among the mountains or the
nearby heather country. He had en-
! tered Phoenician territory to give IN
struction to the twelve, but He could
not conceal His presence from the
heather.
The Mothers Appeal.
The appeal of the gentle woman, who
was a descendant from the PhoenicianS
of Syria, as distinguished from those OF
Africa or Carthage, for her deranged
daughter touched the Masters heart.
The woman, who was heather, had
called Him by Messianic title, needed
to have her faith tested. The silence
of the Christ gave her encouragement,
so she kept up her intercessions. 1t was
a diff Gent strain from what He had
been hearing in Galilee, so when the
disciples suggested that He send her
away Jesus gave them an answer that
prompted the woman to have hope. She
revealed faith that Jesus could not re-
fuse. His apparently harsh reply made
a clear distinction between the heather
and the Hebrew. She accepted it, and
in seeking for the crumbs that fell from
the table she recognized the rights of
the Jew and her privileges as gentle
believer. Her faith thrilled the Master
who commended her faith and healed
her child because Of the mothers APP
peal.
This cure prevented Christ from en-
joying any rest, but it served to teach
the disciples the lesson that every
Christian needs to learn. The winning
of souls of every race Is the first duty
of every follower of the Lord Jesus. 1t
calls upon the Christian churches to be
no reSpectorS of persons and to recog-
nize the practical teachings of brother
hood that seeks to unite in spiritual
brotherhood the people of every race
and land. Every Christian ought to
follow the example of the Lord Jesus
and become a foreign missionary. If
we cannot go to other lands with the
gospel we can carry it to the foreigners
within the Nations gates. Having failed
to secure the privacy and seclusion that
He desired in Phoenicia, Jesus proceeded
to the east side of the Sea of Galilee,
apparently reaching it by way of
Damascus Evidently He made this ex
tended tour entirely outside of Jewish
territory. This gave Him opportunity
to fully explain to the IL His refusal to
become a political Messiah and why
He expected He would meet death, Just
as the prophets had been called upon to
die for their faith.
1t is during this period that we have
another manifestation of the Lords
compassion for the people in His feed
ing the multitude. There is much SINH
larity between this event and the feed
ing of the 5000. The apostles and the
people saw Him transform their meager
store until it satisfied the multitude.
The scientist in his laboratories earnest
ly seeks to understand the mysteries
contained in the germ of life in its
various forms. We are witnessing in
our day the work of the same power in
the wheat fields of the DakotaS that
took place when Jesus increased the
food supply for the hungry multitudes.
In all our mission work at home and
abroad we have learned that medical
missions and social service have won
openings for the presentation of the
gospel message Just as they did for the
Lord Jesus. They help to develop faith
and make real to men the power of
Christ's gospel to fill US with love and
sympathy for all mankind, aiding US to
take the world for our Lord and Savior