The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1933-02-02
Lesson for February S
JESUS CHOOSES TIE TWELVE
Mark 3:7-35.

JESUS CHOOSES TIE TWELVE
Mark 3:7-35.
GOLDEN TEXT-Ye have not chosen
me, but / have chosen you, and or
dained you, that ye should go and
bring forth fruit and that your fruit
should remain: that whatsoever ye
shall ask of the Father in my name,
he may give it you. John 1916.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Jesus Choosing
Special Helpers.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Taken Into PART
nership.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Our Call to Friendship and Service.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
TOPIC-Discipleship and Its Meaning.
!. The Divine Servant Ministering
by the Sea wv. 7-12).
l. Why he withdrew ". g.. 1t was
because of the murderous plotting of
the PhariseeS against his life. Their
opposition began when Jesus claimed
to have power on earth to forgive sins
(2:10); grew in intensity when he
mingled with publicans and sinners
(2:16) was famed into violent
fame when he set at naught their
false interpretations of the Sabbath
law (2:23-2S).
2. To whom he ministered wv. Z, 81.
1t was to a great multitude represent
ing a wide stretch of territory.
3. The results wv. 9-12).
a. The disciples prepared small
ship ". 81. SO great was the pres
sure of the thronging multitudes that
he commanded the disciples to pro-
vide the ship so that he might be
saved from them.
b. Unclean spirits fell down before
him wv. II, 12). They not only bowed
before him, but confessed him as the
very Son of God. This testimony he
refused, doubtless for two reasons:
(1) The time was not ripe to pro-
claim him publicly as the Son of God.
(2) They were not the beings to
make him known. Jesus consistently
refused the testimony of those who
were not in moral accord with him.
II. The Divine Servant Calling AS
seciates wv. 1919.
In this way he made provision for
the carrying forward Of his work after
he was gone. Before choosing the
twelve he spent whole night in prayer
". 49,. (cf. Luke 6 :12). From among
his disciples he choose twelve whom
he ordained for twofold purpose:
1. THAT they might be with him"
". 14). Fellowship with the Lord is
not only the highest privilege of the
disciples, but it is an indispensable
qualification for witnessing. 1t is need
full to be with him to catch his spirit.
2. "That he might send them forth
to preach" ". 14). To proclaim the
good news of salvation was the SUI
preme mission of the disciples. Con-
corning those who were to be the
messengers of Jesus Christ, note:
a. Twelve were ordained ". 14).
This was the beginning of the process
by which the Triune God was to make
manifest his grace to the whole world.
The number twelve is the product of
the heavenly three and the earthly
four, thus indicating the purpose of
the Triune God to reveal himself unto
the four quarters of the earth.
b. Their characteristics wv. 17-19).
(I They were from the middle
ranks of society, the common walks Of
life.
(2) Men of average ability. Christ
did not go to the schools for his apos-
ties and yet he chose men of mental
grasp and efficiency.
(3) Men of diverse temperamental
gifts. The grouping of the apostles
shows men Of impulse and leadership,
Of the reflective and inquisitive type,
and men Of practical business abilities.
III. The Servants Increasing Diff.
cuIties wv. 20-35).
1. The suspicion of his friends wv.
20. Ply. The needy people pressed
upon him so that he had no time to
eat When his friends saw his zeal
eating him up, they suspected that he
was losing his mind.
J 2. The violent opposition w. 22-30).
Added to the embarrassment of the
suspicion of his friends, the Lord now
had to face the sneers of the scribes.
3. Visited by his mother and broth
ers wv. 1880. We are left to con-
lecture as TO the motive to this visit.
Perhaps they likewise suspicioned his
mental balance. It may be that they
desired to take him home and nurse
him back TO nOrmalcy