The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1933-01-05

JESUS BEGINS HIS WORK

Mark 1920.
GOLDEN TEXT-The time is full
Allied, and the kingdom Of God is at
hand: repent We, and believe the gos.
pei. Mark 1:15.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Jesus' First Help
4rs
JUNIOR ToPIc-Jesus Winning .
Victory.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
1C-Making a Good Beginning.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
TOPIC-Jesus Facing His Task.
.. The Divine Servant Meeting and
Overcoming the Devil wv. r. 13).
The temptation in the wilderness
was Messianic. 1t was not prepara-
ton of Jesus for his work but the first
conflict. Since he had come to de-
stroy the devil (Heb. 2:14). he at
once engaged in that struggle which
was to issue in Satan's defeat.
1. The Spirit driveth him ". 12).
This shows how really Christ was I'M
der the control Of the Spirit. "Driv-
eth" is the same Greek word which is
used in connection with Christ casting
out devils (See Mark "a. 39).
2. He was in the wilderness forty
days, tempted of Satan ". 13). Not
that he tasted forty days and was
then tempted, but that the struggle
with the devil lasted forty days.
8. He was with the wild beasts ".
49,. The clear implication is that he
not only oyercame the devil but had
fnf IN Vryild TO oIcn
4. The angels ministered unto him
". 13). These superhuman messen-
gers doubtless ministered to him all
through the forty days.
q. The Divine Servant Preaching
wv. IA, 15).
Jesus does not first present himself
as a miracle worker, but as preach
er. a bearer of message. Miracles
were but the credentials of the mes
Senger.
1. Where he preached-in Galilee
". 14). Galilee was particularly his
own country. His ministry there was
some distance removed from Jerusa-
lem. and there less opposition would
likely be manifest.
2. What he, preached-the gospel Of
the Kingdom Of God ". 14). Since
gospel" means good news" the es-
sential content of his message was
that God had sent him to announce
the good news of the near approach
of the Kingdom of God, or the rule of
God upon the earth.
3. What he neutrality-suspicious.
and belief of the gospel ". 15). He
showed that the way to get ready for
the coming of the Kingdom is to re-
pent and believe the gospel Of Christ's
death for sin. and his coming to ad-
minister the affairs of righteousness
upon the earth.
III. The Divine Servant Calling AS
sociates wv. 1920.
Knowing that his ministry would be
short, he called to definite fellowship
men to continue the work after he
was gone.
/. Who they were wv. 16, 1917. Simon
and Andrew, James and John-two
pairs of brothers. 1t is usually wise
to engage in the Lords service in
fellowShip-in pairs. This is not only
necessary for effective testimony, but
for protection of the witnesses. These
men had become Christ's disciples, for
at the word of John the Baptist they
had beheld the Lamb of God which
taketh away the sin of the world
John 1:3G-42). This is always the
Lords way. He calls men and women
to be his disciples and then calls them
to have fellowship with him in service.
.. From what they were called wv.
1920. They were called from bust
ness and family connections. In look
ing for men worth while, we should
expect to find them busily engaged.
James and John left their father and
his servants. The call of God involves
sacrifice and separation.
8. To what they were called ". ~.
To become fishers of men. These men,
no doubt, had been successful as fish
ers. The qualities which made them
good fishermen; namely: patience,
bravery which led them to face the
storm at night. and perseverance
which led him to toll all night though
no fish were caught. would make them
good fishers of men. Winning souls
for Christ requires patience, bravery
and perseverance.
4. Obedience of the disciples wv.
1920. Obedience to Christ's call
meant sacrifice. painful separation. It
means to give up business interests.
They yielded prompt obedience. They
put their trust in him who called them,
believing that he was able to supply
all their needs.
5. Their reward ". ~. These four
men have welded wondrous influence
in the world. Their names have be-
come immortalized. Had they re-
manned at their business they would
only have been humble fishermen.
God Does Nothing Amiss