THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NE S S commands the unclean spirit to come out.-—Frost. a » Jesus Chooses Helpers. Matt. 4:18-25. Memory Verse: “ They left'all and followed Him.” Luke 5:11. Approach: How many of you boys and girls ever watched the building of a house? James, did they put the roof on first? No, they built the foundation first, so they would BEGINNERS have something to AND PRIMARY build on. Now Mabel L. Merrill Charles, how do you suppose the carpen ters knew what kind of a house the owner wanted? They had a picture drawn on paper showing just exactly what kind of a house to build. I knew Charles would know for his father is a carpenter and builder. Does one man build a big house by himself? No, he has helpers. Now Jesus came down here on earth to live for He had a work to do, and we remember in our story last week how God His Father spoke out of heaven saying He was well pleased with Jesus, for Jesus always did the things that were pleasing to His Father in heaven. Now Jesus could have done all the work by Himself because He was Gpd’s Son and had great power, because God’s Holy Spirit wa? with Him, but in our story today, we learn that Jesus chose helpers. How lovely for Jesus to let us have a share in His great work of saving people and help ing them. He knew it would help us by letting us have a share in the work. Prayer. * Lesson'Story. Helen, when you were down at the beach last summer, did you see any men in boats with nets catching fish? Yes, lots of them. (It will be well to show a picture of fisher men, or have a piece of net and ex plain to children how men fish with the net, especially if living far from coast where children do not have the privilege of visiting the sea or lake.
976
itself. Every fisherman must have certain traits of character in order to succeed— great adaptability and pa tience. He must learn to wait as well as labor, must have a keen eye and good judgment, must study habits of fish and adapt himself thereto. These elements are needed in fishers of men. —R. Thomas. v. 19. Follow me. Christ’s call is authoritative- in Its brevity. Their prompt self-surrendering response is the witness of the power over their hearts which Jesus had won. — Maclaren. Fishers of men. The or dinary fisherman catches fish to kill and eat them. The gospel fisherman catches men to make them alive and feed them. The day came when Jesus’ promise to Peter was so wonderfully fulfilled that Peter caught more men at a single haul than he did fish on this day (Acts 2:4-41).—Torrey. v. 20. Heft their nets. He sur renders nothing who keeps back any thing.— Sel. v. 21. Other two brethren. His calling of them by couples gives us to understand that the work of the min istry requires concurrence and affection among ministers.—Dickson. He called them. The disciple comes to Christ without any system of duties or virtues save that one principle of love, to God and man which is involved in loving Christ. Life is to be interpreted by Christ.— Edger. v. 23. Teaching, preaching, healing. Jesus had a gospel for the body as well as for the soul, and today the gospel is for the body as well as for the soul (Rom. 8:11; Jas. 5:14, 15). But Jesus’ method of healing was as wide apart as the poles from that of the mod ern Christian Science healer.—-Torrey. When the love of God came to our world in the person of Jesus, it im mediately began to repair the havoc and damage which sin had caused.— Meyer. v. 24. Diseases, those possessed with devils. Note that Jesus distinguishes between “ all manner of diseases” and those “ possessed with devils.” There is no record of a diseased person who was unwilling to have a cure effected. AH were anxious. In no case was a demoniac willing to be healed but al ways resisted. Why? See 1 John 3:8. No sick person recognized Christ as Son of God. Demoniacs rarely failed to do . so. Christ in healing the sick never
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker