THE KING’S BUSINESS
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among them with hands laden with bless ings, but they would not come to Him that they might have life. The King was there mighty to save and strong to deliver, but, alas, how few received His favors. A few blind cried for mercy and received their sight. One wretched, suffering woman touched the fringe of His garment and was made whole. How near He was! He walked the streets of their towns. He passed through their villages. He entered some of their homes and ate with them. He was able to do exceeding abundantly above all they could ask or think, but they were self-willed, self-satisfied, self-assured. They had their own ideas and conceptions and would not believe all that the prophets had spoken, and they were left with an empty house, whose house might have been full. And the Christ is in the midst today, by His Spirit, and but few welcome Him. It is the old story of a sin-cursed world and depraved and willfully wicked human na ture. Let us make Him welcome always. Let us make much of Him. Let us herald Him everywhere as Prophet, Priest ana King. Lesson XI.—June 14, 1914. Golden Text, Mark 2:17. “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners The golden text is a comment upon the whole of the lesson. The purpose for which the Lord Jesus came into the world is clearly defined. He came to call sinners. Mark 2:17. He came to save the lost. Luke 19:10. He came to save sinners. 1 Tim othy 1 :15. He was born a Saviour. Luke 2:11. He is the Saviour of the world. John 4:42. He was sent of the Father. John 3:16, John 17:18. The mission of Jesus is so clearly defined that it is a wonder that anyone can mis take it. He did not come to reform the world. He did not come to change its cus toms. He did not come to pat men upon the back and tell them to be good. He came "to seek and save the lost.” No one
isfied with temporal blessing—glad to have the best things—health and prosperity and to enjoy the fruitage of the labors of other men. How little there is of real gratitude in the church. How much of complaint, of grumbling, of fault-finding against God. How guilty we all are of the base sin of ingratitude! How keenly the blessed Lord felt the slight! How He feels it now! The Crowning Blessing. The grateful Samaritan was rewarded. Not only was he restored to health, but he was given life The Lord was astonished that the nine were forgetful and equally astonished that the stranger was neither. Highest encomiums fell from His lips for the faith of the Cen- turian and the Syrophonecian woman and now or this Samaritan also. He prayed as a leper and praised as a cleansed man. He rejoices in forgiven sins and a new life. Picture the man among the ten, but a few moments ago, now a new man to be a liv ing testimony of His matchless power. What a wonderful Saviour! What a won derful salvation! Lesson X.—June 7, 1914. Golden Text, Luke 17:21. "Lo, the Kingdom of God is within you.’’ The word within should be among you, or in your midst. The King was there in the midst of them, God manifest in the flesh, the promised Messiah, the King of the Jews and the King of the kings, but they did not recognize Him. “He came to His own things and -His own people re ceived Him not.” The eyes of the Jews were blinded by prejudice and they could not see Him. They looked for a King to come in great pomp and glory for so had the prophets described Him, but they failed to read also that He must first come in humiliation, “as a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” He was among them as a servant and ministered to their necessities, but they looked not for a ser vant. He was there as a Saviour and opened His arms saying, “Come unto me and I will give you rest,” but their ears were closed to His entreaties. He went
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