December 1924
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
792
upon and trust Him, He will speak the word, and there will be “ a great calm” . : Lesson 5 speaks to us of Him whose loving heart is moved with compassion for the penitent wanderer, whom He gra ciously welcomes and restores. Lesson 6 -—Jesus the Bread of Life— the living bread which alone can satisfy our hungry souls. Lesson 7—Jesus Christ the Son of the living God, whom we can know through the Father’s revelation, and whom we are to confess. How great the privilege! Lesson 8 — Jesus the all glorious One, in whom the Father is well pleased, and who is coming again in glory— the raised believers (typified by Moses) and the living believers (having been translated as was Elijah) sharing in His glory. Lesson 9— Jesus the Good Samaritan, who is moved with compassion for the needy, and who ministers to their need. Lesson 10-—Jesus the Light of the world, who gives light and sight to the spiritually blind. Lesson 11-—Jesus the Resurrection and the Life, giving His marvelous life to those who are dead in trespasses and sins. Lesson 12— Jesus— God’s Gift to the World. “ Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable Gift” (2 Cor. 9:15). “ He that spared not his own Son, but delivered) him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32). JANUARY 4, 1925 CHRIST’S TRIUMPHAL ENTRY Luke 19:29-44 Golden Text: “ Blessed is the King that cometh in the name of the Lord.” ) Luke 19:38. Lesson Text: Luke 19:29-44. Devotional Reading: Psalm 118:21-29. Reference Mater ial: Matt. 21:1-16; Mark 11:1-11; John 12:12-19. The triumphant entry into Jerusalem is the literal and historic fulfilment of Zech. 9:9: “ Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” c "■RECEIVED— Luke 19:28 HRIST EJECTED— Luke 23:21 “Whom say YE that I am?”
receiving rather than giving. They have never heard and obeyed the Lord’s command: “ Go ye.” The harvest is plenteous and the laborers are few. It Is the duty of every one to pray the Lord of the harvest to thrust forth labor ers into the harvest, and then, in some measure, to answer the prayer by saying: “ Here am I, O Lord, send me.” The sending forth of the Twelve was the beginning of the great missionary enterprise of the Christian church. Only six pairs of preachers going through the towns and villages of Galilee, saying, “ Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” This is the small beginning out of which sprang Paul’s journeys through the Roman -Empire, Carey’s labors in India, John Williams’ work in the South Seas, Living stone’s in Africa, and many more of whom time would fail to tell, for the heralds of the cross have gone into every land. Our Lord sent His missionaries forth two by two. That shows wisdom and consideration. “Two are better than one” , and two men together are better than two separated from one another. Two men, working in partnership, can accomplish more than two men working individually, each man by himself. “ One shall chase a thousand and two shall put ten thousand to flight.” Companionship is especially desirable in missionary work that each may strengthen the other’s faith in God. The same practise was followed at a later time. Paul and Barnabas, and Barnabas and Mark, or Paul and Silas went out together. It is possible that modern missionaries lose more in efficiency than is gained in territory by neglecting to follow this Scriptural precedent. The instructions which the Master gave these first mis sionaries may be summarized in two injunctions: “ Fear not,” “ Care not.” Doubtless the disciples were timid and self-distrustful as they were inexperienced. “ Care not” covers all instruction about the journey. They were to take nothing in the way of baggage or supplies. The King’s business requires haste, and they must travel unencum bered. “ Fear not.” Matt. 10:16-26. They were as sheep in the forest jungle. Wild beasts would surround them. They knew how Jesus had been treated. They would have the same experience. Jesus said: “ Your Father knows. His wisdom will guide you, His power protect you, His love enfold you. No one can take you out of His hand. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it he afraid.” Rom. 8:38-39: “ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate ns from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The most profitable review of the quarter’s lessons can be made to center around “Jesus Himself.” The written word has been given us in order that through it we may come to know Him who is the Living Word. If our Bible study does not lead to this, we have DEVOTIONAL missed the mark. COMMENT In Lesson 1, we gratefully think of John A. Hubbard Him in His condescending to choose human instruments (some of whom are most unpromising) to be workers together with Him in car rying out His gracious purposes— making them channels of blessing to others. How great is our loss if we fail to respond to His call! Lessons 2 and 3 give us some insight into our Lord as the Matchless Teacher. In Lesson 4 we see Him as the One who is in very truth “ a shelter in the time of storm.” Storms, sudden, unex pected, terrific, break upon our heads. But if we will call
Five hundred years before, five thou- sand exiles had returned from Babylon and began to rebuild the temple. After a while their enthusiasm waned in the face of dis couragement and opposition, and the work
LESSON
EXPOSITION F. W. Farr
was arrested. The prophet Zechariah exhorted them to return to the task, and aroused their ardor by a series of glowing visions that centered around their Messiah and King. The time of the triumphal entry was the darkest hour in the history of Israel. The religion of the chosen people was much like the unfinished temple, and thein na tional life was trodden under the feet of the Roman con queror. Jesus and His disciples are on their way to Jerusalem. He sends two of His disciples for the beast of burden which is to carry Him into the city. The rumor of His approach
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