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THE KING’ S BUSINESS
Looking Back over the lesson, we see Jesus worshipping God and teaching God’s W ord; then we see Him h'ealing the sick, casting out demons, cleansing the leper, scattering health and happiness among all who came to Him. Notice the order, for it is still true that the man who would truly help his fellows will put God first' in his life. Love God is the first and greatest commandment, and the second is love your neighbor. Are you doing both, and in that order? be instant in season and out o f season. W e are His ambassadors to bear His message; we are His witnesses to testify to His death and resurrection. W e are. to preach and teach; to pray with and comfort souls; We are to win men to Christ; we are to be good soldiers on the world’s .battlefield. God: never called any believer to a life of. idleness or indifference, but to a life of service. Now there are two things perfectly clear in our lessons: First, If we are to follow Him, it will be to a life o f .service—sweet, blessed, holy, happy service. Second, If we are to serve with Him, it will be a restful service, for we can always look .into His face, put our hands upon Him, and have Him say, “ I give you rest.” What a joy it is to be called to labor with such a O ne! PRACTICAL POINTS (1) Here is a new Doctor, with a new doctrine. (2) The matter and the method o f - the Lord’s teaching are original, (3) You can teach the Word with author ity, i f ' you are in touch with the Author. (4) The manifest work o f Jesus was to destroy the works o f the devil. (5) D isease’ departs , when the Saviour speaks the word. ( 6 ) There is often a heap of healing in a helping hand.
nessed so effectually that the crowds that came to Jesus were o f such a character that the- Master could not work among them; but had to withdraw Himself. The leper broke the law in qoming near Jesus, and Jesus broke the law in touching him; but the law-maker is superior to the law, and Jesus contracted no disease from His con tact with it. But leprosy—unclean and incurable—is ever a type o f sin in the Word, and Jesus was made sin in our behalf—He who knew no sin—that we might be made the righteousness o f God in Him. There are certain doctrines o f our Lord that stand out in strong relief. Peter paints this picture in Acts 10:38: “How God anointed Jesus o f Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power; who went about doing good and healing vail that were oppressed o f the devil; for God was with him.” “Going about doing good!” You can never think o f Him as spending any idle hours, with having any selfish thoughts, yet you can never think o f Him as restless or worried, or fretting about His work. He is always >so calm and restful. Once we see Him asleep in a fishing boat, but He is, awakened out of His sleep to calm the W|aves o f the sea and the hearts of His followers. Following Him during the eventful day o f our lesson, crowded with demands for service, teaching in the synagogue, minis tering in the home o f His host, casting out demons, curing all kinds of diseases, rising next morning, a great while before day and going off alone to pray—how busy He Was, yet how restful in it all! He seems always to be saying, “ Come unto Me, and I will give you rest.” Here is a great lesson for us as laborers together with God. Jesus said, “ I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is, day.” So we must wo.rk the works of Him that hath sent- us, for the night cometh. We must sow beside all waters. We must
HEART OF THE LESSON
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