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THE K I NG ’ S BUSINESS
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS
Outline and Exposition B. B. S utcliffe Points and Problems H omer A . K ent For the Children A llison A rrowood
Lesson material is based upon outlines of International Sunday School Lessons, copyrighted by the International Council of Re ligious education ; used by per mission.
taken these children up in His arms that they were very small (v. 16). Similarly, those in a condition of help lessness, and with a disposition of trustfulness, make up the kingdom of God. Only the ones who recognize their utter inability to save them selves, and who turn to Christ in com plete trust, find salvation. Again, the truth is set forth as it so often is in the Scriptures, that salvation is all of grace and not at all by works. 3. "And of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles" (Luke 6:13). This statement should never be read without reference to the con tents of the previous verse. It was after an all night prayer meeting that the twelve were selected. If this matter were given careful consideration by churches today which are about to select officers, less mistakes would be made. In the present instance, we can rest assured that the right selec tion was made even though there was a Judas Iscariot in the group. Why was Judas chosen? This is a real problem which is difficult of solution. Was it for the purpose of teaching ministers humility by showing that ordination does not necessarily convey grace? Was it meant to teach the lay- members of the church not to make idols of ministers? Or is G. Campbell Morgan right in thinking that Judas was a devil incarnate? The answer is not clear. But what Christ did in His selection was right MEMORY VERSE: “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” (Johp 15:14). /~\NE DAY John the B a p t i s t was Standing talking with two of his friends when the Lord Jesus Christ walked toward them. As John looked at the Saviour, he said to his friends; “Behold the Lamb of God.” When the friends heard what John said, they left him and followed Jesus. When the Lord saw them coming after Him, For the Children F riends O f J esus J ohn 1:38-45
III. T he I nquirers (Luke 15:1, 2; John 3:1, 2a)
LESSON FOR APRIL 7 Friends of Jesus
LESSON MATERIAL: Mark 10:13, Luke 6:13-16; 8:1-3; 15:1, 2; John 3:1, (ends with “ night” ). 14; 2a GOLDEN TEXT: “ Ye are my friends, If ye do whatsoever I command you” (John Outline and Exposition I. T he I nnocent (Mark 10:13, 14) The disciples rebuked those who brought their children to Jesus, Per haps they thought Jesus was too great a person to be bothered with the lit tle ones. But Jesus revealed that the kingdom of God was composed of those who in their faith had become like children. Children do not reason; they have no difficulty in trusting and so become close friends of the Lord Jesus. Questioning God’s Word tends to dim faith; the kingdom be longs to believers, not to skeptics. II. T he A ssociates (Luke 6:13-16; 8:1-3) After a night of prayer, Jesus call ed the company of disciples together, and of them chose twelve to be His apostles. They were to be “sent ones,” charged with particular messages and given special authority from their Master. Their names are recorded, the last-named being Judas, the traitor, who later was succeeded by Matthias, who was chosen by the risen and as cended Lord (Acts 1:21-26). The twelve traveled with Jesus in to cities and villages, and a group of women ministered unto their ma terial needs out of their substance. Some of these women are named in the Scriptures. One had been healed by Jesus. All were expressing their gratitude for what He had done for them.
The Lord’s preaching attracted “ the publicans and sinners” who came out in great numbers to hear Him. By the Pharisees and scribes these were con sidered outcasts, beyond the reach of salvation. But they found a welcome into His salvation, and into fellowship with the Lord Jesus, from which the Pharisees were shut out by their own pride. But one Pharisee, Nicodeipus, was impressed with the idea that Jesus had what he wanted, the answer to certain questions about eternal life, and relief from the coldness and deadness of the Jewish religion of that day. He came to Jesus by night with his inquiry and found the way of life. We know from subsequent ref erences to Nicodemus that he was a real convert and friend of Jesus. All who desire to know Him will find the door wide open for becoming a friend of His. All that He requires is a sense of need, a faith that Jesus can meet that need, and willingness to bring that need to Him. Points and Problems 1. In these five selections of Scrip ture there are presented varied types of individuals who are the objects of Christ's concern. There are children, mothers, disciples, afflicted women, sinners and a ruler. This really pre sents a cross section of human life and we find that Christ is interested in every phase of it The low and the high, the ignorant and the educated, the depressed and the delivered, sin ners and saints, all come within the scope of His compassion and salva tion. There are no classes overlooked as far as He is concerned. 2. "For of such is the kingdom of God" (Mark 10:14). It is evident from the fact that Jesus is said to have
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