THE KING’S BUSINESS
1020
Apostles were wise enough to do -xacuy as they were bidden. They “went through the towns, preaching the Gospel, and healing everywhere.” They sent no advance agents to work up the meeting, and devised no schemes to secure a large free-will offering. They simply went and fully declared the truth as. they knew it about their Lord, and then passed on. That kind of a missionary enterprise is greatly needed today in every missionary land and at home as well. Saturday, November 27. Luke 9 :7-9. The report of the. mighty works of Jesus had penetrated even the palace of Herod. His name was now on every tongue. Herod was greatly perplexed by the- differ ent things that people said of Him. He was most disturbed of all because some said John the Baptist, whom he had be headed, was risen from the dead. Herod was horror-struck and himself said secretly to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead” (Matt. 14:2). But Herod was a very shallow man although he was a king, and his anxiety on this score was of short duration (cf. Luke 23:8). Al though conscience-stricken with the thought of the murder which he had committed, and filled with horror at the thought that the man he had murdered had come back, still Herod desired to see him. There was a con flict between conscience and curiosity. In the different accounts of Herod’s feeling at this'time, we have a striking illustration of how the different apostles’ stories are inde pendent of one another and how they sup We have already had this miracle twice (Matt. 14:13,21; Mark 6:30-34), and We shall have it again when we come to study the Gospel of John (John 6:5-15). Each record of the miracle gives interesting and instructive details of its own. Jesus had made a journey to an unfrequented spot to be alone with His disciples for rest that both they and He needed, and for counsel that they sorely needed. But He did not get the plement one another. Sunday, November 28. Luke 9:10-17.
for faith and hope that Jairus had, but. that was enough. When reason'and common sense are on one side and the naked word of the Son of God on the other, the truly wise man will not hesitate for one moment as to which to accept. Jesus entered into no fine argument with the scorners; He simply “put them all out.” That will be His final treatment of all scorners (Rev. 21:8). And now comes the wondrous outcome of it all. The scorners and the formal mourners are all gone and now Jesus works. He calmly approaches the bed, takes the cold hand of the dead child in his, utters two words, “Maid, arise,” and instantly it is done. She arises, she walks. O, glorious Christ, and some wondrous day you will speak the words to all our sleeping loved ones and they, too, shall arise to sleep no In the record of the sending forth of the twelve, found in the tenth chapter of Mat thew, the Apostles had a five-fold commis sion, but as given here we are told only of a four-fold commission: (1) Power and au thority over the demons, (2-) to cure dis eases, (3) to preach the Kingdom of God, (4) to heal the sick. They were to make no provision for the necessities of their journey; not because they were not to be provided for, but? because they were labor ing for God and “the laborer is- worthy of his food,” and furthermore, were laboring for the One who always sees that those- He sends forth get what they need.- They were to go light weighted, not even having two coats apiece. Many an ambassador of Christ today loses all his efficiency for Christ by the amount of baggage he carries (2 Tim. 2:4).'. They .were bidden not to squander time in going from house to house to eat. The fare in .the house they they first entered might be plain, hut they should not be on the lookout for fine fare. Where they were hot received they were not to try to force ¡themselves upon the .people, but in the most expressive and impressive way show their utter separation from them. The more (John 5:28, 29). Friday, November 26. Luke 9 :l-6.
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker