106
February 1928
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
sili Heart of the Lesson—K .L .B . Devotional—David L. Cooper Little Folk—Mabel M. Hope
International Lesson Commentary
sage. Paul preached repentance to the Gentiles and our Lord’s own orders read : “ that REPENTANCE and remission of sins should be preached in His name AMONG ALL NATIONS, beginning at Jerusalem” (Lk. 24:47). Can we say that "we are witnesses o f these things"? (Lk. 24:48). The return o f the apostles from this first tour is recorded in vs. 30-31. They “gathered together unto Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. Not a bad idea, is it? W e are accountable for what we teach and there would be less nonsense taught if some teachers would come back to Him and say: “ Lord, this is what I told them.” “H e said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile" (v. 31). That is the best thing to do when, as Christian workers, we find ourselves perplexed by strange provi dences and overwrought. John Newton compares our testings to bundles of fagots too heavy for us to carry. But we are not asked to carry them all. God unties the bundle and hands the sticks to us one at at time—one for today and one for tomorrow. Let us go aside with Jesus and rest awhile. He will relieve us o f yesterday’s stick, give us to day’s, and keep üs from trying to carry tomorrow’s (Psa. 37:7-9). P it h a n d P o in t . The choices o f Jesus reveal His love for sinners and the saving power o f His gos pel, rather than a clever selection o f men who could put over a propaganda. The fellows Christ cannot make use of are the ones with stuffed heads. W e must be His, companions before we can be His co-workers (3:14). If there was a traitor even among the twelve, who can expect to find the field free from tares? One and one are worth more than twice one (6 :7 ). There’s a lot of preaching that is power less because it takes a superficial view of human depravity ( 6 : 1 2 ). Vacations are valuable when Jesus is invited (6:31). — o — S uggestive Q u e s t io n s . Name the man who three times denied Jesus and later three times pledged his loyalty (Mt. 26; Jn. 21). Name the first one o f Jesus’ disciples who was put to death because o f his faith (Acts 12). Name the man into whose care Jesus committed His mother (Jn. 19). Name the man who won Peter to Christ (Jn. 1). Name the man who lived in Bethsaida and brought Nathaniel to Jesus (Jn. 1). . Name the man who won a commenda tion from Jesus as to his good character (Jn. 1). — o —
James and John were surnamed “ Boan erges,” meaning “ the sons o f thunder” (v. 17). W e see in the name a witness to their fiery zeal. Recall the occasion when John wished to call down fire (Lk. 9:54). The burning zeal of James made him the first martyr among the apostles (Acts 12 : 2 ). After the name o f one apostle we near ly always read: “ which also betrayed Him” (v. 19). The name “Judas” stands as the reminder o f the greatness o f human depravity. He fulfilled a function. His despairing cry : “I have betrayed innocent blood,” is a testimony resounding through the ages as loudly as the preaching of Peter. Coming to chapter 6 , we read how Jesus sent out the twelve to preach and heal (vs. 7-13). The wording here is striking: “He. BEGAN to send them forth” (6 :7 ). He has been sending similar representatives ever since. Matthew’s account tells us that He told them not to go to the Gentiles. _On this statement some have built a teaching, now quite prevalent, that our Lord’s mission in His first advent had to do with the offer of a temporal kingdom to the Jews. But let us not overlook the fact that soon after He commissioned them to go to "all nations" and to “ teach them all things whatsoever I have taught you” (Jews) (Mt. 28:19-20). It was a gospel message of salvation that was taken to “ the Jew first” (Rom. 1 :16) and it was most logical that they should have the first opportunity to hear o f Him as “the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin o f the world” (Jn. 1:29). That this was the sum and substance of the apostles’ preaching to “ the lost sheep o f the house o f Israel” is clearly proved by Acts 13:46: “It was necessary that the word o f God should first have been spoken to you [Jews~\ but seeing ye put it from you and judge yourselves unworthy of EVERLASTING LIFE, lo, we turn to the Gentiles" (with the same proposi tion). Jesus sent them forth “ two by two” (v. 7). There was a wisdom in this plan that we sometimes overlook in our church canvass-work today. It is a check to in dividual peculiarities, reveals to the one called upon a double interest and brings to bear a prayer power that is not easy to resist. Thus Christianity at the first went forth from seven teaching centers: Christ and six pairs. They went forth under rigid instruc tions (vs. 8-11). They were to be de voted wholly to the preaching o f the Word. There was no time to be wasted on banquets. They were not to give the im pression that they had more care for their own comfort than for the souls o f men. How would some of our modern methods and Christian workers measure up on these things? What did they preach? “ That men should repent” (v. 12). Is there any rea son to soften down that commission to day? Some say this was a Jewish mes
M a r c h 4, 1928 Jesus and’the Twelve T ext: Mark 1:16-20; 2:13-14; 3:13-19; 6:7-13, 30.
P E T E R and Andrew, James and John had already changed their fishing nets for a new kind and gone into the school o f Christ to learn how to fish for men (1:16-20). Then we hear o f the call of Levi (2:13-14), whose name later became Matthew (Mt. 9 :9 ). The main part o f to day’s lesson informs us of the organization o f the twelve, and their preparation to preach the gospel of the kingdom (3:13-19). All great leaders o f thought with prop aganda to put over, have been careful to choose representatives o f vigorous char acter, commanding position and great in fluence. Not so with Christ. The twelve were all drawn from the lower ranks and were men o f great diversity o f character. He took plain men who were not perverted by any of the false philosophies and tra ditions o f the day—men who were will ing to be taught. “H e ordained, twelve” (3:14). Twelve is the Scriptural symbol of universality. It is composed of three, the divine number, multiplied by four, the human number. The twelve were to go into the “four” quarters of the world with the message of divine Trinity. They were ordained with a double pur pose: “ that they should be with Him” and that “H e might send them forth” (v. 14). They were "with” for training and they were to “go” for service. They were dis ciples first (learners), but they were dis ciples in order to be apostles (sent ones). Any man who attempts to represent Him without receiving from Him, is on the road to failure. “Simon H e surnamed Peter” (v. 16). His name means “ rock” and he was one of the first stones laid in the foundation o f the church. (C f. 1 Pet. 2:5; Mt. 16: 18.) He is mentioned in the New Testa ment 182 times (16 sevens). His name “Simon” stands for the natural man. His new name “Peter” stands for his apostolic office. It is enlightening to notice how these names are used in the New Testa ment. In all but one instance, it is Jesus Who addresses him as “ Simon” after his call to service, and every time the use of the old name is significant. Peter well under stood why Jesus iell back on his old name. “Simon, Satan hath desired thee to sift thee as wheat?’ . “Simon, steepest thou?” “Simon, lovest thou me?” Observe that not until the question last quoted was put to Peter the third time did Jesus change the name to “ Cephas” (Aramaic word cor responding to “ Peter” ). In the Acts and Epistles the name “ Simon” is obliterated by “ Peter” or “ Cephas.”
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