February 1928
107
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
Name the apostle who was once a tax- collector (Lk. 5). Name the man who went off to pout because o f his doubts (Jn. 20). Name the man who was called “the less” (or “ little” ) and who wrote an epistle (Mk. 15:40; Mt. 13:55; Jas. 1:1). Name the man who asks Jesus a ques tion in Jn. 14. Name the man who is listed as tenth in Luke’s list o f the apostles but eleventh in the lists of Matthew and Mark. Name the treasurer who committed suicide (Jn. 12; Mt. 27)'. G olden T ext I llustration . Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation (Mark 16: 15). . A medical missionary in China found a native suffering from cataracts o f the eyes and, taking him to the hospital, cured him. A few weeks later, forty-eight blind men from the wilds o f China, each hold ing to a rope held in the hands o f the man who had been cured, came to the mis sionary. In a chain, they had walked 250 miles and many of them were cured in the hospital later. What a pathetic procession those blind men must have made. Yet it is typical o f the willingness o f the world to come to the man who has something genuine to give them. We have the only remedy for sin-sick souls. Have our fellow men found it out? — o —
Mk. 3 :13. After Jesus had completed the first o f his three evangelistic tours o f Galilee He went up into a mountain and, as Luke relates, spent the night in prayer. Though He was God manifest in the . flesh, He realized the necessity of fellow ship with God in prayer. In studying the Gospel as recorded by Luke to learn some thing o f the prayer life o f Jesus, one is amazed to see the prominent place prayer held in the life o f the Master. Jesus knew that “prayer changes things.” He submitted everything to God in prayer with the proviso “Thy will be done.” After this night of prayer Jesus called certain of His disciples unto Himself and appointed them to a special service in His kingdom, namely, to be Apostles. The word “Apostle” is the Greek word angli cized and means “one sent” and corre sponds to the Latin word which has been translated into the word “missionary” . According to the meaning o f these words, anyone who is sent forth on a mission to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ is either an apostle or a missionary ; but only the Twelve whom Jesus called to Him on this occasion (with the exception of Judas) can be called Apostles in the special sense seen in the Gospel nar ratives. Having appointed them as Apostles in the special sense, Jesus dele gated to them the power to cast out demons. In the lists o f the names o f the Apos tles, Peter always appears first. Knowing the great transformation that would take place in the latter’s life, Jesus changed his name from Simon to that of Peter, the meaning of which is “stone.” This chang ing o f Peter’s name was prophetic of the great transformation that would take place in his character. Mk. 6 :7. Toward the close of the “great Galilean ministry”, which closed about one year before the Crucifixion, Jesus summoned the Twelve disciples and sent them forth on what is usually called the “restricted commission”,, this name being indicative o f the instructions that they were to confine their ministry to the lost sheep of the house o f Israel. From a comparison of the parallel passages of the Gospel record, this preaching was confined to Galilee, one o f the most densely popu lated sections of Palestine. This commis sion is in contrast with the Great Com mission which is given to the disciples of Jesus today to go to the entire world and preach the Gospel to every creature. Jesus believed in team work; hence He sent them out two by two. As a rule it is far better for two people who are com panionable, who have learned the lesson o f “give and take” and who have only the interest of the kingdom of God and souls at heart, to go forth bearing the good tidings to a lost world. Experience has approved this method as the most satis factory and efficient means o f evangeliza tion. Again Jesus gave to them author ity over the unclean spirits. In the parai- . lei passage (Matt. 10:8) one learns that He likewise gave them power to heal the sick, to raise the dead and to cleanse the lepers, instructing them that since they had received freely they were to give freely. Selfishness has no place in the heart o f a surrendered child o f God, but he is to pass on the good things which God has brought into his life. Vs. 8 , 9. Jesus strictly charged the Apostles that they should carry no extra
clothing nor make special preparation for their journey. Evidently these instruc tions were given for the purpose of teaching the Apostles that they were not to be concerned about the comforts and the luxuries o f life and not to be ham pered by material things. Furthermore, doubtless He wished them to learn the lesson that the laborer is worthy o f his hire; hence they were to go forth trust ing in God and in their Master to supply their needs. V. 10. According to the instruction of this verse, whenever they went to a home which gave them a hearty welcome they were there to remain until they left the community. This precaution was indeed a wise one and ministers and Christian workers today would do well to take heed to it. Unfortunately an evangelist or Christian worker has been known to enter a certain community and to have been entertained in a rather humble home where the conveniences were meager; but later, on being invited to the home of a more prosperous neighbor, he has ac cepted the latter’s invitation simply be cause o f the conveniences. No true humble minister o f Jesus Christ will sim ply, for the sake o f his own convenience and comfort, deliberately leave a poor brother’s home in order to enjoy the luxuries o f the rich. V. 11. In the event that the Apostles should enter a place and not be received, they were to go forth from that place, shaking the dust off o f their feet as a testimony against the people. Jesus never forced Himself upon anyone, neither does He wish any o f His servants to intrude where they are not wanted. One is to go in the Spirit o f the Master to all classes and when anyone rejects him, in the Spirit o f Christ he is to move on to another place. The custom in that day was to shake the dust from the feet as evidence that they had not been received. V. 12. “And they went out, and preached that men should repent." All sin is against God in its last analysis, hence men should repent toward Him. Repentance is a deep resolution in the heart o f hearts to “change the thoughts, purposes and intentions of the heart” , which intention will express itself in the rectification of all wrongs as far as it lies in one’s power. Conviction o f sin leads to repentance.^ V. 13. Having received instructions and power to perform the miracles which they were to accomplish, the Apostles went forth and “anointed with oil them that were sick, and healed them.” Anointing oil is likewise in Jas. 5 connected with the prayer o f faith which restores the sick to health if it be the Lord’s will. Probably Jesus did not instruct the Apostles to anoint with oil intending to use the oil because o f its medicinal properties, but simply as a test of faith.
’J 'H IS call of Peter and Andrew, James and John is their second call, the first being just after the Temptation, as is recorded in Jno. 1, which event occurred
probably six or eight months prior to this time. Jesus called them to become fish ers o f men, ■ i.e., soul winners. Men and women are called in to the service o f Christ, whose hearts are right with Him and through whom
His power may flow out to a lost world. Material values are nil in comparison with the spiritual realities. “ For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange fo r his life?" (Matt. 16:26). Mk. 2:13, 14. Shortly after the recall o f the four early disciples, Jesus paused beside the sea and, seeing Matthew, called him to be a disciple. Matthew had the proper conception o f spiritual values and appreciated the opportunity o f serving the Master and thus laying up treasures in heaven. He was like Moses who chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Matthew in giving his ac count o f his call simply referred to him self in an indirect, impersonal way. Everyone who has really seen himself as he is, considers others better than himself and is very loath to attract attention to himself. Whenever he does anything for the Master, he does it in such a way that the left hand does not know what the right hand does, and also in such a way that men may see his good works and glorify his Father which is in heaven.
Jesus Chooses Twelve Helpers Mark 3:13-15; 6:7.
Memory Verse: “ And he appointed twelve that they might be with Him.” Mark 3:14. Approach : The younger Classes are likely to know the list o f the twelve Apos-
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