THE KING’S BUSINESS
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they themselves admit are proven, are in themselves proof of the very fact they are seeking to discredit. Tuesday, May 18. Matt. 28:16-20. Some of the disciples, when they beheld Jesus, worshiped Him, thus acknowledging His Deity. But even yet some doubted, but Jesus dispels all doubts by His own words. The Word of Christ Himself is always the best cure for doubt. It was a wonderful word He spoke on this, occasion, “AH power (or authority)’’ He claims as His own, and all authority “in heaven and on earth” at that. Who then is he? If He is not the rankest imposter, or the wildest lunatic the world ever saw, then He is God. With these words falling from His lips, there is no middle ground for a really rational man to take. Ours is indeed a mighty Saviour. We have in Him and in His words a firm foundation for our trust and peace and hope. We need not fear to ask Him for great things; for “all authority in heaven and on earth” is His. Surely, we can ex pect victory in everything for which we look to Him for strength. The “Go ye there fore” of verse 19 is the practical conclusion of the wonderful declaration of verse 18: as “all authority” is His, “therefore” it is ours to " GOS’ It was a great commission to give to a handful of obscure men to “make dis ciples of all the nations” but “all power in heaven and on earth” was back of it. They undertook it and succeeded, but how wild these words sound under the circumstances. If they had failed, they would have seemed to have.been the words of a madman; as they have succeeded, they are seen to be the words of the Son of God. Note well to whom this commission comes, to every Christian (cf. Acts 8:4). 'Note the extent of the commission, “All nations.” Note the exact character of the commission, “Make disciples,” “baptize,” “teach.” Note the power back of the commission, "All power in heaven and on earth,” but above all, note the fellowship in the execution of the com mission, “Lo, I am with you alway, even
unto the end of the world (age).” One of the sweetest promises in the whole Word of God, but we do well to note who alone has a right to claim it; it is clear from the context that only He has the right to claim Christ’s presence with him who goes forth as far as his line extends making disciples, winning souls. When we go Christ’s way, He goes ours: when we go forth with Him in soul winning, He goes forth with us in personal fellowship, but if we go our own way, we can go it alone. Wednesday, May 19. Mark 1:1-6. John did not bring his own message but God’s ; he did not undertake to speak to men untiL God had first spoken unto him (Luke 3:2). For more than four centuries the voice of the prophet had been silent but now God breaks the silence of the centuries and speaks through this man. He had got ten his training for the work in none of the Rabbinical or theological schools of the day, but “in the wilderness,” in solitude and communion with God (cf. Luke 1:80). As he had received his message directly from God (cf. John 1 :33) he waited for no call or ordination- from men before telling it. He sought not a synagogue nor temple but the open air for the delivery of his message. The substance of his proclama tion was, “the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins,” i. e., repentance pub licly professing its renunciation of sin in baptism and resulting in remission of sins. The exact form of his cry was, “Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3:2). A startling cry that. More than seven defituries before this Isaiah had prophesied of John’s coming (Is. 40:3-5 A. R. V.). Nothing seemed to have come of this prophecy, but God had watched over His Word and the prophesied “Voice” came at last. As always God’s Word had been fulfilled to the very letter. Calling men to repentance was preparing God’s way before Him : nothing prepares for God to come in mercy like repentance (Acts 2 :38; 3:19-21 R. V.). John’s preaching drew mul-
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