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THE SUNDAY SCHOOL

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 8, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 19.

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THE SUNDAY SCHOOL

INTERNATIONAL SERIES

LESSON 6.—MAY 12.—THE GREAT COMMISSION.

Lesson Scripture, Matt. 28: 16-20, R.V.
16 “But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto Me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you; and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”
Golden Text: “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Verse 20.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) Where did the eleven disciples go? Verse 16. (2) When had Jesus so appointed? Note 1. (3) How did the disciples manifest their feelings toward the Lord? Verse 17. (4) What did Jesus say to them of His authority? Verse 18. Notes 2 to 5. (5) In the strength of this authority and power, what were the disciples to do? Verses 19, 20, first part. Notes 6 to 8. (6) What gracious promise did He give them? Verse 20, last part. Note 9.

NOTES.

1. The appointment of Jesus to meet His disciples in Galilee had been made twice. (1) While in the Passover room on the night of His betrayal. Matt. 26: 32. (2) On the morning of the resurrection He sent the women from the sepulcher to repeat the appointment. Ch. 28: 7; Mark 16: 7.
2. “All Authority.”—The Common Version says “all power.” Dr. Abbott remarks: “The English language contains no adequate equivalent for the word rendered ‘power’ in the A.V., and ‘authority’ in the R.V. It embraces the ideas of both.” And he might have added, it embraces all of both.
3. “In Heaven.”—Jesus occupies the throne in heaven conjointly with His Father. Mark says, “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.” And when Jesus afterward revealed Himself in vision to the apostle John, He said, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.” Rev. 3: 21. “The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son; that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father.” John 5: 22, 23.
4. “In Earth.”—The power and authority in heaven is extended to earth. “When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me.” John 15: 26. “When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth; for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak; and He will show you things to come. . . . All things that the Father hath are Mine; therefore said I, that He shall take of Mine, and shall show it unto you.”
5. Christ is “King of kings, and Lord of lords” (1 Tim. 6: 15), so there is no limit to His jurisdiction. It is no more for Him to say, Go into all the world (Mark 16: 15), than it was to send them throughout the province of Judea. In this matter of jurisdiction lay the expediency of His going away (John 16: 7), in order that the Comforter might come. While He was here in person, the disciples would deem His visible presence an essential in the Gospel work. But by His Spirit He can be omnipresent, and the work is a work of faith in His presence and help rather than of sight.
6. “Teach All Nations.” (A.V.)—God “hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth.” Acts 17: 26. Therefore all nations are subject to death, which is “the wages of sin,” and are also proper subjects of Gospel labor; for God is not a respecter of persons. The everlasting Gospel is to be preached “unto them that dwell on the earth,” and to make it emphatic, it is added, “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” Rev. 14: 6. And this is what the first disciples did. Within one generation they had preached the Gospel to every nation in the then known world. (See also editorial article entitled “Go,” on page 7 of this paper.)
7. Baptism.—The disciple is baptized in (or into) the name. It is a putting on of Christ. It is a public profession of Christ, of faith in Him and allegiance to Him. It signifies a death to sin and a resurrection to a new life in Christ. It signifies a stepping out from the world and a union with Christ and His people. We can not safely neglect a duty so plainly enjoined. Christ not only commands it, but He deemed it essential in Himself as our example, and as one bearing the sins of the world. “Thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.” Matt. 3: 15.
8. “Teaching Them to Observe.”—Note that the teaching is not merely that men may know, but also that they may do, the things the Gospel enjoins. The knowledge of the Gospel without the obedience only adds to one’s condemnation. The preaching of the Gospel has a twofold purpose, namely, to save those who will obey its invitation, and to be a witness in the Judgment against those who will not obey. “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” John 13: 17. “If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.” Ch. 15: 10.
9. Christ’s presence is continuous with His people. This was typified by the showbread in the sanctuary. It is always, “I am with you.” When Moses was returning from Midian to Egypt, he said to the Lord, “When I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is His name? what shall I say unto them?” And the Lord answered, “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” Christ is as verily present by His Spirit with those who do His will to-day, as He was with the children of Israel in the wilderness—in the pillar of cloud.