International S. S. Lessons.
"So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading."—Neh. 8:8. LESSON VI.—SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1894. [NOTE.—The questions which follow are merely suggestive for the student on the leading points of the lesson; it is presumed that the thorough student will think of many more as he studies the subject. References, where verses alone are given, always refer to the lesson scripture printed above. All other references are given in book, chapter, and verse. The text printed is that of the Revised Version, not because it is especially preferred, but because it is not found in every family, as is the common version.] 6. AND the Pharisees went out, and straightway with the Herodians took counsel against Him, how they might destroy Him. 7. And Jesus with his disciples withdrew to the sea; and a great multitude from Galilee followed; and from Judea. 8. And from Jerusalem, and from Idumæa, and beyond Jordan, and about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, hearing what great things he did, came unto him. 9. And he spake to his disciples, that a little boat should wait on him because of the crowd, lest they should throng him; 10. For he had healed many; insomuch that as many as had plagues pressed upon him that they might touch him. 11. And the unclean spirits, whensoever they beheld him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God. 12. And he charged them much that they should not make him known. 13. And he goeth up into the mountain, and calleth unto him whom he himself would; and they went unto him. 14. And he appointed twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, 15. And to have authority to cast out devils; 16. And Simon he surnamed Peter; 17. And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and them he surnamed Boanerges, which is, Sons of thunder; 18. And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphæus, and Thaddæus, and Simon the Cananæan, 19. And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him. Golden Text: "I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit." John 15:16. NOTE.—This lesson follows right on after the lesson of last week. The place of the events referred to was on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. The apostles were probably chosen on what was called the Mount of Beatitudes, a ridge running east and west, about a quarter of a mile in length and sixty feet in height. At each end rises a small cone, or horn, from which the mountain was called the Horns of Hattin, named from the village of Hattin, at their base. - After our Lord's miracle in healing the withered hand, what did the Pharisees do? Verse 6.
- Where did Jesus and his disciples go? Verse 7.
- Who followed them? Verses 7, 8.
- What did he do on account of the great crowd? Verse 9.
- What had he done for many? Verse 10.
- What effect had his power upon the unclean spirits? Verse 11.
- How did he charge the spirits? Verse 12. Note 1.
- Where did our Saviour go after preaching to the multitude? Verse 13.
- Whom did he call?
- Of those that he called, how many did he appoint, and for what purpose? Verse 14.
- What authority were they to have? Verse 15.
- What did he surname Simon? Verse 16.
- Name the apostles. Verses 16-19.
- What did he surname James and John? Verse 17.
- For what purpose did he choose and ordain them? Note 2.
- For what does Christ choose all his servants? See golden text.
1. He charged them that they should not make him known. It was no credit to Christ to have his cause preached by Satan. In fact, a notoriously bad professor is always much worse for the cause of Christ than an open enemy; but this was one of Satan's studied plans to make his own agents confess Christ. Even in the days of the apostles one of the heathen conjurers followed Paul and Barnabas, saying, "These are the men that show us the way of the Most High God." But there, as in the time of Christ, the Spirit of the Lord rebuked the evil spirit. God would have clean vessels to bear his truth to the world. 2. Christ chose his disciples that they might be with him, that he might especially teach them, and thereby give them such a training as would make them fit representatives of his truth. They studied three years with the greatest Teacher whom the world ever saw, but even then they were not fitted to witness for him until the Spirit of God sanctified their hearts and endued them with wisdom from on high. These twelve disciples, our common version tells us, he named apostles. The word "apostle" means one sent forth; and so these were educated to be sent forth as his representatives, that they might bear fruit to the glory of his name.