SUNDAY READING

Taranaki Daily News, 12 May 1934, Page 14 (Supplement)

SUNDAY READING

A GLORIOUS COMPANY

THE TWELVE APOSTLES. THE LESSON OF THEIR LIFE. “And He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him and that He nucht send them forth to preach. It was Carlyle who said “Great men are profitable company.” Now, where will you find in all the world a greater group of men than the glorious company of the Apostles—Peter, Ja “ es > John, Andrew, and the rest of them whose names are graven on the foundation stones of the New Jerusalem . It has sometimes been asked, why these particular men were invested with such privilege and honour ? Were they really unique characters ? Was it simply local circumstance which set them in their exalted place, or was it the accident of Jesus, continuing a teaching custom familiar in the Near East for centuries past? There are three superior reasons given for the creation of this band. First Jesus had need of sympathy. Nothing is more touching m the record of our Lord’s life than His hunger for human sympathy. You may recall his gentle reproach of his disciples in the garden of agony. Could ye not watch with me one hour?” You may remember at the last, in the upper room, the night before he died, he recalled with deep gratitude the loyalty and loving devotion of the twelve. Ye are they that have continued with me in my txials* Secondly Jesus needed help in Ins work. Necessarily his time, strength, and influence were limited. His bodily state restricted the range of his voice, and the reach of his endeavour. That he might multiply his feet and his hands and his activities, he appointed others, that they might be vyith him and assist him. In the days of his flesh he must often been in the position of John Wesley in Georgia, when he wrote soliciting the help of George Whitefield. “Only Mr. Delamotte is with me, tiU God stir up the hearts of some of His servants, who putting their lives in their hands shall come over and help us, where the , harvest is so great and the labourers are so few. What if thou art the man, Mr. Whitefield ?’’ ~ The third reason was to carry on the work when He was gone. Posthumous fame and cause extension are usually left to MS. and written records. As far as we know Jesus never wrote a single line except that upon the ground before the accusing scribes and the sinful woman. He wrote only upon the human heart, so '-ail a substance and yet, as it proved, so durable. When He died it was imperative that among the living there should abide those able to mirroi perfectly his life, and to repeat with exactness what He thought and taught and did. To-day our knowledge of Jesus and His life purposes, and our very concepts of God, are almost wholly due to these men. The fact that the number chosen was twelve is of no particular moment to us, though it was of definite significance at the time. It . indicated to the community that Jesus claimed Messianic place and prestige; and it gave to the disciples a certain official consciousness that they were the leaders of the new Israel being established. Now coming over the names of that original group, and considering, their personal, we cannot help thinking.of Paul’s words to the Corinthians: Not many wise, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.” There were no princes in that short leet of Christs determination; no rabbis, no honourable councillors, no men of wealth and position. Indeed it seems a somewhat sorry company to found a new kingdom and

By the Rev. ]. D- McL. WILSON

to conquer a whole world-fishermen, publicans, quondam outlaws, and the like Why such a selection by oui Lord ? The answer, as A. B. Bruce reminds us, is quite simple. Jesus couc do no other. These were the best that offered. It is true, Nicodemus, the great Rabbi, had some regard for Christ; and Joseph of Arimathea, the honourable councillor, was a secret disciple; and there were rich young rulers who honoured Him; and afterwards there were intellectuals, like Paul, who were willing to sacrifice all for His dear sake; but at the time only men of humble and lowly station cared enough to forsake all and follow Him. But though plain men they were by no means fools. There is, as Plato told us and we should not forget it a natural logic as well as a “logia dokens -a logic of the schools. Often life, as it ascends, tends to become more and more artificial, and culture, education and acquaintance with the world’s ways are not infrequently secured at the expense of innocence and guillessness Of heart It would seem, indeed, that these unsophisticated men by their very nature were the more fitted to be Christs witnesses, and to speak to the deepest soul of their fellows. And their several characters were certainly diverse enough to make them thoroughly representative of our humanity. There was Peter, the eager impulsive man of action; John, the quiet contemplative man of prayer; Thomas, so cautious that he will not walk where he cannot see; Matthew, the shrewd Roman agent; Simon, the flaming Communist, and so on. It was as catholic a group as you could possibly imagine. The object and end of the calling of these men was, however, that they might be trained for discipleship and apostleship. It is sometimes used as a specious plea for an uneducated Ministry that the twelve never went to college. This is scarcely the truth. For almost three full years they had the intensest training and discipline' under the wisest and best of all teachers. No Professor ever took half so much care of his class as Jesus did over His. And this special treatment was imperative, for of themselves these good men could never have rid themselves of their ignorance, their superstitions, their . narrow Jewish prejudices, misconceptions and animosities; and they could never have become the trusted interpreters of Himself, and the wise heralds of the Gospel of His redeeming grace. But we should like you to notice, that they became Apostles only after they had been Disciples. The' disciple is the learner; the apostle is the one sent with the lesson learned. Discipleship is meant to issue into apostleship. The church to-day is static, because while it is full of disciples there are few willing to accept the call of tire apostolate, which is not for the select, but for all. Every Christian is meant to be an ambassador of Christ, proclaiming the Gospel of his Lord. In holy influences, in tender sympathy, in loving solicitation, through gracious service, as well as by spoken word and every other way possible, we are to make known and to gain subjects for the Kingdom of His grace. We were never called of God to fold our arms, and to spend our time congratulating ourselves that we are saved. We are called to be apostles, if Mo will, lay or clerical; chosen to be fellow-workers together with Him in His great task of human redemption. Let us repeat to ourselves the battle cry of the Moravion Brotherhood, in some respects the most wonderful church in the world, “To win for the Lamb that was slain the reward of His suffering. Let us hear again in our ears, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men, and “There is no man who has left houses or kindred, family or lands, for My sake and the Gospel’s, but he shall receive a hundredfold in this time, and in the world to come eternal life.”