Lesson 117 - Junior

Memory Verse

"He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me" (Luke 10:16).

Notes

The Ripened Harvest

The time had come for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be spread. During the last few months of Jesus' ministry, He told the disciples of His coming suffering. They were to be in charge of establishing and spreading the Gospel. Jesus did not expect His followers to work without adequate preparation nor without instructions. Even while He was still with His disciples He schooled them before He sent them out for the actual experience.

When Jesus spoke of the harvest, He meant that the time was at hand to gather souls for the Kingdom of God. Perhaps you have seen grain in the field: as it ripens, the farmer knows that the time has come for harvesting. The gathering of the grain must not be postponed, lest the grain be scattered and be lost. Even a few days of neglect will make a great difference in the amount harvested. Jesus was not actually sending His followers into the grain-fields with sickles, but He wanted them to see the spiritual picture of gathering souls. We, too, are living during the harvest of souls for Jesus' Kingdom. Are you doing your part? Will some soul be lost because you neglected to be a labourer?

Chosen

We have learned that Jesus sent the twelve Apostles to preach: "The kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 10:7). Now Jesus has given seventy others the authority to work for Him. These seventy were appointed by Jesus. They were not elected by men, they had not bought the privilege nor won it as a prize; the appointment came from the Lord. It is still God's plan to do the appointing and the calling. "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit" (John 15:16).

No doubt, these seventy had been with Jesus for some time and learned of Him. "The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits" (II Timothy 2:6). Jesus does not send out workers who have not been proved, but He uses those who are schooled to do His will. In I Timothy 3, we read the qualifications of a minister. He is not a beginner or one who is new in the doctrine, "Not a novice, least being lifted up with pride he fall" (I Timothy 3:6). He is one who has had some experience in the Gospel. "And let these also first be proved" (I Timothy 3:10).

Instructions

Jesus did not send forth the seventy to do as they pleased. He gave them orders to be obeyed. In that way everything was carried out orderly and after the same fashion. Today we have leaders who direct the work of the Lord in an orderly and systematic way. We receive our orders from the Lord through our leaders, as well as through the Bible.

In groups of two these seventy workers were sent out. Each would be an encouragement to the other, as well s a helper. No doubt it was much safer for two people to travel together, for they were warned that they would be as sheep among wolves. The Lord showed them that their way might be dangerous and that there would be opposition. God wants His people to be on the alert and not be overcome by their enemies. The howling of the wolves may sound terrifying; but often Satan's opposition amounts to little more than howling. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).

Instructions concerning what to preach were given to them, too. Their message had the same meaning as that of John the Baptist: "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2). The message of the twelve Apostles was not changed, for they, too, preached that men should repent ([MAK:6:12]). Today the content of the message we preach is still the same. The Gospel is good for every people at every time. Jesus has not changed the instructions to warn people to prepare for His coming. The Gospel means "good tidings" of victory, of peace, of power, of Jesus' Blood and forgiveness. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).

"God to the angels commissioned not

Here the glad message to tell,

But to the saved, snatched from the grave,

Gave He the charge that story to tell."

Have you told someone about Jesus?

Weights

God wanted these seventy to learn to trust Him. They were not to take along any baggage, as it would have weighed them down. They would not have been free nor could they have traveled as fast. "Let us lay aside every weight" (Hebrews 12:1). Perhaps they thought that they should take a change of shoes, at least. No doubt they thought that was necessary; but Jesus knew that the things they needed would be provided as they went along their way. Is something in your life a weight -" something that you feel is necessary yet is holding you back from being your best? Lay it aside, so that God can use you in the spread of the Gospel.

Nor were the seventy to loiter on the way. When one stops for a friendly visit, there may be no time left for God's work. "The king's business required haste" (I Samuel 21:8). It is possible to talk so much of unprofitable things that the Spirit of God is grieved and then one is not fit for the Master's use.

Return of the Seventy

Some time later, the seventy returned from their missionary trip. How good they felt, for they had been doing the Lord's work! Only those who have experienced it know the joy that comes in obeying God and spreading the Gospel. It is likely that they had opposition, as Jesus forewarned them, but they we not complaining of the hard trip nor of any reverses. Those things faded as the joy of service filled their hearts. The disciples had proved God and found that in Jesus' name they could cast out devils. It is certain that many people were saved and healed of their diseases. There is always a rejoicing when a soul prays through to a definite experience whether it be of salvation, of healing, or of the deeper things of God. One should not glory in the power God has given him, but rather that the Lord has recorded his name in Heaven and counted him worthy to be a disciple.

There are many men of position and of learning who would like to have insight and knowledge of the workings of God. These things have not been revealed to them, because they have rejected God's messenger. In so doing they reject God. Having eyes, they see not, and having ears, they hear not ([JER:5:21]). May we recognise and appreciate the privilege we have of studying God's Word and receiving it into our lives.

Questions

1. Of what harvest was Jesus speaking?

2. Who were the seventy?

3. Why were they sent?

4. Where were they sent? By whom?

5. Why did they return with joy?

6. In what should one rejoice?

7. When one rejects the Gospel, whom is he really rejecting?