Lesson 78 - Elementary

Memory Verse

"Let  brotherly  love  continue”  (Hebrews 13:1).

Notes

God's Love

We all know that Jesus came to earth as the Babe of Bethlehem. He lived here upon earth, preached to the people, and taught many wonderful lessons. We also know that later He was placed on cross to die and was laid in a grave. He rose again the third day. There was a reason and a purpose in all this: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” [JHN:3:16]). Jesus loves the high, the low, the rich, and the poor. He said that He came to seek and to save that which was lost. He does not want anyone to fail to make Heaven his home. Often it is hard for a rich or educated person to see his need of Jesus and be willing to follow Him.

The Lawyer

One day a lawyer stood up and tempted Jesus by saying, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” This lawyer should have known what he must do; he knew the Law – that he should love the Lord with all his heart, soul, strength, and mind, and his neighbour as himself. But perhaps he wanted to excuse himself for not having loved his neighbour as much as he should, for he said unto Jesus, "And who is my neighbour?”

The Good Samaritan

Then Jesus told him the beautiful story of the Good Samaritan [LUK:10:30-37]). When we read this story it gives us a wonderful picture of a man who showed mercy and love to one who had been wounded and stripped of his clothes by thieves. A priest had seen the wounded man, but passed by on the other side of the road. A Levite also saw the poor man in trouble, but he, too, passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan showed mercy upon the man in trouble and treated him kindly.

When Jesus had finished telling the story, He asked the lawyer which of the three was a neighbour unto the man who had been hurt by thieves. Of course, the lawyer answered, "He that shewed mercy on him.” Jesus replied, "Go, and do thou likewise,” Perhaps Jesus knew that the lawyer was failing to show mercy unto people who needed help; perhaps he had refused to give help to someone in trouble, and had also "passed by on the other side” Although the lawyer had read many books and knew much about what was written in the Law, he learned a good lesson from what Jesus told him.

Showing Mercy

We, too, can learn from this lesson that we should show mercy unto others, especially when we see someone in need of help. Jesus said that what we do for one of the "least of these my brethren,” we do it unto Him. But if we fail to do something for one of the least, we likewise fail to do it for Him. When we do a little act of kindness, we never know how great a reward we shall receive. Jesus said that we should not lose a reward for even giving a cup of cold water in His name.

In the Name of Jesus

A little girl was helping care for her grandmother, who was ill. The mother said to the child, "Now when you bring Grandmother a drink, you should breathe a little prayer and say, ‘In the name of Jesus.'” The child did this, and to her surprise the grandmother said to her, "Why is it that when you bring me a glass of water it tastes so much better than when the others bring me a drink?”

This little girl was obeying the verse of Scripture that reads, "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” [COL:3:17]). Truly there is great joy in doing the will of God!

Questions

1. Did the first two who passed by have mercy on the wounded man? [LUK:10:31];[LUK:10:32].

2. How did the Samaritan treat him? [LUK:10:33-35].

3. How much should we love God? [LUK:10:27].

4. How much should we love our neighbour? [LUK:10:27].

5. Which of the three was a neighbour unto the wounded man? [LUK:10:37.

 

  

 

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CAN A LITTLE CHILD LIKE ME

Can a little child like me,

Thank the Father fittingly?

Yes, O yes, be good and true,

Patient, kind in all you do;

Love the Lord and do your part,

Learn to say with all your heart:

Father, we thank Thee.

For the fruit upon the tree,

For the birds that sing of Thee,

For the earth in beauty dressed,

Father, mother, and the rest,

For Thy precious, loving care,

For Thy bounty ev'rywhere,

Father, we thank Thee.

For our comrades and our plays,

And our happy holidays,

For the joyful work and true,

That a little child may do;

For our lives but just begun,

For the great gift of Thy Son,

Father, we thank Thee.

-Mary M. Dodge.