Chapter 37—The First Evangelists
This chapter is based on
Matthew 10
;
Mark 6:7-11
;
Luke 9:1-6
.
The apostles were members of the family of Jesus, and they had
accompanied Him as He traveled on foot through Galilee. They had
shared with Him the toils and hardships that overtook them. They had
listened to His discourses, they had walked and talked with the Son of
God, and from His daily instruction they had learned how to work for
the elevation of humanity. As Jesus ministered to the vast multitudes
that gathered about Him, His disciples were in attendance, eager to
do His bidding and to lighten His labor. They assisted in arranging
the people, bringing the afflicted ones to the Saviour, and promoting
the comfort of all. They watched for interested hearers, explained
the Scriptures to them, and in various ways worked for their spiritual
benefit. They taught what they had learned of Jesus, and were every
day obtaining a rich experience. But they needed also an experience
in laboring alone. They were still in need of much instruction, great
patience and tenderness. Now, while He was personally with them, to
point out their errors, and counsel and correct them, the Saviour sent
them forth as His representatives.
While they had been with Him, the disciples had often been per-
plexed by the teaching of the priests and Pharisees, but they had
brought their perplexities to Jesus. He had set before them the truths
of Scripture in contrast with tradition. Thus He had strengthened their
confidence in God’s word, and in a great measure had set them free
from their fear of the rabbis and their bondage to tradition. In the
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training of the disciples the example of the Saviour’s life was far more
effective than any mere doctrinal instruction. When they were sep-
arated from Him, every look and tone and word came back to them.
Often when in conflict with the enemies of the gospel, they repeated
His words, and as they saw their effect upon the people, they rejoiced
greatly.
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