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Sunday School Lesson > » » »i â-  « « ( ' â- iti-' LESSON VIII CHOOSING COMPANIONS IN SERVICE Mark »:7-19, 31-35 ,'0«ldea Text â€" "For whosoever shall do ttre will of God,. the same Is my , brother." â€" Mark 3:35. THK LESSON IN ITS SETTING • Time â€" The healing of th., multl- 4nde3 and the choo3;ng of the Twelve 'took place In the summer of AD.. 28; the incident regarding Je.su9' being • sought by his mother and brethren ' occoTTCd in the autumn of that year. Place â€" The healing of the rnultl- • tudca occurred along the shore of the Sea of Oalilee; the call of the Twelve ' took p!af:e somewhere near Caper- naum; the teaching regarding our 'close relationship to Christ if we do the will of Cod was uttered In Galilee. • Growing Reputation "And Jcnua with his disciples wilh- *«lrew to the soa." Jesus retired from his vov'.i in order to escape his enem- 'les. or to pray in solitude. ".\nd a â- jfreat multitude f.'om Galilee follow- •ad." Ca"ernium and the Sea of Gall- lee are Iccatcd In the province of Gall- lee, whore many Gentiles lived. "And from Judaea, .^nd from Jerusalem. And from Idumaea, and ' jyond the Jordap." (dumaea is the 'ireek name for Ednm. ".\nd about T, re and Sid- Qn." These were the tv great cities of Syrorihonnicia, locat. i on the Medi- terranean Spa northwest of Galilee. "these I'nes bear strong testimony to the K.-ov.ing reputation of Jesus, a reco^rti'ion on the part of the com- mon p^cple of his great ability to 'teach and to perform miracles . "A 'great multitude, hearing what great • things he di:l, came unto him." Only the C^'ileans followed him to the lake • the others could hardly be said to fol- low him. bi t they came to him after- • wards, for they had heard of the many things whi''h he did. His Desire to be Near Men "And he snake to his disciples, that a little boat should wait on him be- cause of the crowd, lest they should throni him." The reference here Is â- :_^ohaliy to a liirht boat. In contrast to the larger fishing-smacks. The boat was to keep close to the shore, moving when he moved, so as to be ready at any moment to receive him. "For h-e had healed many; Insomuch that as many as had plagues. Pressed unto h'm that they might touch him." Actually the groat mass of people that had come together were so Intent on reaching the Lord Jesus, even if It meant only to touch his garments, tb*t «lt»T threw themselves on him In Wietr eagerness. "And the unclean spirits, whenso- ever they beheld him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou Art the Son of God." Evil spirits at this time seem to have known the true deity of the Lord Jesus Christ even better than his own disciples. ".And he charged them much that they should not make him known." He charged them in order that they should not make him known. There will come a time when all the hosts of evil will be compelled to bow down and confess that Jesus Christ Is Lord of all (Phil. 2:10, 11>, but that time had not yet come, and Jesus did not want any word of confirmation from - these beings whom he knew to be his determined. Incessant enemies. The Twelve Apostles Called ''And he goeth up Into the moun- tain." The location of this mountain Is not known, and speculation Is a waste of time. ".\nd calleth unto him whom he himself would; and they went unto him." It Is not said how many he cal- led up to the mountain, probably quite a group, certainly more than twelve. It was out of this group that ho called up into the mountain that the Twelve wero appointed. ''And he appointed twelve." Neither the word disciple nor apostle Is found ' In our text, but every reader knows that these twelve are those who are called elsewhere the Twelve, or the twelve disciples, or the twelve apost- les. "That they might now be with him." if ever there were to be men to carry on the Lord's work after ho was gone, then these men must be trained, they must live so close to the Lord that they would Im- bibe hi.s very principles and spirit, and come to know Christ truly and tnshakably as the very Son of God. "And that he might send them forth to preach." The word here translated to proach means to herald, and con- veys the idea of aulhority, a herald being an official who makes public proclamation of city affairs. The pro- clamation which thoy wore to make was the coming of ti'.e kin.sjdom of Ooil. ''.\ral to have aulhority to cast out demons." Jesus euipowevod the Twelve to work all the different kinds of miracU's which he himself wroufht omitting only those In the worM of nature, like stilling the tempest, and walking on the sea. By authorttjr la meant both the power and the right to do a thing. A Man Regeneratea Peter, the most prominent ohafac- ter among the Twelve, stands at iiM head of all the lists, and JtUlaa boar- lot at tho foot, carefully deelgnated as the traitor. ".\iid Simon he suraamed Peter." Peter Is the English form of a Greek word meaning a rock. Simon was any- thing else but a rock when Jesus had found him, but the Lord gave him a new name to indicate what be was going to make him, and that the Lord did make him before he finijsh- ed his wonderful work of renewal and regeneration In this man's heart. ''And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and them he sumamed Boanerges, which Is, the Sons of thunder." These two disciples together with Peter, form the inner company with whom Jesus had moat Intimate fellowship, and la whom, ap- parently, he most frequently confid- ed. ''And Andrew." "And Philip. And Bartholomew. And Matthew. And Tho- mas. And Thaddaeus. And Simon, the Cananaean. And James, the son of Alphaeus." The apostolic company In- cluded a tax-gatherer on the oae hand and a member of a patriotic assassin- ation league on the other. The Betrayer ''And Judas Iscariot who also be- trayed him. And he cometh into a house." The question naturally arises as to why Jesus ever chose Judas la- variot, for he certainly knew his char- acter. This is a mystery which will never be fully solved. It may be that our Lord wanted one man In the company of the disciples to whom ev- ery gracious favour would be shown, and every opportunity be given for accepting the Lord, who would in the end not only reject him, but betray him. Jesus chose Peter, the fisherman, Mathew, the tax-gatherer, and Simon, the ex-rebel. Jesus called these hum- ble, obscure peasant folk to be hla apostles because they were the best that could be had. Those that thoaght themselves better than they were too proud to become apostles. It should be noted that these men were diverse In their capacities. And some of them were of outstanding ab- ility and some of them had almost no ability at all; yet there was a place for them In the program of Jesus. Jesus' Family "And there come his mother and his brethren." Many believe that these brothers of Jesus, and sisters (Mark 6:3) were the children of Joseph by a former marriage, and thus literally half-brothers of Jesus. ".\nd standing without, they sent unto him, calling him. And a multitude was sitting about him and they say to him. Behold thy mother and brethren without seek for thee.'' The members of the family of Jesus who appear in this scene are unable to reach the Lord himself, be- cause of the great multitude that had gathered around him; so they sent word through the multitude., planning to take him away to some quiet place where he could rest. Their intentions were good, their purpose, however, was based upon a misapprehension of the Lord and his work; and they were planning to propose something to the Lord Jesus which would have been ab- solutely contrary to the will of God. Master of the Situation ''.\nd he answereth them, and saith Who Is my mother and my brethren T" Here was a delicate and trying situa- tion for Jesus; yet he meets it with perfect mastery. He shows no Impa- tience with his relatives. His mother should have known better. He Is ab- solutely truthful. He utilizes the un- timely Interruption for pressing home a momentous truth. "And looking round on them that sat round about him, he salth, Behold, my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same Is my brother, and sister and mother." Nothing could persuade the Lord Jesus to turn aside from the very great purpose of his life, which was given him of God when he came down to earth as our Saviour. Jesus does not repudiate earthly ties. What ha does Is to announce a relationship higher than that which results from ties of blood, higher than relationship that is strictly physical. He declares that all may be Intimately related to him. as close ae a mother or brethren could ever be. If the center of their life is In the will of God. Obedience to will of God was the fundamental end of the life of Jesus, and It ought al- ways to be the aim of the children of Goil (Matt. 6:10; 7:21). De Valera'i Daughter His Dog's Eyes As Rear Lights When an Anunicau patrolman re- cently overtook a loiry, from the back of which shone two gloaming lights, he found that they were not rear lights, but a dog's eyes, and the dog was surrounded by a horde of grinning Negro children. The patrolman asked the N'egro driver why the lorry ha.l no rear lights. "Dem's not necessary, sah," replied the Negro. "Ah jus' gets one o' ma kiddies to hold the ol' dawg, an' his eyes shine as good as any lan- terns, sah." When weather is at its worst in Verkmoyanski, Siberia, the exhaled vapor of one's breath crystaliic.-^ in- to needles of ice, making breathing Miss .^;ailâ- ^n de Valera, daughter of iiamonn d« V'alera, is seldom In the publi- eye. She visited her lather in London during the latter's stay ther« for the Anglo-Eire talks at Downing Street, later returring to Sweden to resuine her university studies. IS THIS YOUR BIRTHDAY? By A. R. WEIR â- <>>•< I c » » • • ♦ â-  What the SUr* Foretell For Tho>« Born on February 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 If you were born on the lath of Fe'oruary your Zodiac sign is .A.qiiar- ius. If you were born on Feb. 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 or 2-* your Zodiac sign is Pisces. Aquarians axe loyal, :5:etid- fast, dependable pjople. Thair na- ture is kindly and s'^'eet. They do not greatly desire wealth and .suc>;es8 ocraes to them through their own en- terprise and efforts. People bom under the sign Pisces usually have a dual nature â€" on the one hand impressionable and recep- tive and on the other hand positive, CALG.A.RY. â€" Alberta is faced with a shortage of school teachers, dele- gates to the .Mberta School Trustees' Association annual convention wera told here this week. Dr. 0. Fred McNally, Deputy Minister of Edua^ tion, said that th* shortage was du« to higher standards demanded by th* Department of Education and reduc- tions in salaries during recent years. The Truth About Yourself AS YOUR HANDWRITING REVEALS IT (By Lawrence Hibben) (Editor's Note: This Is the first of a series of weekly articles by a psy- chologist and character analyst whose writing* and radio broadcasts have earned for him wide fame throughout this continent as well as In Great Bri- tain. He can tell your character from your handwriting; he can help YOU with your pepsonal problems. Read this engroseiny article and then tell your friends about It). For some years I have been analy- sing character from handwriting, and flTlng advice as a piaotical psycholo- gist. Many thousands of letters have reached me as a result of my news- paper articles and radio broadcasts. Famous movie stars, with their high earnings and fame, and girls In lonely Tillages w'ao have merely their youth and soaring ambitions; busy business executives, and political loaders, and young people on the first few rungs of the ladder of progress; complacent wives and unhappy husbands: domin- eering husbands and lonely wives; sweethearts, girls and young men; the forlorn and the lovelorn: old and young, rich and poor â€" their letters have Jostled one another In my poet- bag. Your Editor has asked me to Jot down a few of the highlights of my ex- perience. >Iy chief difficulty lias In selecting but a few items from among so many interesting cases, because a graphologist's mailbag teems with drama, tragedy, comedy. It is a mirror In which are reflected people's hopes and fears, worries and consolations : their problems, frustrations, ambition and heartaches. All the varied facets of life are revi>aled. Truth in Love Affairs .\ffairs of the hc.irt loom largely among the letters I receive. Girls ask about the characters of their boy friends; boys wish to know if they can trust their girl friends. Sweet- hearts continually wanting to know the real truth about the ones they do love. IXimestic disharr.ionies are reveal- ed only too often. Many writcis unburden their hearts in their letters. Confidences entrust- ed with nie are as sacred as those dis- closed to a doctor. Knowing this, the people coiif'.'s.o their troubles and problems with an inlimai.'y that is poignant. An Ontario girl sent me the hand- writinj of n young Ui.in whoT'i she loved. She had not known him long, aa ha had bat recently arrived In her locality, but she was considering mar- riage to him. She really wrote to me for confirmation of her views about him, to enable her to adjust herself. If necessary, when they were married, rather than because she had any of her own doubts. My reply must have been a terrifi* shock to her. The young man was de- void of moral scruples, t said, and not to be trusted. Marriage between them would be a grave mistake. So infatuated was the girl that she discounted my advice, and, as abe wrote to me later, neglected to make even the most elementary enquiries about the man. She was starting pre- parations for the wedding when, like a bolt from the blue, the young man's WIFE turned up! Help In Everyday Work When a Winnipeg girl wrot.? a very lengthy letter detailing hor frultleea efforts to obtain work, she snded up by saying that she had no relative* and was so miserable she felt Ilk* 'ending it all." as her money had neai^ ly all gone. I made definite suggestions alon« lines of work that she had never even considered, and outlined one or two mental exercises designed to counter- act her morbid outlook. She replied shortly afterwards to Inform me that she had followed my suggestions, that had been an eye-opener to her. and had actually obtained a position two da.vs after she received my letter. There was nothing ma.sical In this. Her writing showed me that she had talent in a direction that she had been Ignoring. When I pointed it out to her, she made the most of it. AW she needed was to be shown her own cap- abllitie'". There are many people like her who are faltering merely because they do not realise their own potentialities. Sonja Henie is the most honored younj woman In motion pictures these days. Recently she went to Washing- ton to receive the cress of Knighthood of the Order of St. Olav, conferred by the Norwegian government through their minister to Washington. A fi?w days later her ice ballet, the same onr> you will see in her Him "Happy L.Tndlng," played a benefit at Madison Sijuare Garden in New York C>ty sponsored by an Impressive array of Carneglee, Astors, and Rockefel- lers, Beneficiary of the occasion was th* Children's Village which leuJa a help- ing hand to New York's problem chil- delerrained and sometimes hard to understand. Their lucky niaraber ia 11, Thursday their most favorabl* day. For complete birthday horoacopa for any day in the year, send 10c to A. R. Weir, 73 Adelaide St. W., To- ronto. Lack of Teachers Noted In Alberta dren, and thanks to SonJa a stagger- ing number of thousands of dollars was raised. Sonja expresses her gratitude for all these honors In neat little phrases, but she dsesn't get the least bit cocky about It. She seems as completely unspoiled, as completely oblMoo* to her unique position in the entertain- ment world as Shirley Temple does. Sonja Heni* Grade Allen, long radio's queeu of nonsense. Is at last to get the recog- nition ah? deserves from Paramount pictures. They are having the author of Philo Vance murder mysteries write "Tile Oracle Ailea Murder Mys- tery." She win be the stnr, and no less a celebrity than John Barrymcre will portray Philo Vance. When Jack Benny first started talk- lag about that rattletrap old car on his radio program, It was just the fig- ment ot a script writers Imagination. By the time radio audiences developed a hilarious aitachment for his wheezy old motor, Jack began to wish that he Around The Dial RADIO HEADLINERS OF •'T!E WTEK By FRANK DENNIS really had one. so he and Mary Living stone m.ade the rounds of nsed-car lota and found just the car of their dream*. It is a 1921 model and cost thirty-flT« dollars. That long-promised return of Gloria Swanson to the screen is postponed indefinitely again. Columbia picture*, wihch had planned to have her play the lead in "Holiday." have decided Instead to give the leading role to Katherine Hepburn. Joan Bennett and Gary Grant will be featured with her, so It promises to be one of thoea knockout pictures that Columbia turn* out with unfailing regularity when- ever they borrow ranking stars from other studies. Radio stars are much more thrifty, than the early motion-picture stars. Most of them Invest their earnings In businesses that are not so dependent on youth and entertainment whim* of the public. Jack Fulton, tenor of "Poetic Melodies." has bought a halt- interest in a Fifth .'Avenue haberdash- ery. Ethel Ow-,!n of Edgar Guest's "It Can Be Done" program, owns a dog and cat hospital la Milwaukee and Is president of a do? biscuit company. Truman Bradiey. commentator on th^ Sunday evening hour. Is president of a coemetlc firm. Three young men whose youthful ambitions were strictly serious have become radio's great comic trio. Lan- ny Ross and Charles Butterworth studied law. and Walter O'Keefe started out as a newspaper man. It was Walter's adaptation and revival of "The Man on the Flying Trapeze" that flung him into night chib enter- tainment and from there to radio. ODDS AND ENDS:â€" On his return from a concert tour of thirty cities. Igor Gorin will ;et his final American citizenship papers ... Of all his tri- umphs Ken Murray Is most proud of being asked to 'le master of ceremon- ies at the President's birthday ball In Washington . . . Wiirners have chang- ed their minds again about who is to be the UrW Torchy Blane. Now It Is Lola Lane who will play the role . . . Of all the stars in "Hollywood Hotel" It is Benny Goodman who gets the most riotous response from the aud- ience . . . Alice Brady is headed for more big dramatic roles since "In Old Chicago," but first she will do another comedy. ''Good Byi- Broadway" for Universal. Tommy Rigi^s of the Val- lee program wiU appear in a support- ing role. Custodian of Abbey Do YOU wish to know what your handwriting tells about yourself? And have you any friends you would like to know the truth aboutT Mr. HIbbert will analy** your writing for you, and that of your friends. Write to him as fully as possible, and if you have any problems tell him about them. For EACH specimen of handwriting you w*nt analysed, send 10c coin or postal note (no stamps, please). Eneloss WITH STAMPED ADDRESSED EN- VELOPE, to: Lawrence HIbbert, Room 421, 73 Adelaide St., We*t, Tor- onto, Ont, Replies will be forwarded a* quickly as possible, but a slight de- lay Is unavoidable. Canon Frank Russell Barry, U.S.O., lias been appointed custodian of vVestniinster Abbey, in London. The noted cleric is Canon of the .A.bbey, js well as being rector of St. John's Church, in London. Coronation Costs Fixed at £150,615 LONDON.â€" The Comptroller Gen- eral of civil appropriation x"- •^^ announced last wee'- ..^. ,,iie >-oro- nation of King George and Queen Eiixabeth cost £1,385 ($6,925) leaa than the Parliamentary grart. Expenditures totalled £150,615 as compared with the estimate of £152,- 000 and included £1411.224 for the Office of Works, £").35 for the Earl Marshal's Office, and £856 miscella- neous. Government sale of seats re- alised £2,709. Eskimo's Chess Win An Eskimo has just won a chess tournament arranged by Soviet sci- entific workers in the Arctic. These scientists taught Eskimos how to play the game, and they quickly showdd a remarkable grasp of the moves. When the tournament began, one Eekimo not only defeated his fellow tribesmen, but also the Russians who had taught him. The deficit of the Paris Exposition last year was officialiy announced to be $50,000,000. Symbol of Uneasiness Tops German Edifice Caged, wings held fast, atop tho Gciniaii exhibit at the Paris fair, mi|M well symbolize tin current feeling at political and military onrest n Germany. ^