The Twelve Sent Forth

BY J. JAMES TISSOT. REPRODUCED BY COURTESY OF

THE TISSOT PICTURE SOCIETY.

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"And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits."-Mark, 6, 7.

I

T WAS during this second year of Jesus' ministry that He first entrusted His power to other men, his followers. The twelve specially chosen apostles must by now have been with Him long enough to have acquired as clear knowledge as was possible of His yet unfulfilled mission to mankind. He felt the need of spreading yet more widely the news that the hour of the Great Sacrifice approached, that the Saviour was already among men. Therefore He despatched the twelve, by two and two, to preach amid the cities of the Jews.

The full and careful directions which Jesus gave to these the first preachers to go forth in His name, are preserved only by Matthew. They were to carry no wealth, to make no provision for the future, to be "sheep in the midst of wolves," "wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." In each city, they were to seek the home of the worthiest and enter it with a benediction of peace. Yet should they themselves have no peace, but always suffering and abuse. “I came not to send peace, but a sword.” After this tragic warning, the apostles were encouraged by that glad promise, "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”

LUKE XIX-THE MARCH TO JERUSALEM

1641

hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. 20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:

21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. 22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not

SOW:

23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? 24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)

26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

28¶ And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.

29 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,

30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.

31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.

32 And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.

33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?

34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him.

35 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.

36 And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.

37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.