The Apostle of Our Profession

‘Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and high-priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.” — HEB. iii.

OW let us do what we are told, and “consider” the Lord Jesus as the Apostle of our profession. Sixteen hundred and eighty-nine years before He came, Jacob prophesied of Him as “Shiloh” (Gen. xlix. ). Shiloh means the Sent One, and

“Apostle’ means the same thing, ‘one who is sent.” So’when the fullness of time (that is, just the vight time) was come, God sent forth His Son (Gal. iv. ), sent Him to be the Saviour of the world (1 John iv. aS The Lord Jesus seems to have delighted to remind the people that His Father sent Him, because that showed His Father’s kindness and love. He said, “Neither came I of Myself, but He sent Me” (John viii. ). See if you can not make a list of thirty-seven verses in the Gospel of St. John, where He speaks of His Father having sent Him.

What was Jesus sent to do? He says, “Lo, Icome....to do Thy will, O God” (Heb. Se ), that is, to do what God wanted Him to do. And what was that? To give Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father (Gal. i. ys And He says, “This is the Father’s will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing.” So Jesus is the Great Apostle sent with God’s message of salvation to us, sent to do for us what God’s loving heart wanted done, first to deliver us and then to keep us. Is not this worth “considering”?

Jesus, our Apostle, says, “as Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I sent them into the world” (John xvii. ). He did not mean only the eleven apostles, for He says that great prayer was wot for them alone, but for all them which should believe on Him through their word (ver. ) So He has sent you who believe in Jesus, just as the Father sent Him. And oh, I do so wish that some of you, some of my own dear little readers, may hear in their hearts the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? and who will go for us?” and answer, “HereamI; send me/” (Isa. vi. ).

There are millions who have never heard the name of Jesus; would you not Jike to be His ambassadors to them? Will not some of you, when you are old enough, obey His command, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature”? (Matt. XXVill. ). I think it is the greatest, grandest, noblest thing you can be, a real missionary, sent into the world by our Great Apostle!

Once a young missionary was leaving home very early in the morning. It was terribly hard work to leave his mother, and when it came to the “good-bye” his faith and courage failed; and he felt as if he could not go, and must give itup. Just that moment the hall door was opened, and all at once he caught sight of the beautiful morning star shining in the still dark sky; and instantly two texts flashed into his mind. One was, “They that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever” (Dan. Xi. ). And the other was, “Z am the Bright and Morning Star!” (Rev. xxii. Ne That promise of God and that bright name of Jesus shone into his heart, and gave him comfort and strength; and he went forth to the noble work.

And still God says to you all, “Who will go?”

Who is on the Lord’s side?
Who will serve the King?

Who will be His helpers,
Other lives to bring?
ee

Who will leave the world’s side?
Who will face the foe?
Who is on the Lord’s side?
Who for Him will go?
By Thy call of mercy,
By Thy grace Divine,
We are on the Lord’s side;
Saviour, we are Thine.