1912 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

Scribes of this lesson had so misused their education andopportunities as to be in great danger of becoming so degradedthat even the Kingdom influences would not bringthem to a condition worthy of everlasting life.R5037 : page 182BROTHERS, SISTERS AND MOTHERToday's study closes with the Master's explanation ofthe class to which He acknowledged relationship. Themultitudes who flocked to His miracles, and to hear Himspeak as never man spake, were chiefly the poor and thepublicans and sinners, and such as were not great norvery religious according to the standards of their time.Their degradation, their realization that they were sinners,made the Master's "wonderful words of life" especiallyattractive to them. No one else offered them hope.All others declared that God would not notice them. Thereligionists of that day reproved Jesus because of Hisrecognition of the lower classes, but none were so low,so degraded, that He would not lend them His helpinghand if they had a disposition to return to the Father'sHouse. He was indeed the Friend of all willing to cometo the Father by Him.An opportunity of showing the multitudes the basis forHis sympathy came when Jesus' mother and brethren onthe outside of the throng sent Him word that they desiredto see Him. How beautiful the lesson of the GreatTeacher's breadth of spirit, regardless of caste and class,when he said, "Who is My mother and My brethren?"And then, looking toward His disciples who were sittingnear Him taking in His teachings, He said, "Behold, Mymother and My brethren! for whosoever will do the willof God, the same is My brother and My sister and Mymother."--Matt. 12:46-50.====================R5038 : page 182THE MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM--JULY 14.--MARK 4:1-20.--Text:--Receive with meekness the engrafted Word,which is able to save your souls."--James 1:21.THE SALVATION open at the present timehas been obtainable only through faith, andfaith is dependent upon a measure of knowledge,or revelation, and this knowledge, orrevelation, came to us from God, for saidSt. Peter, "Holy men of old spoke andwrote as they were moved by the HolySpirit." God in this Age is calling a class