The Disciples Sent Forth.
STRAIGHTWAY the Lord departed thence,
And came to His own home,
And in the synagogue He taught
When Sabbath-day had come.
The people wondered at His words,
And asked: "How can it be
That this man has such power gained
As we both hear and see?
"For is not this the carpenter?
We know his mother well;
His brethren and his sisters, too,
All here among us dwell."
And so they took offence at Him,
And Jesus said: "In vain
A prophet much esteemed abroad
At home would honor gain."
And He could do no mighty works—
Save healing a few sick,
And teaching in the villages—
Because their faith was weak.
But looking on the people with
Compassion in His heart,
As scattered sheep, and ignorant—
He called the twelve apart,
And sent them forth, through all the land,
To preach, by two and two,
To the lost sheep of Israel,
The Gospel, pure and true.