Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-06-14
Jhe fteemau.
BY REV. J. o. SHERBUEN.

June Is: The.Chnd-Hke Belle, ,er-Mark 2: a..
As the disciples were led to look 7
some great change in tho condition e
affairs by the words of the Master conc, rn.
ing his death and rising from tue dcln.
and still thinking of IN earthly kingdom
which he would set up they began to dis
cuss the question. Who shall be chief or
greatest in this kingdom? The very nc
tion of our Lord may have fostered such
questionings. Peter had been pronounced
blessed, in the presence Of the other dis
ciplrs, and the doubtful expression con.
cerning the keys of the kingdom being
deliyered to him, had been made. The
- -i-7~ shcsep ONES Z. Nsoff q I
tnrev- .aoss 80 7izCi witnessed the woaa
derfiii events OF the transAguratious and
had heard Gods voice from the glory
cloud, Witnessing to the divine Sonship of
him whom they call Lord and Master.
These things looked as though 4 distnc-
tion was made and waste be made among
the disciples. The friends of different
disciples we're also helping on this matter.
A little further on in the history we find
the mother of James and John presenting
the special request that her two sons may
sit, one on the right hand and the other
on the left of Christ, in his kingdom. She
would have secured his promise to make
her sons the first ministers under him.
Such questions about place and rank be.
gan early in the history of the church,
and they have had tolerably persistent
life ever since.
When Christ and the twelve arrived at
Capernaum and were in the house, some
think the home Of Jesus mother, he asks
them about the subject of their discussion
bv vhe way, not that he did not know
about it, but he wished confession from
their own lips. What wonder that in the
presence Of the self-sacriicing Son Of Man
all their ambitious desires should be
rebuked, and they become speechleSs
Worldliness and seliishness will be re-
buked in all our lives, and will die out in
them if we are much i'll the presence Of
Jesus, holding communion with him.
Jesus declares to them that if any man
desires to be first among them, the sane
shall be last of all and servant of all. lie
thus states two great laws governing mat
ters in his kingdom. The first, that pre-
eminencc therein is to be secured by
serving others and second, that tho desire
for prominence defeats itself and put,
the one moved by such desire last OF al
and lowest of all As an Illustration o
these matters Jesus brings forward in his
arms n little child. and declares that any
one who shall receive even child in Ala
name, and care for it for his sake, received
him.
The term child here may be undcrstool
TO mean weak or feeble ono among HI
followers, or simply II young Child need
sng care and training for the Master
service. Any service for oIucrs rcnlCr,,
for Jesus sake, and with purp IS. t.
help mon puts man into immedla,c fellow
ship with CAyisl and the Father, aud her
is the chance for honor in his kingdoM.
John, seeing the broad DeHgIng ui the,
teachings, saya. Master NC +l" "n'
casting ouJ devils m tag ntmo uL'
we forbade ann because ho 10 .owc,h ~"
us
John cVidculIy saw before hC made ,l.s
statement that his conduct hlu not bo
in agreement with tho spirit OF our Lord
teachings: hence he wanted 10 bring u
particular matter before him.
SHrlSt eouIe'iihuu 'u1 na' 10" epi
winch JDnn had showeu' ana virtual.
says; work IN my name' lot snhelln,
humanity is me inquest PROOF OF oneheS
with me. Ana no one tnus WORKING Gu
IN spirit be IN opposilloh 10 me, LABOR
OF love are lne dlVinest PROOF Oh lelloW
ship with Christ; But II IS 10 be remenl
bered That these iaoors OF loVe are 10
DGrfOrmpu
MS dlsclples, because tney oelonS 10 CnIls'
Much mat appears IKE tnis KIna q
service ialls When these Jesus are app'ieu
Bat In proportion 10 the oiessenness g
mus serving the 10 blowers OF Cnrlst SO
it a fearful thing TO hinder them or caus
them to stumble and iall into sin; 10
this is about the meaning oil offend
mere.
AS Chrlst honors ana olesses tilose Wh
aid his children, out OF love 10 MN, so
pronounces woe upon those VINO caus
any to stumble or lall' ~ IS Detter' u
says'lto lose ne, even IN tne most par
1ul manner than 10 oe guiity OF causin
any follower OF christ 70 transgress an
iall. From the awful SIN OF causn
Others to fall Jesus turns 10 the danger
transgresslon on our own part tnrouS
O 'O'o - ~ r.
pensties.
In this case the various organs of tt
body are used to represent various proper
sites of heart, and are thus said to oifen'
or cause to stumble, those who are le
astray through their agency.
One commentator says the hand ms
denote the means Of acquisition; the fo
of intercourse with our fellows, and Il
,tI,a b,~f pF1 1act Dda Ia
explanation our Lord would be made
teach that it is better to fall of gain {
wealth than to be endangered spiritua
ly thereby, aud better to be deprived
social pleasures than TO have them tenn
us from him, and better to be ignorant
the world than te be consumed spiritual
by. worldly desires.
1t is plain that Jesus intended to teat
here that to enter INTO the klngdom
heaven is the most desirable thing al
that anV loss or suffering can be DCtt