The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-07-29
SUNDAY MEDITATION.


SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught by a Study OF the Inter-
national Sunday School Lesson Appointed for
Aug. 5. st. John, IL; 1886.
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated aDoye.l
Our Savior was teaching in the court Of the
women, a part of the temple at Jerusalem into
which only those circamcised were permitted
TO enter. 1t was ON Wednesday, March is, A.
ID. %. Among the great numbers at the Jewish
Capital weresome Gentiles, persons who, though
uncircumcised, had great regard for the religion
of Palestine, sympathized with the belief in
the One God, and associated more OF less with
Jews Most of such persons were OF the Greek
nationality. This was so true that the Jews
knew the Gentles as Greeks, and so styled all
not of their race. Possibly the Greeks referred
to in V. 20 were really of the Greek Nation.
There was region southeast of the Sea OF
Galilee known as the Decapolis. The very
name is Greek. Several of the cities Of that
region bore Greek names, and were doubtless
inhabited by colonies from Greece. The two
Disciples named in V. - lived at Bethsaida, in
Galilee, not far from the DecapOlis border. We
see the influence of Greeian residents on the
Jews in the fact these two Disciples bore names
of Grecian origin. Living in such vicinity,
the people of Galilee and those in Middle Perea
would probably often fall in with each other
and form acquaintance. 1t may be it was thus
that the Grecians sought Philip and Andrew.
These Greeks were probably Of the class
known as . Proselytes of the Gate" They had
admission into the outer court of the temple.
They came to Jerusalem to attend the Passover
and to join in the worship so far as was admis-
sible 10 persons of their class They wanted to
meet Christ, but they found he had entered
within the SQUIRT Of the women, temple court
\ into which Pr0selytes were not suffered to go.
IL is not likely the Greeks wanted to gain
merely vision OF the person of Christ. They
desired an extended interview for instruction.
They Glanced to find Philipin the outer court,
and knew he was a Disciple Of Christ. They
understood that the way to gain access to a
/ person is through xSautual friend or through
/ the influence OF some associate or follower OF
the individual whose acquaintance is desired.
/ They at once hail Philip, make known their
wish, and urge his interest. lie seemed to halt
I for a moment 70 consider the propriety Of the
] wish Of the Greeks. He had often seen the
/ apparent partiality of Christ for the Jews
\ Philip hence cOnsults with Andrew, who, ii
/ would seem, was in the inner court with Christ
and the IL Disciples. 1t is clear they agreed
J. it was proper 10 present the request OF the
| Greeks; they did, at any rate, make the re-
/ quest. We may suppose our Savior then went
out into the court Of the Gentiles to hold the
interview. "Them" (V. 80 stands primarily
i we Lnlnk, IOr the dIeek5. W nat IOllONS - al
| answer TO the request. They doubtless fell in
with the views OF even the Apostles, to wit. thai
Christ intended to make brilliant, royal en-
try into civil and religious enterprises and
/ reforms. They looked for triumphal debut
Jesus at once sets them right. He showed them
| his glory was to result from death. The houl
of crucifxion was near at hand. Friday wa:
to tell the story. A grain of wheat planted
must decay before a harvest appears. Chris
i catf ~ md r,r1uatuIa
condeseension; life is the product of death
Joy grows from self-denial; salvation results
from trouble; glory Is bought at the price o
humiliation; prayer follows close after sorrow
Christ thus sets inquirers right. Approaching
him in expectation of meeting royalty, they
find person on his way to the cross. Antiei
pating through him glory, promotion. triumph
they are taught the hard doctrine of joy by tn,
path OF sorrow, victory through conquest, glory
with sears crowns after thorns. Christ himsel
becomes the model. He is troubled. (V. q.
He is on way to death. His words Save rae
from this hour 3" are not plea for escape, but
cry for help to endure. The cross explains hi
mission TO earth. (V. 27.) Human salvation
was gloriication Of Deity. God had been hon
Ored by Christ's birth, baptism, TRANSPORTATION
miracles and he was yet 10 be honoTed by on
Savior's resurrection and ascension, and by tn
spread Of Christianity. 1t was one of the CRANE
turning points in the life of Christ. He wa
quite disturbed in mind. lie needed strength b,
assurance, and hence the confirming voice from
Heaven, which was heard distinctly by thos
near at hand, and resembling thunder in soun'
to those farther Off Some thought an ange
had spoken. The Heavenly message, however
was not so much for Christ as for those in hi
presence, seemingly specially for the eniight
| eminent and encouragement Of the GentlleS VIII
had gone to Jerusalem anxious to see Jesus
The crucifxion was the severest blow 10 Satan
1t was a condemnation of sin, bruising Q
the Evil One-a hard blow against the kiHgdor
of perdition. Calvary brought Holiness and Si
10 a crisis (V. 81
Verses 27-31 are parenthetic. At verse 3
Christ resumes his reply to the Greeks. II
was to be seen, indeed, not on a throne, bat o
gibbet. He was to be lifted up upon the Gro:
to die. Then came an objection from bystand
ers to the effect it was understood the genuin
Son of Man, the Messiah, was to be of eterni
existence. How, then, is it he is at the poiI
to be crucihed? Christ still keeps them 70 tn
great thought, telling them it is, indeed, tru
the Messiah is destined TO die and pass froi
earth ; that such end of his mission is near
Z hand; that he could not be seen and hear
much longer; that it became all men TO ava
/; themselves of the Light Christi during the Ii
} tie time he was TO live here.
Practical thoughts abound, and we state SCI
eTal of the more important.
t /. We see in the efforts of the Greeks to lear
. more of Christ and in his kind reception
them limitations of the universally of Christ
S anity. The Apostles Philip and Andrew al:
: treated the inquirers in gracious spirit. "
9 see in the very names of these two Disciple
I some inkling of the intention Of Christ that b
religion should point toward universal oppo
5 tunity of salvation, and not be confined qui
exclusively to a single race. Behold two Jew
| with Gentle namesl 1t is a matter of comic
4 to us Gentiles that two Of Christ's immedia
5 and chosen followers were Gentiles, even if
j, were but by name. They had heard of hin
>, of his wonderful words and works, and wei
f DESTROYS of greater acquaintance. We mu
{ help Greeks and all nationalities to see d
d beauties of Christ and his religion. Encoura,
all mission work.
: 2. We see the principle Of medation-Phil
: and Andrew take the part of the Gentiles an
seek for them favorable interview with Chris
j We must aid others. In all the relations of Ii
o we can interest ourselves with one class in
,, half of another. Every man owes much to Il
! influence of others. The system of recoI
Il mendations, if conscientiously conducted, ms
d do much to make earth happier. Owing mut
d TO others, we should assist our associates.
k 3. See the secret of success. Often il Is Il
fruit of failure. Before men rise, as q rule thu
% fall. They are forced to learn by hard knock
J. severe opposition, and much suffering gra
Of corn produces no fruit save by burial al
l. decay. harvest Of life grows only from
10 process Of death. 1t is often good to be Athlete
IS A.. Seek righteousness first Heaven befo