The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-25
= re Sunday School.
Eessnn Series tnr 1883.
FIRST QUARTER.
BY REV. ROBERT t. POLK.
Matthew Xxx. 1928. ]
JESUS AGAIN F0RETElLS HIS
DEATH AND RESURRECTION.

lis u 5 A u a L N Z U II Il Il IL LIS dlO
DEATH AND RESURRECTION.
TIME AND Notwithstanding to all the
accounts Of the Evangelists this Lesson is
closely connected with the last one. JESUS
and the disciples are on the way to Jerusa-
lem to attend the Passover. At what place
in their journey the incidents of the lesson
occurred we are not told. From verse 20 it
appe ars that it may have been before they
reached Jericho (see map). As that verse
properly belongs with what follows, rather
than what precedes it, an immediate connec-
ton of events is not necessarily indicated.
The described scene is generally located by
Biblical scholars in Perea, before the ford of
the Jordan opposite Jericho was reached.
The departure from Jericho was about week
before the Passover, according to the gener
ally received chronology, though the time
may not be definitely determined.
CROSS AND CR0wN.-As they neared the
ford of the Jordon the crowds going up to
attend the Passover would increase in the
way JESUS is described as separating his
apostles from the crowd, and announcing to
them-for the third time, according to the
record xvi. 81; xvii. 22)-his approaching
violent death and glorious resurrection. He
infinitely described to them the fate that was
awaiting him at Jerusalem from the hands
of the ruling authorities, both religious and
secular, and the power over all his enemies,
and even death itself, which he could imme-
diately manifest. Though the apostles, upon
whom the perpetuation and permanency of
his kingdom in the world should depend,
might not yet folly understand his meaning,
they must be fully advised of the events
which would inevitably precede and accom-
pany its glorious establishment. We may
assume that the language in which the Evan
gelists record their Lords announcement of
his death and resurrection is colored by the
events which had traDspired when they wrote.
Mark tells US that the disciples were amazed
and frightened at the prospect of their Mas
ter going at this time and in SO public man
ner to Jerusalem *. 32). They remembered
what had 30 recently befallen him there at the
Feast of TabernacIes, and after the raising
of Lazarus, when it was no longer safe to
remain, and he had consequently retired to
the wilderness city of Ephraim. He had
issued for his arrest John viii. So; K. 80; XII.
50, ~. The disciples may have learned that
the high priests were expecting him to at
tend the national festival, and had COM
manded that any one who might recognize
him should secure his arrest. JESUS would
reassure his fearful disciples that the way to
his throne and crown was by way of the
cross But the disciples could not under
stand his meaning duke xviii. A.. The re-
stored kingdom of Israel for which they were
eagerly looking, could not be established If
the expected king should be shamefully cru
cited. king of souls, and the spiritual
reign of Divine love and truth, we're yet be-
yond their apprehension. They were thor
oughly convinced that JESUS was the Messiah
of COP, bat had misconceived the true Mes
sianic idea. Their misconceptions and pre-
conceptions blinded their minds to the plain
est meaning of their masters words, just as
ours often do for us in our study and COM
prehension of his religion.
THE DISCIPLES SELFISH AMBITION.
A MOTHERS JEALOUS PLEASE con-
WINGED we're the disciples that JESUS was the
Messiah who, by divine power, they expected
would restore Israel again to independent
government, that they vaguely conceived that
he WAS about to declare his authority and
successfully inaugurate bis reign by some
vi client conflict with the ruling authorities at
Jerusalem, which he had iguratively de-
scribed. They grew eager and jealous in
their desire for the highest places in the ad-
ministration of the new government. They
had heard with evident satisfaction his re-
Gently announced assurance that in the re-
generation or restoration, when the Son of
Man should assume his glorious throne, that
they, his chosen followers, should each occu-
by throne as the ruler of the tribe of Israel
xix. 28). As the time of his kingly assumption
appeared to draw nigh, the question of the pri-
macy again revived among them (xviii.1. See
Lesson, February 12) and was pressed for set
Element. James and John, the sons of Zeb-
edee. sought, through the influence of their
mother, who was a benefactor of JESUS, and
probably his mothers sister (xxvii. So; John
xix. 25l, to have the question settled in their
favor. Salome Compare xvii 90 and Mark
XIV. 40) came to JESUS with her sons, and, sa-
luting him as king, asked him to grant the
request which they had come to make. Mark
reports that the request was made by the
sons, without mentioning the mother, who
was really their agent in the matter. He but
describes what vas done by the agent as hav-
ing been done by the principals Their re-
quest was that they might occupy the highest
places of honor and emolument in his king
dom. The figure employed is derived from
the position of the most honored and distin-
guished guests at banquet. The disciple
may have expected JESUS to grant this favor
on account of their own, and especially their
mothers relationship with him, whom they
put forward to ask it. 1t was shrewd scheme
of political tactics to promote their personal
ambition.
ZEAL WITHOUT KN0WLEDGE.-"Y You
do not know what you request" said JESUS.
They desired distinguished positions in his
kingdom, but were ignorant of the spiritual
and heavenly nature of the high places to
which they aspired and the conditions of their
attainment. They expected preferment which
might be conferred by JESUS. But real adj
vaneement in the heavenly kingdom must be
attained by self-denisl and sacrifice. "No
cross, no CROWN" is a negative statement of
the conditions of spiritual distinction and
authority. The King of Souls was first cru
Gifted, then glorihed. The two ambitious
disciples asked for positions on either side of
the king in his glory. A few days later they