The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-02-23
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

Haft8 - St AAtts 90 As-zJ.
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures
indicated above.l
SUBJECT: TIE REQUEST or JAMES AND JOSH
FOR EMINENcE
We shall consider in special Verses 20 to %
inclusive. Read, before proceeding further,
the account given By st. Mark. 10: % A..
The incident studied occurred in March A.
D. %, at some point in Perea not far from the
Jordan River, and probably about opposite
Jericho. at that date Palestine was divided
into four parts: one on the east side Of the Jor-
dan River and the rest on the west side Pcrea
: : east of the Jordan; Galilee, Samaris and
Judea on the west Galilee being the northern
and Judea the southern, leaving Samaria be-
tween. Christ was on way to attend his last
Passover feast, making his final visit to Jerp-
salem, going to GethsemRBe and Calvary.
(V. H. He was in his 34th year Of life, aud
in the fourth Of his ministry.
The Disciples had an idea Christ purp0sed
the establishment of a temporal kingdom; =
revival of the royal Government Of David aud
Solomon; an escape from Roman enthTall-
ment; a Jewish INDEPENDENCE. They never
fully recovered from this erroneous conception
| till after the ascension and the descent Of the
Holy Spirit.
Just before our lesson opens Jesus took bis
II Disciples into confidential talk, telling of
his betrayal, condemnation, suffering death
by crucifxion, and resurrection. All these
facts seemed against the hopes Of the Apostles.
One expression, however, might give basis for
the request of SITS. James and John, 70 Wit
rise again" ". 49,
The children of Zebedee we're James and
John. (St. Mark, /: 10, 20.) There was an
other James among the ~, but the name of his
1 father was Alpheus. (St. Mark, 3:1sl The
name of the mother was Salome. Compare st.
/ Matt, 81: SIS, with st. Mark, 10: 40) 1t il
oil izt Nrog al oh
/ proaehsble, he maintained an attitude which
| would not court too great freedom. SslOme
went to him in a most gracious manner. BY
/ the word wOrshiping" IN V. %, we under
/ stand the paying Of profound respect. In s..
! Marks account the names Of the sons are given.
| 10: 3d. Moreover. we there find the request
/ was made by the sons. 1t is plain they brought
/ the attention of Christ to the matter through
/ their mother. We cannot tell with whom
/ the ambitious thought originated; whether
! the mother was anxious for such promotion Of
her sons, or whether the sons, eager for distine-
| ton and power, urged their mother to inter
cede for them.
We notice how careful Christ was. he did
not give himself away. The two Disciples
wanted to secure promise that he would grant
| any certain favor which they might want
Jesus did not allow them such cqrts- blaschs
privilege. He wished to know beforehand TIE
nature Of the request. Compare 1 XII, 2: 49,
1
lege of sitting, one on the righthand Of Christ
and the other on his lefthand, in royal dignity.
| Probably Christ had spoken at times as in St
| Matthew, 10 %. Christ had shown them4nuch
distinction. Together with St. Peter they were
Of the three chosen TO witness this resurrection
of the daughter of Jairus, the TRANSPORTATION
of Christ and his agony in Gethsemsne It Is
said at times of st. John that he was the Dis
ciple whom Jesus loved with some special man
Hesitation Of regard. (St John, ID :23.) Thus
they had much reason for thinking themselves
favorites of Christ.
It was an error on Salome's part TO foster in
her children an unhealthy ambition. She
should have checked her sons in their unholy
desire
The wish to be near to Christ is well, but If
selfshness play any part in the desire the merit
is lost. To be DESTROYS Of superior power-oi
mastery over others-is not Christlike, and
puts the victim of the desire far off from Christ,
But they wanted to be near their leader.
The wish Of the two brothers was evidently
displeasing to Christ. His reply shows this
for it was uttered in a sad strain. They wanted
to be near Christ for the glory Of the position,
(St. Mark, 10 81 but they were shown tina;
nearness to him meant suffering. They did
not realize this fact, and were set right. It wa
z method of capital punishment Ia early days
! to give the victim poison, and thus the expires
sion to drink the cup became a method Of indi-
25: 10; Eze., 3d. 31-33; Ps- 11:6; 1873; %;
10.) The suffeTings of our Savior are described
by this figure. (St. Mark, Il 49, So, too, we
speak of persons immersed in cares or troubles
overwhelmed with anxiety. (St. Lu., u: So
Asked, they answered that they could under
go every suffering involved 1t is much in
. their favor that when informed of all the suf
fering involved they did not give up but per-
sisted in consciousness Of their ability. And
they were brought to realize the truth Of
, Christs prophecy. st. James became martyr
i (Aets, II: p and st. John met continuous per
secution. rev, l: 81 God would make ne
exception in the way of partiality as to Sts
, James and John, and Christ, in his condition
! of voluntary humility and humanity, could moi
answer the prayer fayorably. Est. John, Id
2S.)
. The 10 other Apostles were indignant at tn.
! conduct Of James and John. The request o
. the two Apostles was a mean attempt to take
advantage Of the rest of the ID. But Chris
proceeded to instruct them as 70 the right spiri
Of Christianity. Promotion in his kingdom i
dependent on kindly service To DO great il
Christ's mind is to be good. To be distinguishes
, ia to excel in lOwly ministries The Govern
! ment of the Church is not to be modelled afts
that of the civil branch of law. The Apostle.
were taught grand lesson, as Keble shows il
the following lines:
30 great Apostles rightly now
Te read all that your Savior meant
What time His grave yet gentle brow
In sweet TepToof on you was bent"
b Christ is our example If he ask us to min
Z lister we are assured q the Son Of Man came no
to DO ministered unto, but to minister and t
2 give his lifa a ransom for many ~. 28(