The National tribune., 1889-02-28
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

This lesson is specially interesting to the |
Sunday school. 1t deals with child. 1t re- |
verses relations, presenting a child as teacher
instead of as learner Christ himself appears |
in the lesson rather in the simplicity of inno- |
cence than in the majesty of authority. We |
see nothing of the pompousness of the egOtist; |
nothing of the lawlessness of the tyrant There |
is tenderness even in deserved rebuke. The |
pride of haughtiness and the GOODNESS of selfish
ness are wholly wanting. Undue ambition is
repressed, tolerance is taught, and bigOtry de-
nounced. Old and young have much to learn
from the paragraph. May its study make US
more chlldlike in our trust, more obedient to
our Heavenly Father, and more charitable
toward all persons and institutions.
1. Time.
We find ourselves in the year A. D. %, and
probably in the month of June. Hence we are
carried back 1861 years. It was about one year
before Christ's death. He was in his SD year
of life, and the third of his ministry.
2. Place.
The scenes of the lesson happened in Caper-
naum. We find from verse 80 it was in house.
Very likely Christ and his associates were at
the residence of st. Peter. st. Matt, 8 IA; ST.
Mark, 1920 The most of the ministry Of our
Savior was spent in Capernaum. 1t was indeed
a favored city, and should have shown grand
results. 1t was exalted to heaven in privilege.
8. Data.
The student must, in addition to the account
of st. Mark, read that by st. Matthew rs: I-6),
and that by st. Luke. (9:46-50; also, II: !, p
The accounts were all written in about the
year So A. d., and hence after an interval in
each case of about 35 years from the events.
SITS. Matthew and Mark wrote at Rome and st.
Luke in Achaia.
d The Question of Verse 80.
We get assistance from the three accounts
n IF let bo1 Jr,cf
in from their walk taken from Mt. Hermon,
the place of Christ's TRANSPORTATION, to Caper-
naum. They Jagged behind Christ, and on the
way got into heated discussion as to their
relative rank and their relative chances for
promotion. We remember how prone the
Twelve were to imagine Christ was to become
great ruler of earth They thought he was
yet to occupy temporal throne becoming the
crowned head, or one of the crowned heads, of
the world. 1t cannot be questioned but that
they became his followers while laboring under
that delusion. 1t was a question as to how they
would act when once the real facts were real
lied by them. 1t would seem Judas began to
grasp the idea that Christ did not purpose
availing himself of an earthly throne over
temporal kingdom, and as a consequence Sc
coded. The fact is, the Twelve were ambitious
to become the Prime Ministers in Christ's Gov
eminent. They were eager to find out their
relative positions in his Cabinet. The prevail
ing question was as to which one would become
Premier; which would become, so to speak,
Secretary of State. At the TRANSPORTATION,
just before, Christ had preferred the company
of Sts Peter, James and John. lie had select
ed them also on former occasion, viz, as spe-
claI witnesses of the resurrection of the daugh-
ter of Jairus. Then, not long before, Christ
had complimented st. Peter very highly on &C
count of the clear ideas be declared as TO the
true character of Jesus. In their mutual con-
versations, holding to the thought Christ was to
become one of the great rulers Of the earth with
the Twelve for his ad ysers or Cabinet, il is not
wonderful they often talked about their rela-
tive prospective positions. Such conversations
would likely become very animated Indeed,
1t is said they disputed. 1t is possible human
nature manifested itself leading at times to
nnkind remarks.
We notice there was great respect for Christ.
The Twelve were cautious lest he might over
hear or suspect their quarrelsome talks. But
in his Omniscieuce Jesus knew ALL saw all,
heard all. " He perceived tho thought of their
! heart" (St. Luke, 8: A. 1t was not we'll
such conversations continue. The Twelve
should be set right. Christ determined to
bring the matter TO head. When the group
had gathered in the house Jesus for the pur-
pose of introducing the subject, inquired as to
what so engaged their attention and stirred up
their feelings while they We're on way to the
house They felt utterly ashamed ". 34.l
They did not wish to continue the subject.
5. The Reply.
The Twelve could not settle the question
which they raised and about which they dis
puted Christ spoke. Did they imagine he
was about to expose his portfolio and make the
appointments, thus settling the question? Our
Savior's teachings were full of surprises. We
notice Christ did not declare which was to be-
come greatest He simply announced prin-
ciple which the Twelve could apply for them
selves. BY it the most ambitious stood the
poorest chance Instead of rebuking them for
disputing he exhibited lovely spirit which
in its subdued lowlinesS chided quarrelsome-
ness far more than words of disapproval could
have done. He showed that the way to exalta-
ton was by service. (Y 35.) To become first
in Christ's esteem a person must not be so
eager to rule as to obey. Christ's standards of
measurement were surprise. He seemed to
read backwards like the sacred language of
| the chosen race.
To illustrate he called child to his side.
The child must have been quite small, for Jesus
| took him in his arms while calling attention to
| the childlike qualities worthy of imitation on
| the part of adults. We may suppose the par
! ticular child was of specially good qualities.
| Mere childlikeness would not be sufficient, for
many little children are exceedingly disagreed
! ble peevish, unruly, selfish.
! 1t is said the child referred to became the
|
| tioch from the year 81 A. ID. to 107. The Ro-
/ man Emperor Trajan came to the throne, and
| lgnatius died a martyr. Ignatius was led to
| Christ through st. John the Evangelist. He
was torn to pieces by wild beasts in the arena
! at Rome 1t is said the name Jesus was found
! impressed upon his heart, and he was there
fore named Theophorus, which means God
| bearer. We may be sure he was not the Ameri-
can boy of our age, the burly, unruly, noisy
| child; but he was exceptionally doclle and
mild aud modest. Iguatius was just at that
point in life when, unconscious of the distinc-
lions of wealth and rank, he saw no difference
between royalty and rusticity, the master and
the slave. Christ would have his Disciples
reach that simplicity and unselfshness which
produce contentment aud relieve from the agi-
tation and pain of undue ambition. Luther
said, :" True greatness consists in perfect loWIi-
| ness"
There are certain good features about child
hood which are characteristic and exemplary.
Children are little aware OF the bitter iealousies
of society, the unpleasant emulations the pain
ful distinctions. They ara totally dependent,
and look up to their parents. They are obliged
rather to be obedient than regal. Though they
may quarrel aud dispute among themselves,
they quickly forget and forgive They are
rather cheerful than discontented. They are
used to asking for flvors.
A child can therefore teach many moral
lessons.
- Infant on thy mothers lap,
| Il Until l,y.tI a4,v,