Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1890-10-16

The lesson for Sunday, October 10, may
be found In Luke %: 24-37.
INTRODUCTORY.
Christ teaches his disciples here an Inn
portant lesson. IL is really comparison OF
tho two kingdoms. Thcre is a kingdom OF
this world with Its petty rlvalries and am
bitions. With that the disciple Is to have
little, IL any, TART. But. says Christ, there
Is another kingdom where you, too, may
reign, and so he adds: al appoint unto you
Kingdom" That spiritual kingdom is
even now, as our Lord speaks, approaching
Its fulflment. lis price Is being paid In the
several incidents that follow It's bright
dawning Is with the day of Pentecost. It's
meridian Is not yet.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS
There was. Probably the translation sug
gested by Albert and Scott: There had
been, is not far from correct here. This in
cident Is probably thrown I'm, just a little
out Cf It's place. The conversation re-
ferred TO had probably taken place In con-
nection with the act of seating themselves
at the table....A strife. A strange word.
(Philo- neikia: love of battle.) Contention
and rivalry are also given as renditions of
the term. sOr, should seem (dokeD The
greatest Properly, greater.
Whether. Better, which. {. He that sit
teth at meat. One Greek word, the re-
elmer or reclining one, referring to tho
Oriental posture at meals. He that
serveth. Sane word as In preceding verse.
the present participlc of TO serve, or
attend. Or, In the midst Zen meso).
This more accurate translation seems 10.
bring out the relation of attendant 10 the
feasters, who, sitting about the rectangular
tables, were served from within, l. O., in tho
midst. This attitude Christ had just been
taking In the washing OF their feet.
Continued, or remained constant. Ny
temptations, or trials. The afflictions and
prosecutions Christ was called upc n to suffer
as an earth pilgrim.
or covenant TO you. Even as my Father.
See Psalm 2: 8, at will give thee tho
heathen for thine inheritance.n
That he may 'eat. Descriptive OF the
privileges of the "kingdom,n which word
ought, as in the Revision, to directly pre-
cede these words, being modified by them.
MY table. The my seems to be en-
phatic In contrast with the table by i'm
plication in v. e.. And sit, Future tense,
And ye shall sit on thrones. Rev. 3: 2i.)
simon, Simon. Spoken perhaps quietly
10 Peter. 1t Is interesting to note that this
particular divulgence is told alone by Luke.
-. Hath desired, or asked for. Jesus seems
to imply that Satan's special aim was at
Peter. .Slft. In the sense OF trial or test.
Satan here unwlttingly wrought for God,
shaking the chaff from the wheat. His the
chaff, Gods the wheat.
have prayed. Literally, prayed, as OF
distinct act. That their faith fail not.
Or come to an end. Sen Heb. 1: 12, wi o o
this same word is used. His faith faltered
but did not perish. When Satan had rudely
sifted there was still some faith left. 49,.
back. Strengthen. Angels, never having
experienced redemption, could not do 1t so
we'll See Peters epistles.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
But ye shall not bs so. Rather, ye arc
not so. Tho spirit of the kingdom of light
Is wholly different from the spirit of tho
kingdom of darkness. Would that we could
read this text Alright, putting into 1t not
simply the thought OF expcdiency or propri-
ETY., but of a divine necessity. We get to
patterning after the world; IL is natural
Then we look at our Master, and VIC think
he is saying to us I'm solt of commiscrating
and indulgent way, "You ought not TO do
so," or in a kind or wistful manner, aWlll
you not try TO be different?n and so We
stumble along half in one kingdom, half in
the other; the language of Canaan only
partly learned, the milk and honey of tho
new land only tasted. Oh, that the church
could hear the firm, clear imperative, aye
are not sol" In so far as wo are "so,n wo
are not Christs. Think of that awhile.
am among you as he that serveth. And
thcTe he was at their feet with tho basin
and the towel. That meant real service. IL
was not mere spirit of humility that Christ
was here seeking to inculcate, but actual
forceful object lesson. And hence also no
PUT these queries that just precede, (which
is greater. he that sitteth at meat, or he
that scrvcth4p We would perhaps, expect
in the spiritual conception, as an answer.
@He that serveth.n But now our Master re-
plies, adopting the estimate of the world,
ale that sitteth at meat;n and ho means
that we are at once and plainly TO forfeit
the worlds easy mode, and get down 20 real
hard work. Nothing theoretical, something
lNaaa I,1
the city, the daughter OF well-known
Judge, who sacrificed part of her time and
a bit of her pride, to take sewing girls
place In pantaloons factory, while she en-
joyed a weeks outing-She knew what our
Lord meant by this searching word.
At my table. Lord, It is enough. That
is better than the worlds table And wo
need not wait for it. Even here the table
of the Kingdom is spread for our enjoyment.
@IIO, every ono, come ye--yea, come buy
wine and milk without money and without
priceln Why not? The word is plain,
SThou preparest a table before me In the
presence OF mine enemies" Where is that
but In this world9 No enemies up there at
the marriage supper. Here and now are
the bread and meat OF his blessed commune
ing, for athis Is life eternal that they might
know the only true God, and Jesus Christ
whom thou hast sent.p 1t is @supper-time
now.n When he says, SBehold, i stand at
the door and knock,n 1t is not only that he
may sup with us, but that we may asup
with him." He brings his store with him.
Lord, help us TO cat with thee rcjoic.ngly
even Lowl
When thou art converted. How sublime
ly this follows upon the Al have pra yed for
thoen Verify, athe fervent, effectual
prayer of righteous man availeth much.D
And we have here the example of confidence
In prayer. Our Savior makes his request
and then with simple trust in the sure re-
sponse he turns and says, sWhen thou art
Turned Is the word. turned
back. Jesus was looking forward 10 that
interview by the seaside when penitcnt
Ieser should again find his Lord. And now
he is 20 remain steadfast. Converted, no
can now strengthen his brethren, in a
measure like his Master able TO succor them
who arc tempted, having shimself suffered.
being temptedr though not without fin.v
Is II not of this he IS speaking, rs has been
over I'm his first epistle when, ro-
ferring TO the humble and yet vigilant
spirit, he says, 1But the God Of all grace
Who hath called us unto his eternal glory
by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered
awhile, make you perfect stablish.
strengthen, settle you.n
For the things concerning me have an
end. Not an end of his grace or OF his peace
Some people seem 10 have read IL so, and
they take up the sword of self-defense and
aggressivcness and cease to rest uron tho
tender mercies OF God. But Il Is rather an
end of the wrath OF man as connected with
Christ's atoning mission. The spite Of man
was about 70 come TO its completion. tho
ultimate humiliation OF tho cross was nt
hand. Now. just because wrath has an end
peace has a beginning. Something OF tho
hate OF men must yet follow the disciple
who thus fills up as II were that which IL
abchind of the afilictlons Of Christi but 10
still remains true that tho cross was the end
Of the battle. Christ there conquered mems