The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-05-28
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
A Study of the International Sunday
School Lesson appointed for June
z, 1896.

tn
Z, 1896.
subject: Warnings to the Disciples. 81.
Luke, ~: :4-35.
Zone reading these ,note- should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated abovc.l
/. CHRIsTs CHIEFrAINCY.
/. Data.
We have only one account that Of st. Luke,
% 25-30.
Our lesson is dated Thursday evening, March
IL, A. ID. 30. We may suppose it was some
time after o'clock. 1t was the evening pre-
cedng the death of our Savior
3. Place
We are located in Jerusalem in "large
upper ROOM" ST. Luke, %: IL. II was on Mt
Zion. So tradition teaches
4. The Company.
The group gathered in the room consisted Of
Jesus and the Twelve Apostles. ST. Lu., % Ia.
They assembled to celebrate the last Passover
and to originate the Holy Communion.
5. The Circumstances.
come Solomon's successor; that the Jews were
to be relieved from objection to Roman power
and become again independent in government
The Twelve knew well that monarch gathers
around him q sort of ministry or cabinet. They
were anx ous to become members of the royal
circle. But even a cabinet has ranks. The
positions of certain ministers are more promi-
nent and lucrative. The Twelve fell into a
dispute as to which was to be the leading men
in the new Kingdom. They erred at the very
foundation for Christ did not purpose establish
ing temporal Kingdom. Then, worse yet
they erred in the spirit OF Cbrists Kingdom
Jesus set forth the principle OF Office holding,
which it has been the aim of the Government
Of the United States. theoretically at least. to
exhibit, to w.t. that secular officials are public
servants
6. Explanatory Notes.
j. 1.-THE Kings of the Gentiles." V. 25.
The Jews dcspised the Gentles, and what Gen.
tiles did was not for the very reason they did
ii, regarded as exemplary. The chief ruler
was the Emperor at Rome, but subject TO him
were numerous Kings.
2. Exercise authority" V.25. That is the
business of Kings. They do it officially. Some
times they may such authority tyrannically.
Sometimes as officers they must use it when,
out of tenderness they might, as private citi-
zens, refrain from severity.
3. Benefactors." V. IS. This was COM
mon term TO give to officials of prominence.
At times it was we'll deserved At other times
it was bestowed in mere fattery or for the
gaining of favors. Josephus and Philo apply
the term benefactor to the Roman Emperors.
We often Gnd the term euergetes (well-doers)
as applied to the Roman Emperors.
A. Ye shall not he So" Y. &c. The King
dom of Christ is not modelled after a monarchy.
Compare st. Lu., 0 :48; Pet, 5: 3. We get
the true idea as illustrated in Christ's washing
of the Disciples feet. st. John, ID: 3-15.
s. Younger" V. 20. 1t was the duty of
the younger to perform the more mental serv
ices. Acts, 5: Clio.
g. "Temptations" v. %. Reference is made
TO Chrisps ministry in special-temptations
experienced along WITH the Apostles-persecu-
tions, ill-treatment from enemies, personal
sacrifices and hardshps.
z. Kingdom" ". 80. We recall st. Matt,
1928. The Apostles must always be eminent.
Their relations TO Christ on earth will make
them forever distinguished in Heaven. They
will be to Christ in the state after the Judge
ment what a cabinet is to ruler; what prime
ministers are TO a king.i
8. The twelve tribes of Israel" V. 30. The
meaning is that flIey shall be the specially
marked and exalted persons among the
deemed. The true Israel is the Church Catho-
lie, embracing all saved through Christ.
Z. Suggestions.
/. All civil rulers, should be benefactors,
euergetes
2. We should cultivate a kindly, courteous.
obliging spirit. An mpioy or may have yield
ing, sympathetic nature quito becoming a
servant, while many servant has in him the
spirit of tyrant If ono who is rich, power
full, exalted. be becomingly condescendng;
considerate OF the feelings and wants of the
poor and dependent; willing if need be in
emergency to do many an act which would be
more becoming servant, such 4 man exalts
himself in public esteem.
g. Young men should be willing to begin in
inferior positions aud work up to places of re-
sponsibility, power aud remuneration.
4. Do not forsake friends in their trials. 1t
was credtable to tho Apostles that they 4" con-
tinued =" with Christ in his temptations"
B. Be patient. Wait for the time of exalta-
ton. Get inspiration for future tenn ptstiOus"
ttriaIs) by hope of promotion in Christs King
dom beyond death. As Jesus treated and will
treat his Apostles similarly he will all of his
followers.
ii. PETERS DENnLs FoREToLD.
/. Data.
st. Matt, &c: 81. 30; St. Mark, IA: 30, 81, and
st. Lu, 90: 3l34
9. Time, Place, Company Circumstances.
These all agree with the same in the para
graph above. save that we move along trife
later in tho evening
The account as given By st. Mark seems
little more definite to the time of the denas.
The day referred to was the one which began
that evening at 6 o'clock. according 10 Jewish
division of time. But day is composed of
daylight and night. st. Mark states plainly
tue denials were to be at night, and hence not
fnr from the time of our Saviors prediction.
But the denials are located more definitely yet
as to time. They were to be before the cock
crowed twice st. Mark, Ii: 80. 1t was I'M
derstood that the first cock-crowing was at
about midnight; the second ut about o'clock,
a. LII.
3. The Connection.
By reading st. Matt 26: 3133 VIC see how
Christ came to speak SO plainly to Peter.
Christ had foretod his suffering and death.
But Peter, indignant. said Though all men
shall BIO offended because of thee, yet will