Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-06-02

M
~ one-fourth Of the gos-
Follow out the story
OF this eventful day, so as to indeliby inn
press the facts with all their details, upon the
minds of the scholars. 1t will give new mean
ing, not only to the whole narrative, but espe-
cially to the four chapters of John, which were
uttered in these touching circumstances.
There are few scholars who will not be inter-
ested.
Time.-Wednesday to FridaSmornng. about
/ o'clock April 81 A. d. 3O.-<The crucifixion
took place during Friday.
Place.-Jesus seems to have spent the time
from Tuesday evening till Thursday afternoon
at Bethany. The supper at Jerusalem;
the agony ard betrayal, in the garden OF Geth-
semane.
Rulers.-Tiberius Caesar, emperor of Rome
Q7th year,: Pontius Plate, governor of Judea
18th year,; Herod Antipas, Of Galilee (S4th
year,; Caiaphas. high priest.
To-days lesson includes Luke %: 1881
The explanations are as follows:
"a. There was strife among Them" The
strife probably occasioned by either one
or both of the following reasons: % The strife
may have arisen, as we infer from the lesson
Jesus gives his disciples from the fact that
there was no servant to perform the necessary
but mental service of washing the trayel-soiled
feet of the disciples, and none OF them were
willing to perform ii for the others. VINO
should serve and who should be served was
the question. (2) 1t may have arisen with ref
erence to the places of honor at the table. 1t
is quite possible that those sought the best
places who had received unusual honors, as
the three who had been selected for the
TRANSPORTATION. Peter. with the keys. Judas,
the treasurer, James and John, who had asked
to be nearest the king. Jesus was soon to be
goriied, and they looked forward to influ-
entail places in the new kingdom
%. The king of the Gentiles exercise lord
ship over them" Better, lord it over them
1t implies wrong exercise of authority, in
the interest, not of the subjects, but of the
rulers.-Plumptre. And they that exercise
authority have lordshp) are called bene-
factors" Insist on being called "benefaetors."
-Sadler
&c. But ye shah not do So" The principles
Of Chrst's kingdom are the exact reverse CT
those OF most of the former worldly kingdoms.
The leaders are not to rule. but to serve
To have all the rays of joy center in us as a
focus-that is fire. the heart OF sin ; to be the
center from which rays emanate to all-that
Is the sun. the heart of heaven. But he that
Is greatest among you" Some are greater
than others, and it is blessed for all that 1t
Is SO. 1t would not be well If God had made
men as the machine makes pins, 'all heads
alike" LET him be as the younger" Hum
BILE. retiring, never putting himself forward,
but ever ready to serve, as the younger were
expected to wait upon the elder And he
that is chief, as he that doth serve" Using
his position, his talents, his wealth. every
thing that makes him chief, as means Of
serving his fellowmen and doing them good.
q. II am among you he that seryeth.
who am the greatest am the servant Of all.
Jesus came not to be ministered unto. but
to minister, and to give his life ransom for
many" This Is true greatness, far above the
greatness Of talent or rank.
%. Continued with me in my temptations"
trials: all that he had borne during the last
three years.
20. II appoint unto you 4 kingdom" They
shall be sharers in his glory, as they had
been in his Affections (Romans 8: ID. They sit
on invisible thrones; but no earthly kings of
the past or present exert powerful an in
fluence on men as do these humble disciples.
None have such honor, dignity, reward and
majesty. And they rule by serving.
80. That We may eat and drink at my table
in my kingdom" This was a symbol of the
highest dignity and closest intimacy with the
king of kings. And sit on thrones, judging
(ruling over governing, as the judges Of old
did in Israeli the twelve tribes (the whole
body of Israel" Just when and how this
shall be fulfilled we may not know. But what
ever Christ's kingdom shall be, OF that tn ~
shall be part; they shall partake of his joys,
81. Simon, Simon" The name is repeated
to impress the Importance of what follows.
Satan hath desired to have YOU" has asked,
expressing his strong desire II thus he
could overthrow the very rock on which the
church was to be built That he may sift
you as wheat" That he may toss and shake
you up. by temptations, prosecutions, dangers
and alarms, Ike wheat tossed into the wind
by the winnowing fan so that you shall fall
away from the faith as the chaff and dust
are blown away from the threshing floor.
81. But have prayed for thee" with the
efectual. fervent prayer Of the righteous man.
That thy faith fail not" that you be found
true wheat, and only your chan be blown
away Peter had great need Of this sitting.
And when thou art converted" Turned back
from thy sin. and made a new man. like gold
tried In the fire. Strengthen Establish. con-
firm In the faith thy brethren" who will pass
through similar trials. Compare Job /: 8. The
warning left a deep impression on Peters
mind
SS. Lord. l am ready to go with thee"
The Greek order lays the emphasis on with
thee. II did not seem possible to Peter that
he could fail.
"a. II tell thee. Peter" the rock 1.-The cock
shall not crow" which was usually about 3
o'clock in the morning. Thou shalt thrice
deny" From Mark IA: 30. 81 we learn that
Peter Indignantly and vehemcntly protested
against this statement; and all the apostles
Joined with him in declaring that they would
die before they would deny him.
30. When / sent you" etc. Hitherto the
apostles had depended on Jesus, personally,
aud every necessary want was supplied.
~. But now, he that hath purse" ETC.
Hereafter you are to work under other cir
c'imstances. amid opposition, and hatred, and
prosecutions Therefore, provide your own
living, work with your hands, use every proper
means. He that hath no sword" etc.
Rather. as revised version. he that hath no
purse from which to buy a sword let him even
sell his cloak to get one
~. This that is written lin Isaiah So: i2)
must yet be accomplished (fulflled) In me-"
me hour was at hand when he would be
treated as malefactor. and crucifed, and the
shepherd.