The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-05-18
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MAY %.
Subject; Jesus Teaches Humility, Mark
X" 35-45-Golden Text, Mark ", As
Memory Verses, 43-45 - Commentar,
on the Days Lesson.

~ "
x" 36-45-Golden Text. Mark ", a.
Memory Verses, 43-45 - Commentar,
on the Days Lesson.
!. An ambitions request Tvs. 9J-37). s.
james and JOHN According to Matt
~; ~, they made this request through
thelr mother, Salome. She was one OF
the constant attendants of our Lord. and
now falling on her knees, made her re
quest. Nothing could have been more i'll
timed than this selfish petition when He
was going forth to His death. "Sons OF
lebedee.") The father, though named
never appears in gospel history after then
discipieship, from which it is inferred that
he was either dead or of an insignificant
character" Saying However faulty
the conduct of Salome appears on this oc
caslon. she manifested true, undyinp
love for the Saviour in the most trying
times of His. subsequent sufferngs. She
was not solely attracted to Him by the
ties OF seit-interest or hopes OF royal boun
ty. She stood 10y Him to the last at the
cross, and was among the earliest wht
came to embalm Him at the grrve. Mas
ter Matthew says that Sa,omc came
worshiping Him She recognized Him a.
the divine King-the Messiah. Her rev
erence was none the less real from the fact
that she came desiring favor at Hi
hand.
36. "What would ye?" He could moi
promise in general way to grant their re
quests; they must state definitely what il
is they desire. Here is an argument in ia.
vor of special prayer. 81. Grant unto
u.s. This ,reguest:, l. Displayed their ig
oaDS RoGaTSe or Of G9rss rsd6 p2nI ia ,. Ihey we were
temporal Messiah. 2. Was marked by for
wardness and presumtion. 3. Was charae.
terized by worldliness. 1t apparently
looked no further than the present life.
ii. Christ's reply Tvs. 3S-i0). 3S. "Ye
know not You do not know the nature
Of your request, nor what it would Involve
fou suppose that If granted it would be
attended only with honor and happiness,
whereas. it would require much suffering
and trial. How often is it that our de
sires, and perhaps even our prayers, would
ruin us if granted? Hence Christians are
generally, with much justice, careful how
they specify before God in PRAYER the par
tlcular blessing they desire. They may in
their ignorance ask things that God sees
not best. The cup To drink of a cup
often, in the Scriptures, signifies to be al
hlcted, or sometimes to be punished (ls
81: II, %; Psa. 70: 81. The figure is tax
en- from a feast, where the master OF the
household distributes to his children and
servants their allowance The cup" is
used to represent the dispensatol oi
providence; the Almighty as our common
Father appointing to each OF lis our share
Of JOY or suffering.
80. 1--WE can" This was the decision OF
the two brothers. The half unconscious,
yet presumptuous reply was no doubt Ut.
tered under the impression that the s,rug
gle was to take place at Jerusalem, IN
which. perhaps they Were, to fight by lis
side, and they declared themselves ready
for the trial. Their reply was simply TIE
languagc of human tirmness. "Ac shall,
indeed, etc You shall undergo sulferines
patterned after Nine They had yet to
learn how serious their words were; after
cup and to be baptized with that baptism.
To st. James was given strength to be
steadfa5t unto death and to be the first
martyr OF the apostolic band (Acts y: y.
Although John survived all of the apostles
and died natural death, yet all antiqui'
ty ascrbes to him the glory OF living in
the spirit OF martyrdom IRey. /: 81.
40. Not mine to give As a special IA
vor. This must not be understood to
mean that Christ does not reward His fo.
lowers, for such a statement would be at
variance with the uniform testimony Of
the Scriptures Matt. 25: 3l-l0; John 5:
22-30). Rewards and punishments will be
given in accordance with certain fixed
rules and principles. In the distribution
is shown. For whom; prepared The
true meaning is that such distinction could
not be given except to those "for whom
it is prepared" And for whom is heav
enly honor preparedy Not to every one
who saith Lord, Lord; but to the holy in
true circumcision tRom. 2: 20; Phil 81:
81, to the. one who enters in at the strait
gate Matt. :: l3, IL and who presses
toward the mark" Phil. 8: IA.
III. "A lesson in humility Tvs. il-4J)
A., The ten The other ten apostles
Heard it, Heard of this bold request
made by, saIiome and her sons. Much dis
pleased Moved with Indignation. The
sons OF Iebedee had been in better social
position than most OF their brethren, aad
this attempt TO secure a pre-emineace OF
honor kind!ed a storm or Jealousy. f..
Saith unto them" Our Lord soothcd
their jeal lousy by assuring them that in
His kingdom there were no lordships. "Ac'
counted to rue, etc" That is, those who
are in position TO exercise authority and
dominion, such as princes and governors,
use their power to crafty their worldly
ambitions and their love of ruling. 43
Not so among YOU" Or. W The princi.
pies of My kingdom are entirely different
and are peculiar to themselves. There are
to be no ranks and no high sounding titles
All are to be on a level-the rich the poor,
the bond, the free, the learned anu the un.
learned. He will be the most distinguished
who shows the greatest humility. Our
Lord does not here mean that there shall
be no orders in the Christian Church. or
even in heaven. But these church orders
are founded on the principle of service
rather than lordship. The officer of tha
church is truly the servant OF the church,
and ii he exercise authority from any other
motive he is guilty of worldly ambition.
He is repeating the misdoings of James and
John. will be great" There is holy
ambition which every true Christian should
possess, an ambition not for place, but for
ability to serve.
Al. The chiefest." The only superiority
here to be sought is n superiority in labors
and suffering for the common good II
any would be great let him be the great.
est servant. 45. Game; to minister"
Jesus points to Himself as an example for
them to follow He was not a self-seeker
and came not to be ministered unto; but
He'cam to minister-to serve. This was
the character of His life. The Son of Man
mAisters to the sons of men. "To give
His life The Son of Man showed Him.
self the greatest of all by enduring the
greatest. sufferngs and making the great.
est sacrifice of all "a ransom" The lit,
eral meaning is a price paid for the re.
demption of captives. Christ died in the
place of sinners. "For many" This does
not always mean many. All the great
poets OF the world are not many. But the
persons for whom Christ died are many
llncalcuably numerous; not one has been
left cut