Newark post., 1910-08-17
Sunday School Lesson
By K. S. Holmes


Lesson WI, august Fl, 1910.
IEsUS NEARING JERUSALEM.
Matt, 20: I7-34.)
Golden Text: The Son of man
came not to be ministered unto, but
to minister, and to give His life a
ransom for many" Matt. 20: 28.
The journey to Jerusalem had really
come al last. His great mission was
alnos! finished. There was still last
Instructions to give, and ne gave them
at every opportunity. The lesson be-
Gins with one of these.
THE VERSES.
Vs. y. This is only a record of a
fact. Where it happened or when is
unknown, except that it was on the
last journey. He led them all toge-
ther to the capital. He never led
them back to Galilee. One never went
back. The rest returned in smaller
groups. The interesting thing is, he
took them away from the pilgrim
throng. What he wanted to say, he
would say to them alone.
Vss. 1919 Here is the message.
Note the points as he gave them, and
in the after study remember these
verses. They were fulfilled in eyery
particular. Jesus knew his own des-
tiny-knew point by point what would
happen
/. THE Son OF man shall be be-
trayed.' Betrayal never comes from
one supposed to be an enemy. The
traitor is one regarded as friend. So
it should have been plain that some
supposed friend would prove to be a
traitor. Did this make Judas vince ?"
2. Unto the chief priests and
scribes." They were to b the benef-
ciarles OF the traitorous act. They
would get possession of Jesus. They
would condemn him to death. They
could not put him to death. The GEN
tiles must do that. Think OF it. The
most religious people in the world
would deliver the best man in the
world to be crucihed.
3. The particular Gentiles were the
Romans They did just what Jesus
said they would. The definiteness of
these two verses show that he had
power to foresee the future.
Note now how abruptly the whole
scene changes. In the face OF the sad
dest announcement, James and John,
with their mother, did most astound-
ing thing. Who do you suppose was
responsible for it? Matthew gives his
idea
vs.. 20. The mother with
her sons She must have been well
along in years. These sons were not
little boys, but they allowed the mo-
ther to put them in most unlovable
attitude. In the face of the deep sor-
row OF their friend, they let personal
ambition do an atrCcious thing
AT first she and they worshipped
and were reverential All she said was,
We desire a certain thing" OF course
Jesus knew what il was. He knew all
things. But he gave no hint that he
knew.
VS.. 21. Jesus hearkened. When did
he ever refuse t. hear? His question
was natural. 1t was brief What wilt
thou"
Her answer was astonishing 1t was
a confession of belief in him as King
of the coming Kingdom, but it was an
expression OF belief that his was to be
an earthly reign. She was ambitious.
What mother is not? Tesus had shown
her sons special marks of confidence
and regard What less could he do
than to make her sons ministers? They
should sit nearest his throne They
should have the two highest places of
trust. Was it wrong TO ask this? Jesus
did not say il was.
VS.. az. He said, Your question
shows your ignorance OF the nature OF
my kingdom" His answer is in the
plural. He joins the sons with the
mother in the answer He asks the
sons a question. Can ye drink of my
cup? Can ye be baptized, etc" We
shall hear more of that cup when he
gets to the garden of Gethsemane. Do
you remember how a few days later
he said, q am straitened because of
the baptism with which | must be bap-
tized" Cup and baptism were ter
rible words to him.
How confidently, now lgnorantly
James and John answered, I'VE are
able"
VS.. 23 Note his answer. You will
drink sure enough. You will have
part of my baptism, sure enough. He
said nothing as to their ability to bear.
Each man learned all about these
things as the years passed James
learned early.
See. too, how Jesus subordinates
himself. | cannot give what you ask.
My Father gives that. Tie prepares
those posts for those whom he
chooses. There are no ambitions to be
satisfied in my service, he says. That
ended the interview The woman was
disappointed The sons had been de-
MED Even yet we are dealt with So
We are not to ask for preferment, but
for ability to drink his cup and bear his
cross
VS.. "a This is a story of ten angry
men. James and John have been ask.
ing to be princes over us, have they!
They would be prime ministers. what
will we be, then? Judas was one OF
these complainers That came to the
knowledge of Jesus, also The debate
and fault-fnding NAV have been noisy