The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-19

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Golden Text-The Son of man came
not to be minisiered unto. but to min
# lister, and 70 give his lie ransom
I Cor many.--Matt. 20: rs.
Historical Settlng-Time-M
A. ID. SO Place-~Porhap not lar
from Jericho
The Lesson Text i'm Everyday Dress.
One day while Jesus was on his
way to Jerusalem, the wife of Zebe-
dec, accompanied by her two sons.
James and John. came to him, and,
Frustrating herself at his feet asked
that her SONS be given the highest
places OF honor in his Kingdom, which.
II was believed, he was about to set
ap. Jesus, knowing that IL was not
only her own desire but the ambition
nf her sons also, turned To- them and
said. you do not know what you
ask Are you able 10 drink of the
cup that ] shall drink of-to pass
through what | shall pass through
10 endure the baptism of suffering
which I shall endure" Their an
swer proved that they indeed did not
know what they were asking; We
are able" Then said Jesus, You
shall indeed drink of my cup; you
shall share my lot Of suffering; but
the highest places in my Kingdom are
not like the places in earthly king
king among hts friends al Will, but
they are reserved for whom they have
been prepared: meaning that they
are not to be obtained by mere APP
pertinent, as king appoints men to
office, but by holmes. In other words,
1t lis he that becomes most like Christ
that occupies the position earest to
Christ in his kingdom,
some one overheard the converse
nj Ttl 1 -
disciples ana they were ali very in
uignanI, although every one OF them
cherished the same selfish ambition.
sesus knowing their thoughts, called
them to MIN and said to them: You
know now II Is ia the Kingdoms OF
the world--how those who SIT in the
e seats OF authority lord IL over their
I people, ana love 10 snow their author
tty. but this is not the way in my
Kingdom. Indeed, it is just the re-
verse: TOR he that would be great IN
my Kingdom must be the servant OF
4 his fellowmen, and he that would DE
greatest OF all must he the bondslaFe
, tI his IeIlowmen. For even the Son
of man. who came down from heaven,
came not to be waited upon by men,
but TO serve men, even TO the extent
of paying with his life the price OF
the dsayerance of men
AS Jesus continued on his way to-
ward Jerusalem, his little band was
daily augmented by pilgrims VINO
were bound for the Passover. and by
the time he reached Jericho his toll
lowing had become multitude AS
ne passed out of the city two blind
$ feggars. one OF whom was named
Bartimeus, heard the commotion of
the accompanying throng and asked
what il meant. Some one told them
that il was Jesus of Nazareth. Evil
DENLY they had not only heard or
Il. the Nazarene before. but they had In
some way become convinced that ne
was the Messiah; and they were no
sooner told that 1t was Jesus than
they set up a loud cry for mercy
Son of David. Jesus. have mercy
aspon me-" Some well meaning but
pfficious persons in the crowd, deslr-
ing TO protect the Master from an
noyance, babe the men hold their
tongues; but they only cried the more
yehemently. Presently the Master
stopped and directed some one to call
i the men; whereupon those VINO had
moment before told the beggars to
hold their peace FASTENED to them ana
said, IAN right, cheer up, he Is call
ing for YOU In an instant Barti-
neug had sprung to his feet, and cast
ing aside his loose outer garment mas
tened with his companion as fast as
he could De EutuGQ into 1its 4HhStSs .
presence What would you have me
10 do for YOU" asked Jesus. Lord,
that | might receive my sight, And
Jasus touched his eyes and said, 60
yr,1Tr yy-av--yu,1r- f7ttff-i ts. made yea
whole" And Immediately his eyc-
sight. as well as that OF his COM
panion. was restored, and he went his
way But his way was now 10 foiio"
Jesus.
Questions 10 Get mt the Meaning.
The mother OF James and John
came to Jesus with her two sons TO
ask a favor What did she wanty
What had encouraged her to ask sucn
favore apparently she was the
sister Of his mother Moreover
James and John. with Peter, had for
some time formed the innermost cir
ole Of the Masters dsscipies.) Was
her desire shared by her sons? Was
their ambition anything more than
selfish desire for preferment? How
did our Lord answer her request?
Notice the use of the word cup in
the Ribie~-the cup OF suffering the
cup OF JOY l"my cup runneth over }.
the cup OF salvation. They wanted to
share in his glory Would they have
been so anxious to share in his glory
ii they had known through what seas
Il OF blood and FIRE they would have to
go with him before he should come
into his glory?
The Father had provided that the
places next to Christ should be filled
by those who were most like Christ,
and therefore he could not use these
places as so many plums to be divided
among his friends. What effect did
this incident have upon the other dis
ciplesg How natural II is to criticise
Others for doing the very things we
have done ourselves, or to rebuke
Others for expressing those feelings
which we have kept in our own
hearts.
But while Jesus rebuked their sell
fish ambition, ne would have them
understand that the sin or ambition
IL not in desiring 10 be truly great
s andg ood but in desiring preferment
above our felI0wmen for the gratifi-
cation Of our selfish nature. And SO,
instead OF warning them against the
desire to be great, he proceeds 10 tell
them how. they may be great What
Is true greatness? tSee Heart of the
I.sson.) Note that while the great
q ones in his Kingdom are those who
serve their fellowmen, the greatest in
his Kingdom are those who make
themselves absolute slaves FOR their
feiiowmen.
Was there ever a truly great man
WHO spent his time looking out ror
" his own interests? Was there ever a
truly great man who did not sacrt-
fice himself for his people? VINO.
- L.