The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-08-13

they should cit, the one on the right
hand and the other on the left hand
of the Great King when His Kingdom
should be established.
This request drew from the Great
Teacher the suggestion that His low
ing and ambitious disciples had, per-
haps, not fully counted the cost Of
such exaltation. He inquired II they
were willing to drink Of His cup or
ignominy and reproach and II they
were willing TO be baptized with HIS
baptism. into His death--the sacrifice
of all earthly interests. They had
counted the cost, and promptly re-
sponded az to their willingness. They
had learned we'll the lessons Of the
Great Teacher. He assured them that
with this willingness OF mind the
privilege would be theirs OF sharing
His ignominy and His death and of
sitting with Him on His Throne. But
as respects the chief positions, they
were not at His disposal. At the con-
clusion OF the testings of His peo-
pie, those positions OF highest honor
In the Kingdom next to Himself will
be given according to the just stand
ards which the Father has prepared
and established. How we can re-
joice with those apostles In the full
ness of their conservation and In the
assurances Of the Master! And We
also should strive by faithfulness to
attain a place with the Master in His
Throne. as members of His Body, the
Church.
The ambition of James and John
was shown In their desire for places
of special nearness to the Lord. Jesus
did not reprove them specifically, but
Indirectly. When the other ten heard
how these two had sought to bespeak
the chief places of honor they were
indignant. The Master took ad-
vantage of the incident to show how
different Is Gods judgment from that
of men. With men the aggressive
and powerful hold the lordship and
dominion over others, but In the d.
vine arrangement the order IL re-
versed. God will honor most and put
In the highest positions. the humble,
the submissive, the meek. On this
incident the Lord based a general In
struction to His followers on the me-
cessity for humility. We are to take
the Divine standpoint and honor most
In the Church those who most serve
the Church, and not those who de-
mand service and honors and seek
self-exaltation. Our Lord pointed to
His own course as an illustration:
they acknowledged Him as their Mas
ter and yet no one served them 80
much as did He. Indeed. He came
into the world not to be served, but to
serve others, even to the extent OF
laying down His life as the ransom
price for the many, for the world. to
be applied for their release from sin
and death condemnation in Gods due
time-during the Messianic Kingdom.
Journeying on the Master had an
opportunity of exemplifying His posi-
ton as a servant. Two blind men.
learning that He was passing, exercis-
ed such faith that they hailed Him as
the Messiah, The Son of David, entreat-
ing Mercy, Help, Relief. Instead OF
passing them by, saying You are only
blind beggars, anyway, the Master
stopped and called them to Him and,
in response to their request, touched
their eyes, and Immediately they re-
ceived sight. Other Scriptures indi-
cate that the Great Teachers miracles
were not performed without cost to
Himself. Virtue Vitality went out
of Him and healed them all" (Luke
SID
He who was rich, for our sakes
became poor. humbling Himself to
serve the humblest and poorest un.
fortunates! Here we have an illus
tration of the spirit of meekness, the
spirit of service, which must charac'
terize the hearts, and, IN some de-
gree, control the lives Of all true fol.
lowers, disciples, OF the Great Teach
er. II 1t Is not In our power to open
the eyes of the physically blind, II
Is in our power to help many to a
clearer insight into the things OF God
which the natural eye hath not seen
nor ear hcard-the things which God
hath in reservation for them that love
Him and that, loving Him, follow In
the footsteps of Jesus.-(1 Cor. 2:9)
Let us. then, seek the true, God-given
ambition; but let US specially seek tc
know and to do the will OF our Father
| in heaven.