The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-21

Y sa,araliei passages In ST Mark 5 and
III Luke g. we may trace very clearly
md easily our Lords dealings win
This disciples In drawing them away
FROM their werIdilness and seit-seek-
xng % Il mere spiritual conception and
Understandings III fis Kingdom Ne
NrsiiHary reader, In passing Peter
Il ncbIc confession ot Chrlst aud our
u herds hearty CoTlsnie ndatlon al IL.
4 p0inting to its divine source, wouid
SHhink that II contained ali the elef
&msnfs of spiritual surrender 10 him,
&and d fat determination to follow.
Sstn All things. the master ite believed
no be the son ~ GoG. BGt Fcter mad
Tkery dim and uncertain know ledge ut
what his confession meant, t4@ mad
xhs intellectual conviction al the per
eon OF Christ but he had not arrived
Ut the know ledge the spiritual nature
and demands Of the kingdom with
In. As We read his wonderful cen
fessaon. ''TheH art the CHRIST, the son
Of the living God ANA then turn a
few pages 10 81, Mark Il; II. and
see the words. Then began he to
curse and ~ swear, saying, know
y not the man o. whom We speak. We
nee an awful chasn too deep and
8tErrsble to explain by any ordinary
! reasons There Is, however an eN-
y PLANTATION and We may ind IL by
careful reading al the intervening
i narrative Every effect has a cause.
Immediately after the confession
4 which Peter made on behalf Of all
1 the disciples. Christ began 10 reveal
n to them the nature Of the Kingdom he
came to establish on earth 1t Mas
THE very opposite OF the human idea
LOT purely worldly kingdom al tenn
q pprai power. of political freedom and
Victory over all enemies and oppres-
#8&fon. Such Kingdom was the day
Il dream of many jew and had ia
IN conception much that was pleasing
and To be desired. If thu Jews who
came to the Lord 10 trap him about
sMfhe tribute tax had been called upon
#s& 10 follow him te establish such a
Kingdom they would no doubt have
Sx0ne SO with a courage equal to any
s#ahe world had seen. All their. dislike
and objections would have been re
|8t1osed. But what would they have
Framed? Even had they conquered
E9&hey would have established only an
pther earthly Kingdom fun of wick
&dness and self-seeklng. Solomon and
#s&1Avtd had been over such a kingdom.
$ARd when Jesus held the silver coin
EsNhtch represented the tribute money
R#fn his hand it clearly Indicated what
M1k had come to, humiliation and sub
The prophets had foretold
EthK. Rebellion against Gods spiritual
&3AMs had Withdrawn Gods protection
Fund delivered them into the hands Of
EHthefr enemies and the same spirit Of
now refused to receive His
San and. through Him, the message
s ~ Gods truth. The same spirit
90uld soon bring about the destrue
tx0n of any Kingdom they might ts-
n 4AhlIsh.
sSe 1T. Peters confession showed q
high attainment OF faith hut his error
N11as that he thought Christ would use
~ Ms divine power to establish world
f@k Kingdom by force in which he and
1.-THE disciples would occupy positions
of influence and power This material
&onception filled his heart with self
nv seeking ambition, the very opposite
n 10 that OF Christ 1t was perishablc
62hecatase ii contained the elements of
R1<3ecay In itself, His Masters king
fNlOm i'm the hearts OF men would not
erish because It's principles We're
sNfruth and therefore eternal Not by
Il might nor by power. but by my spirit,
n saith the lord Of Hosts. This Is
D The mighty working principle OF the
M Kingdom and of the believing and
Nietorious life.
|SNSS 10 aS soon as Peter confessed him
&*$D be the Son of God. he began To
ssyeveal to the disciples the nature OF
his Kingdom. 1t began with a cross
ssg0r tts Founder and Head After CON
S4cU8jon comes new revelation. When
- man reaches a point of exalted
.S4ntth God shows him higher and
HgR0Ater truth. The Kingdom was to
be founded on divine love and self
II HAcrifice. No other power could con-
M S4rAin men and women to become
81 willing subjects IF the kingdom.
lxts
LEVIN weak human judgment against
the wisdom Of God. This shall not
&a&e," he said. Then Christ told him
&414at his spirit belonged TO the world
md to men and saYoured not of the
Sthingse of God lie laid down the
reat principle which men stumble at
3n-day that all men entering his king
Il dom must deny themselves and take
Cup the cross.
y Even after such plain revelation
while ON the way to Jerusalem, they
IN discussed the absorbing topic, who
u should occupy the highest position in
che new kingdom, and when he asked
them what they had talked about they
were ashamed to tell him.
k A greater tdst came when they
IL same down from the Mount Of Trans
X Nguration. The three chosen disciples
were with him. Peter did not APP
XsREAE 10 any auNdHlAkt On the mount
sEHte heart was too fun of himself. II
!M41 significant that both James and
1Ohu wrote SO strongly afterwards
Il fheir warnings against the world
ESGp8fit. Love not the world, said
k#OnA. The friendship Of the world is
1nmity against God" said the other.
kNvhen they reached the foot OF the
mount while the illumination Of the
" 6fyine glory WAS still upon the face Of
GhxiSt, they found the disciples
81 STIMULATED and confused by their fall
EzWBe 10 heal a sick boy After Christ
md performed the miracle they asked
~ Vim why they could not do IL Such
pOger would be useful In the new
Ss Kingdom. He then taught another
truth. Only fervent prayer
could control evil spirits and perform
&N0nders. Their preparation had been
M1k0or for such work. Debating their
u 6oInsh and ambitious desires was not
He way to get spiritual power
M Again they were taught the lesson
sNUf the danger OF earthly possessions
1Fid honor.- A rich young ruler came
&Xk0 him 10 know the way OF life. He
nd been faithful and religious Jesus
Viewed him HE pointed out the saeri-
me which would gain a high spiritual
TaAce for him. Gel rid of your riches,
AeN4 the poor aud then come and fol
S1Ow ME into poverty and hardships.
IN disciples We're amazed. Perhaps