The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-07-11
LESSON FOR JULY II
GREATNESS THROUGH SERVICE.

Noi>DEN IENT-"The Son OF man also
came not to be ministered unto, but to
minister. and TO give his NE a ransom
Tor many" Mark lO:S.
This Is a time In the life OF our
Lord that vibrates with interest as
We rapidly approach his last tragic
week upon earth. At the beginning Of
his Perean ministry duke ESD We
read that Jesus "steadfastly set his
race to go to Jerusalem" Now that
journey Is nearly ended. He had
reached a place near Jericho. Know
ing the antipathy Of the rulers, those
VINO 1ourneyed with Jesus were
amazed" and some as they followed
MIN on this Journey were afraid"
". 32). Jesus, therefore, and for a
third time, plainly tells his disciples
what Is about to take place In Jeru-
salem.
The contrast of self is the distin-
gushing feature of the lesson Of
the self-seeking disciples over against
the self-renouncing Master.
Assurance q Faith.
!. The SeIf-seeking Disciples, w. 81
~. AS Jesus clearly spoke to those
who in amazement followed him he
told OF his condemnation and deliver
ance to the Gentiles; his persecution,
death and resurrection (vv. 32-3D. II
was then that James and John pre-
scented their request. Matthew tells
US (2O:20) that they made 1t through
their mother. II was an ignorant re-
quest. for they knew not what II In
volved ". 3S), nor whose II was to
grant 1t ". 40). He had spoken with
great clearness about his suffering
and death and Immediately they ask
position In his glory This may in
dictate the assurance Of their faith
In him. but 1t certainly intimates that
they did not comprehend the suffering
OF which he had been speaking. We
need to remember. however, that they
believed In that approaching hour of
his glory. They desired. though, to
have an association with him in his
power and authority, thus showing
their mixture of selfishness, though
Jesus seems to have ignored 1t. Was
this request melted by the mother?
Evidently not to a degree. for the Mas
ter addresses his reply to the dis
ciples. In that reply he does say
that to occupy such a position was
denied them, or might be quite pos
sible. What he does lay stress upon
was what was involved and that this
was not the time or place to lay EN-.
phasis. IN this new kingdom, upon any
ether idea than that of equality. Je-
sus had seemingly advanced these
two disciples, Mark 5:37; go and
1888. They may have hoped that.
the kinship Of their families would
be to their advantage. At first their
question was a general one ". 35),
then IT is more specific ". 80.
Jesus then clearly declared all that :
was involved in his pathway Of suf.
fering and propounds his question,
Are We able to drink the cup that
drink" ". SS). 1t was a heroic but
ignorant answer they made, I'VE are
able" Their language reveals the
character. however, of those who did
enter into that fellowship with him
which eventually led them to martyr
dom. He told them they should be
baptized into a strength to do and live
this life Of abandonment, but that such
a life could not command any pre-
eminence on that account. Their re
quest was otherwise correct one. "
order to share with Christ In his glor
we must share his cup and his ba
tism Of shame and suffering; see 14:3t
Matt. 26:39; John 1911; ii Til
2:12; Rom. SIT; Matt. 1924. JamI
and John ". 39) did not stop to med
ure the meaning of their requef
Even 30 we today often hear U
people make glib professions Of feat
which likewise fail under the acid IT,
Of adversely, Matt. 1856. James u
the first. Acts 1873. and John the I'd
Rev. 1:9. of the apostles to suffer
the sake of the Word Of God.
Wanted Places Of Authority.
u. The seIf-renouneino Master,
' tfSs III ohov wei " thC ihul6ud0
". AZ Of the other ten disciples
sus without any manifest impatil
calls the disciples unto him" and 10
before them their absolute equal
and yet at the same time a way Of e
altation, v. 43. Jesus is ever callir
is unto him." for he desires to lei
Us out OF lives of selfishness n
hose Of fulness and service. til
EN- were not altogether without
shness; they wanted the places o&
hority also. Once before, chaJ
J: 1886. this same controversy
risen and was again manifes
Luke 22:2D and that, too. at a
I'M OCCASION, as he announced h:sl
preaching dsah and instituted
supper. 1t was not az after P
cost that 1t became possible for
,iple to write "iD honor prelH
another" Rom 4: 10, Phil. %.
'eply Of Jesus to the indignatidI
he ten is teaching by contrast
describes the Gentle
I'd of sel'.advancement. Over ad
[ he sets forth the method oil
Son of Man" Till this present
iuch are the methods of thosam