The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-07-09

came not to be ministered unto, but to
and to give his life a ransom
for many" Mark 10:45.
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 9:51) we
read that Jesus "steadfastly set his
face 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
who journeyed with Jesus we're
amazed" and some as they followed
him 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 of Faith.
!. The SeIf-seeking Disciples, W. SO.
~. 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 wv. 32-34. 1t
was then that James and John pre-
sented their request. Matthew tells
us (20:2O) that they made it through
their mother. It was an ignorant re-
quest, for they knew not what it in
volved ". 38), nor whose it was to
grant it ". 4O). He had spoken with
great clearness about his suffering
and death and Immediately they ask
a position in his glory. This may in
dictate the assurance of their faith
in him, but it certainly intimates that
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 selfshness, though
Jesus seems to have ignored it. 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
other idea than that of equality. Je
sus had seemingly advanced these
two disciples, Mark 5:37; 90 and
14:33 They may have hoped that
the kinship of their families WOULD
be to their advantage. At first thei1
question was a general one ". 35)
then it is more specific ". 80.
Jesus then clearly declared all tina
was involved in his pathway Of suf
fering and propounds his question
Are We able to drink the cup that
drink" (v. 38). 1t was heroic bu
ignorant answer they made, eve ar
able'' Their language reveals tn
! character, however, of those who di'
enter into that fellowship with hin
, which eventually led them to martyr
, DOM He told them they should b.
baptized into strength to do and liv
this life of abandonment, but that sucl
a life could not command any pre-
! eminence on that account. Their re
> quest was otherwise a correct one. Il
o order to share with Christ in his glor
r we must share his cup and his bal
tism of shame and suffering; see 1896
Matt. 26:39; John 1911; II Tin
2:12; Rom. SIT; Matt. 1924. Jane
and John w. 39) did not stop to mea:
e ure the meaning of their reques
Even so we today often hear tn
people make glib professions of fealt
: which likewise fail under the acid ties
: Of adversely, Matt. 26:5 James wa
. the first, Acts 1878, and John the las
Rev. 10, of the apostles to suffer fo
the sake of the Word of God.
Wanted Places of Authority.
II. The SeIf-renouncing Master, "
l. 4145. In answer to the fndignatio
n ". AZ of the other ten disciples j.
d sus without any manifest impatienc
h calls the disciples unto him" and sci
It before them their absolute equalit
l, and yet at the same time a way Of e.
II altation, " 43. Jesus is ever calm
It us unto him." for he desires to lea
y us out of lives of selfishness int
v those of fulness and service. Thes
e ten were not altogether without sci
II ishness; they wanted the places of a
i thority also. Once before, chaptt
1896, this same controversy ha
arisen and was again manifesto
duke 22:24) and that, too, at a sc
IF emn occasion, as he announced his a
n preaching death and Instituted tt
d supper. 1t was not till after Pent
It cost that it became possible for di
a ciple to write Gin honor prefer OF
b. another" Rom. 4 10, Phil. 2:3. Til
Re reply of Jesus to the Indignation
r the ten is a teaching by contrast al
Or accurately describes the Gentle met
r. cd of self-advancement. Over again
e. it he sets forth the method of tt
le "Son of Man. Till this present d;
st such are the methods of those wi
are of this world only.
In his kingdom it is different, gres
ness is inverse ratio until we fiji
r, the greatest is the one who serv
ne most perfectly. In emphasizing til
a 1orco " 45) IT. is nuite common