Middletown transcript., 1914-04-18

| uOA1ul WOIuS LudI ever I6l1 ITOm HIS
lips, as we shall see If we follow all
of this part of our lesson series.
Multitude Rebuked.
!. A Caution, v. 26. On another oc.
casion, John 6:26, Jesus rebuked the
multitude which followed him. This
multitude who pressed about him did
not realize what was involved in a
true following. They were Influenced
by the psychology Of the crowd, and
did not count the cost Jesus does not
mean that our discipleship will lessen
our love for our kin (Eph. 5:25, 1881;
6:1-D, but as compared with our love
for him 1t is aversion. See Matt.
1O:37; Phil. 3:7, 8; Ps. 1925, 26. Aver.
sion is to turn aside, and the Master
told us that those who shall turn aside
thus shall have an abundant reward,
see Mark 10:28-30. Jesus Christ must
| be supreme in a Christians affections.
He who freely gave his own self John
3:16, Phil. 2:8) has a right to demand
like devotion to himself, and as
men have approached nearest to such
a conservation he has exalted them.
The Cross means the shame, sorrow,
pain and death of self and all that lies
in the pathway of loyalty and devo-
tion to him. II Tim. 3:12, Acts 14:22.
Our cross is that particular thing
which crosses the path into which God
is calling us. To avoid it that we may
escape the shame is to be disloyal to
him, therefore he cannot be
my disciple" This frequently costs
much, but has an abundant reward,
John 1915.
II. A chaIIange, w. 27-32. % The
instruction, v. 27. AS If to make this
caution more solemn, Jesus sets be-
fore the multitude the manner of his
approaching death and the condition
of discipleship. He here lays down
the first declaration of the severe
terms Of discipleship, but explains
the meaning Of his words. There is a
new meaning of this passage sug-
gested by the Revised Version of v.
33, so likewise" is rendered, so
therefore" Our Lord d,Ies certainly
insist that those who build tower or
conduct a war must count the cost; so,
likewise, they who follow him. But
by this change the opposite thought is
suggested, viz, that those who follow
him must do so whatever the cost may
be. (2) The Illustrations. (a) The
builder of a tower, w. 29, 30, and (b)
The King at war, w. 81, 80. Too often
we present to men what is to be gained
by Christian discipleship. The gain
does outweigh the cost, but as wise
builders we must present the cost side
Of the transaction. The man who
builds the tower is master of his own
enterprise and the king need take coun.
sci but of himself. Our Lord as the
Master Builder and the great King can
build his towers or conduct his cam
paigns only through workers and sol
diers upon whom he can depend abso-
IuteIy. This throws light on the con-
Meeting therefore" of verse 33.
HomeIy Illustrations.
III. The Conclusion, w. 1885. We
have already indicated the conclusion
towards which Jesus was leading with
terrific logic, and by looking back to
the first verse of the lesson we see
what it was he was seeking to impress
upon the minds of the thoughtless
multitude Again the Master uses
one OF those homely illustrations
gathered from the common expert
ences of life which he employed so
frequently to amplify or to drive home
a great truth There must be quality
as well as devotion to this disciple
ship. Salt preserves from corruption,
seasons insipidity freshens and sweet
ems. These qualities are referred to
abundantly by Scriptural writer's. Salt
is highly priced in the East. The
natural man is presented also as be-
ing corrupt, Gen. GIL; 8:21; Ps. 14:2'
8; Eph. 2:1-3. The remedy for this is
the active presence of his disciples
among their fellows The true dis
ciple is like salt with a good SAVIOR.
On the other hand, salt that has lost
it's SAVIOR is not even fit for dung
hill, but is thrown out and trodden I'M
der foot of men. So our Lord sets
aside that disciple of his who has lost
his usefulness. This expresses our
Lords contempt and scorn Of those
who lack, not merely certain kind
of character, but those whose profes- |
sion and appearance would indicate a
better expectation. Ears are made
that we may hear; happy is that man
who has learned to listen to Jesus.
This lesson presents the severity
of the claims of Jesus. Irresist1bly he
drew the multitudes to himself. Wit |
ness the crowd following him as he
leaves the house of the ruler. But he
paused and by his teaching sifted |
them, and seemingly made it difficult |
to follow him. Those who would fol- |
low must forsake all, and renounce all, |
even the tenderest of human ties, yea, |
even life itself must not be counted OF
value. There must be absolute un- |
qualified loyalty. To bear a cross Is
to renounce ease and rights in the in
terest Of others. The disciple must |
empty himself and enter the life of !
fellowship and suffering with his Mas !
ter in his work Of 'redeeming men and
III -T.f l5r-rvt