The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1917-05-03

LESSON !. EAI-JOnn l3sl-l6.
GOLDEN TEXT-And whatsoever Of you
will be the chiefest, shall be servant of
all.-Mk. 10:A
This lesson is really q continuation
Of the latter part Of the lesson of last
week, for the glory Of Jesus is his I'M
selfishness whereby he wrought out re-
demption for mankind.
I. seIflshness Amid Holy Surround
lngs wv. lily. The world does not
appreciate Jesus. 1t never has. "His
own" the Jews, did not appreciate
him. We are considering him today
as he was about to depart from the
world that had despised and rejected
him to one that appreciated him (Heb.
1-6). The development. Verse 2
tells of the Satanic suggestion that
came to the heart Of Judas. In it was
personal desire, and, connected with it,
human conspiracy. The coming to
this upper room has been pointed out
by man bearing pitcher (Mk.
II :12-16), the pitcher being suggestive
Of the Holy Spirit which was about to
come in the place of the visible Christ,
and it is in the midst of such sacred
surroundings as this that Satan enters
the hearts Of students. This is sug-
gestion as to the power of environment.
Environment is an aid, but it does not
produce effective safety. No moment
is too holy for Satanic suggestion.
Jesus knew that the hour was come
when he was to depart out Of the
world. 'Having loved his own, he
loved them to the end" Even though
the Father had given all things into
his hands, still 1t was necessary for
him to teach the disciples once more,
and finally, the lesson of humility. He
knew and remembered the strife
among the disciples duke % :24-28).
Doctor Bonards famous dream, analyz.
ing zeal as being made up of ambi-
ton, pride and clements other than
the love of God is worthy of consid.
Grafton in this connection. We need
to realize the danger Of selfishness
even in our service for God. Have we
examined our motives? IF the con.
sequences of our superiority, either of
rank or ability, tempts us to shirk the
lowliest Of services, it is time for
Gods children to recall this scene, and
remember that "the servant is not
greater than his Lord" Peters strong
protest (v..8) brings out the fact that
the washing by Christ of the dis
ciples' feet was deeper than
merely the outward application
Of water (See Rom. 500.
II. Service, the Evidence Of Divine
Humility wv, 12-15). ~ This service
was tender. Jesus had all things ".
b, yet he became the servant of all.
(2) 1t was for all. All needed q wash.
ing. All the disciples needed to learn,
and all servants must learn, to obey.
(3) 1t signif1ed Sanctif1catiOn. We are
saved once for all, but we are con-
stantly being stained by our contact
with sin In the world; hence the need
of renewed cleansing. New light re-
veals new need Of cleansing. az 1t
signified deity. Jesus read the thoughts
of his disciples. He became their serv-
ant that in years to come they might
know the meaning Of service. He be-
came their example, and in years to
come they remembered his knowledge
and service. (6) 1t was for 'his own"
The disciples did not know what it
was he had done to them. Little do |
we understand oftentimes what it is |
the Lord has done to us. Jesus set |
them an example whereby he would |
remove the dirt Of crime, Self-Seeking |
and every manifestation Of selfishnesS |
from their Sustained souls. We may |
call Jesus Lord and Master, and it is |
well that we do so, for Master and |
Lord he is indeed, but, If we call him
so, let US not do aught than make him
In our lives what we call him with our
lips. The idea here emphasized has
given rise to much religious literature.
oThe Imitation of Christ" by Thomas
attempts, is the most popular book in
the world next to the Bible.
"Verily, verify, I say unto you' ",
I6). This introduction shows how inn
Dortant Christ considered his teaching
1t this point. 'The servant is not
greater than his Lord" (See Matt. 10:
"A; Luke $40; 22-27). If the Lord
,ent to this lowly service, certainly
hey, the servants, should not think it
beneath them to do likewise, nor
should the one that is sent ian apos-
ley consider himself greater than he
hat sent him. John, who wrote this
pistle, was one of the apostles guilty
f an unholy strife for power and po-
81 |