Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-05-03

will be the chiefest shall be servant OF
all.-Mk. 1914.
This lesson is really a 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.
|. seIfishness Amid Holy Surround
ings wv. 1-11). 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 cut
by man bearing a pitcher (Mk.
14:12-16), 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
the hearts of students. This is a 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 it 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 % :24-2S),
Doctor Bonard's famous dream, analyz-
Ing zeal as being made up of ambi,
ton, pride and elements 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 ". 81 brings out the fact that
the washing by Christ of the dis
clples' feet was deeper than
merely the outward application
of water (See Rom. 8:9).
II. Service, the Evidence of Divine
Humility wv. 12-15). Q) This service
was tender Jesus had all things ".
-, vet he became the servant of all.
W 1t was for all. All needed a wash
ing. All the disciples needed to learn.
and all servants must learn, to obey.
(3) 1t signified 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. (4) II
slgnlf1ed deity. Jesus read the thoughts
OF his disciples. He became their sery-
ant that in years to come they might
know the meaning of service. He be.
came their example, and in wears To
come they remembered his knowledge
>N ~ 'ANS' wv IL WAS IOr HIS OWn.'
me disciples did not know what it
was he had done to them. Little do
we understand oftentimes what 1t is
the Lord has done to US. Jesus set
them an example whereby he would
remove the dirt of crime, self-seekina
and every manifestation of selishness
from their Sin-stained souls. We NAV
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.
Inc Imitation of Christ" by Thomas
q kempis, is the most popular book in
the world next to the Bible.
"Verily, verify, 1 say unto YOU" ".
l6). This introduction shows how i'm
portant Christ considered his teaching
at this point. "The servant is not
greater than his Lord'' (See Matt. 10:
"a; Luke $40; 22-27). If the Lord
bent to this lowly service, certainly
they, the servants, should not think it
NNANoth tiiNll W w likewise, nOr
should the one that is sent Can apos-
tle) consider himself greater than he
that sent him. John, who wrote this
eplstle, was one of the apostles guilty
OF an unholy strife for power and DO
Sltlon, and DESTROYS of bringing fire
down upon those who did not acknowl-
edge and follow Jesus, but he became
marvel of love and tenderness.
Knowing and doing are the twin pill
ars OF the Christian faith upon which
he house of happiness is built. Such
service is not egotistical.
1t is this that has proved the supe-
'iority of Christianity over all the re-
igions of the world.
Ii we seek to do service for others,
hen we have the right to call Jesus
MASTER and Lord but if we seek honor
'ather than TO no bumhIy, rcaf,l wa