Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-05-04
LESSON FOR MAY 6
JESUS TIE SERVANT OF ALL.

LESSON TEXT-John 131-15
GOLDEN TEXT-And Whosoever of you
will be the chiefest, shall be servant of
all.-Mk. 1O:44.
This lesson is really a continuation
of the latter part Of the lesson of last
week, for the glory of Jesus is his un-
selfshness whereby he wrought out rsse
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
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 a man bearing a pitcher (Mk.
IA :l2-l6), 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 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 % :24-28).
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
cples feet was deeper than
merely the outward application
of water (See Rom. S:9). 1t also
brought out the fact ". 10Y that Jesus
knew that all present were not clean
inwardly though he may have made
the application outwardly, for he knew
who should betray him ". 1D. There
fore, said he, "Ye are not all clean"
Christ, himself, had confided the
knowledge to John especially s to the
one who was about to betray lin (See
John 13 :22-3O).
II. Service, the Evidence of Divine
Humility wv. 12-15). (1) This service
was tender. Jesus had all things ",
~, yet he became the servant of all,
(2) 1t was for all. All needed wash
Ing. All the disciples needed to learn
and all servants must learn, to obey
(3) 1t signified sanctffication. 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
signifed 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 years te
| come they remembered his knowledge
and service. (6) 1t was for "his own
| The disciples did not know what il
was he had done to them. Little dc
we understand oftentimes what it is
the Lord has done to US. Jesus sci
them an example whereby he would
remove the dirt of crime, self-seel1ine
and every manifestation of selfishness
from their Sin-Stained souls. We MAY
call Jesus Lord and Master, and it il
well that we do so, for Master anG
Lord he is indeed, but, if we call hin
so, let us not do aught than make hin
In our lives what we call him with oul
lips. The idea here emphasized has
| given rise to much religious literature
"The Imitation of Christ" by Thoma.
attempts, is the most popular book in
the world next to the Bible. No mod
| hO hod hn
Sheldon's 'In His Steps," William
Stead wrote, eff Jesus Christ Came tt
| Chicago" Still we ask not only wha
did Jesus do nineteen hundred year.
ago, under circumstances widely diff
! ferent from our own, but what would
Jesus do if he were in my place to
| day? 1t is the remembrance of wha
Jesus has once done, and the Twins
| experience of what he now is, can anC
would do if formed within u.s." tha
will give as power to five and act Tx,
him.
Verify, verify, 1 say unto you" "
| i6). This Introduction shows how i'm
| pOrtant Christ considered his teachin;
at this point. @The servant is no
greater than his Lord (See Matt. 10
"a; Luke $40; 22-27). If the Lore
bent to this lowly service, certainl,
they, the servants, should not think i
! beneath them to do likewise, no
should the one that is sent {an apos
tle) consider himself greater than h,
that sent him. John, who wrote thi
epistle, was one of the apostles guilt,
of an unholy strife for power and po
sitiOn, and deSirous of bringing fir,
down upon those who did not acknow,
edge and follow Jesus, but he becam
a marvel of love and tenderness
Knowing these things, happy are V,
# ye do them" ''If We know,"-that i
knowledge which Christ gives in re
Sponse to our asking today. eff v
do,"-that is obedience which faitl
gives to Christ.
Knowing and doing are the twin pil
lars of the Christian faith upon whicl
the house of happiness is built. Sucl
service is not egotistical.
1t is this that has proved the supe
T.ioritU of Christi anit1r oua- oil +I,o NJ