Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1918-04-27
LESSON FOR APRIL %
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JESUS REsuKEs sELFisHNEss

JESUS REsuKEs sELFlsHNEss
LESSON TExT-Mask s:se-sa
GOLDEN TEXT-If any man desire Z
be first, the same shall be last Of all. end
servant of aQ.-Mark 9:35. =.
DEVOTIONAL READING-I CORN
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
TEACHERS Matthew s:41-42: O:2o-0
Luke 22:24-3o.
PRIMARY AND JUNIOR LESSON
MATERIAL-Mark s:3o-N.
PRIMARY MEMORY VERsEBe kind
one to neutrality-suspicious. 4:32.
JUNIOR MEMORY verse; John 4
n.
!. The Stupidity Of seIflshness. wv
00-32). Jesus with his disciples Is on
his way to Capernaum for the last
time. He is soon to leave for Jerusa'
lem, where he Is to- die on the cruel
cross for the worlds sins. He still
seeks the way of retirement in order
to be alone with his disciples. his OBJ
ject being to lead them into the appre'
hension Of the meaning Of the cross
The teaching which was interrupted at
Caeserea by Peters rebuke Is now re-
sumed, and with definiteness he de.
clares the future event as already
present.
1. "The Son of Man is delivered into
the hands of men,"
2. "They shall kill him."
8. HE shall rise the third day."
While pressing upon them continu-
ously the fact and necessity Of the
cross. he never failed to show them
the bright side-his triumphant vic
tory over death in the resurrection.
The hearts Of the disciples were so
stepped in selfishness that they failed
to understand his teachings. If the
disciples had more definitely attended
to his teaching concerning the cross.
they would have been better prepared
for the hour of temptation which was
so soon to Overtake them.
u. The WrangIing Of Seidshness.
wv. 33-37).
1. The searching question ". 33).
The omniscient Christ knew the Sc
crets Of their hearts. The fact that
the disciples were wrangling about Of
fetal position while the Lord was fac
ing humiliation and death for them
and the whole world. shows how COM
pletely the Lord was alone in his s0r-
row.
2. The silent disciples ". 34).
They were ashamed in his presence,
because the selfishness Of their hearts
was revealed. To realize the presence
Of the Lord would shame US of much Of
our selfishness.
3. The singing rebuke wv. $3.50.
IF any man desire to be first, the
same shall be last Of all. and servant
Of ALL" The greatest among men are
those who are willing to take the low
est place and serve others. This truth
he enforced In a concrete way by plac-
ing a child in their midst. This child
was an illustration Of dependence and
ignorance. By example and word he
shows that true greatness is expressed
by willingness to aid the weak, to in
struct the ignorant and to serve those
In need. All such render service not
merely to those in need, but unto
Christ and God. True greatness, there
fore, consists not in selfseeking, but
rendering cheerful service to the
needy in the name of Christ.
lll. The intolerance Of seifIshness
wv. 38-41).
I. Johns guilty conscience ". 38).
In the light of the teaching of Jesus,
John was a little disturbed over having
forbid" a worker for Christ who did
not follow after him. Doubtless this
intolerance was in part due to jealousy
for Christ, but also a selfish ambition.
Many times Christians mistake bigotry
for zeal for Christ.
2. Whom to tolerate wv. 3041).
~ Those who are casting out devils
". 39). We should really satisfy our
selves that supernatural works are be-
ing done. Are demons being cast QUIT
However, this Is not final, as there Is a
supernatural work not Of God.
(2) Those who are not doing this
work in Christ's name ". Az. Any
worker going forth in the name Of
Christ and for the glory Of Christ,
should be given Godspeed. II he is
doing a good work. even though not In
your way, or II not a member of your
church or school. FORBID him not
". The Awful Issue Of seltishness.
wv. 42-5O).
Selfishness results In ruin to others
". 42). and also to the individual wv.
4S, As and AZ. In either case the is
sue is eternal torment in hell. Selfish
ness is opposed to God, and that which
Is opposed to God must be eternally
separated from him. Self-renuncia-
ton should be so complete that we
should be willing to abandon the most
necessary and lawful things in life
hands, feet and eyes-when they be-
come occasions for stumbling either to
ourselves or to others.