The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1918-05-02
SUNDAY SCHOOL
tesso, 6-Secord Quarter, Ma,
IL, 1918.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES
Text Of the Lesson, Mark t0:32.52-
Memory Verse, Mark to:49-coIden
Text. Phil. 2;s-commentsry Pre-.
pared by Rev. D. M. stearns.

ne for the third time told them of his
approaching suffering aud death, and
that he would rise again (vss. $3.50.
Compare 1891. 9:3l. la this passage
he describes his suiIerings more fully,
anu speaks of being Knocked, scourged,
spit upon and killed. lie knew II all
beforehand. and yet he steadfastly set
his face 60 go to Jerusalem duke
0:5l). II is one Of the greatest mer-
cies In our lives that We do not know
what is before us. but that he ever
gocth before and we can follow with
confidence In him. John l0:i.)
There IL much unbelief In the church
concerning the sufierings OF Christ.
but we must stand firmly upon his own
words In verse -, aud elsewhere :
that he came 20 give his life ransom
for many. his own self bare our sins
In his own body on the tree; he was
wounded for our transgressions,
bruised for our iniquities, and with his
stripes we are healed u Pet. 2: "a !;
lisa. % Is. o.. lie as truly suffered la
my stead. as In the stead Of Barab-
Isaac. lie was my substitute. and
made sin for me. and am made
righteous in him. ii Cor. SCI. The
cost 10 him. and the value aud efficacy
TO us of his great atOnement, Is a mat
ter we cannot mediate upon too much
or too constantly, or ever praise him
enough for, or rejoice too much in.
The request OF james aud John. In
which also. according to Matthew,
their mother took part. Is another evi-
dence Of how little they understood
him. and how they utterly failed to
grasp In any measure what he had
said about his approaching sufierings.
He and they lived In wholly differ
ent atmosphere. oh. how lonely i.c
must have been. and what depth OF
meaning there Is In his word. The
living father hath sent me. and I live
by the father. lie had been speaking
of suffering and cruel death. they
were thinking only OF earthly glory.
He knew that the way for him. and
for all his true followers. was the way
of the cross. and So he said. "Ne know
not what ye ask. Can We drink of the
cup that | drink Off And he baptized
with the baptism that | am baptized
withf" And they said we can. IL was
ms foolish as Peters Boosting that he
was ready To lay down his life for him
(John IL :3O. When we speak about
ourselves. or what we can do. or are
a.. 10. f.r
selves, We ere so unlike him who said,
l can do nothing Of myself. | seek not
mine own will. seek not mine own
glory. IL must surely be OF the great
adversary. the devil. that there Is even
among Christians. So much selfish am
bition and self seeking Now we see
the ten displeased with the two am
bilious ones. and our Lord has To give
them all another lesson on humility.
reminding them that even he. their
Lord and Master. came not TO be min
istered unto. but 60 minister (vss. 30
45). We do well TO sing, my highest
place is lying low at my redeemer's
feet; and 60 pray Lord keep me down
where I cannot fall. Humility Is Christ
like. but pride and selfish ambition Is
OF the devil. II is the purpose OF the
Lord 60 humble all lofty works. 10
stain the pride of all glory, and To
bring into contempt all the honorable
OF the earth, 10 show that all the glory
OF man IN rs fading flower. that the
Lord alone may be exalted lisa. 2:ll,
II; % SO; 40:6-s; Pet. "a. PSI. We
may anticipate that time of his king
dom by letting him now have absolute
control In our hearts and lives, and all
things subdHed unto him (Phll. 3:2D.
The remainder of our lesson chapter
tells Of the healing of blind Bartimeaus
as he was having Jericho; I'm Matthew
the record " that of two blind men
healed as he left Jericho: there Is no
contradicties for II there were two
there was certainly one. In Luke the
account tells Of blind man healed as
he entered Jericho. and then say that
he entered aud passed through Jericho
Uuke Is 30; 19:D. Still there is no
discrepancy or contradiction. Let the
records stand as written and see one
uiluu NUN ntbi'u uH ht thNtith Nhe
city and two as he left II, for there
was no lack OF blind men 10 be healed.
In every case Of healing. feyers, or
demons, or blind. or lame, or dumb, or
deaf, we may see suggestion OF the
various maladies OF the soul, for we
are all by nature consumed by some
fever. or controlled by some demon, or
blind 20 the truth. but the same Jesus
Is ready 10 heal II we are willing 10 be
healed lie In saying TO us, what wilt
thou that I should do unto theef and
he Is ready TO say. 20 thy way, thy
faith hath made thee whole; or re-
ceive thy sight. thy faith hath saved
thee; or be II unto thee even as thou
wilt But there must be on our part
the heart cry that will not cease. the
seeking with the whole heart that Will
not be discouraged nor take any denial.
the importantly Of the widow, the per
sistence Of the blind men.