Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-01-21
The LESSON FOR SUNDAY
JESUS RGbukeS Disciples Who Ask
for Promotion in the Kingdom.
GREATNESS COMES FROM SERVICE
James and John Ask. for Places of
Prominence and Jesus Delivers to
Them Lecture on Humlity-Warns
. Against Too Much Personal Ambi.
ton. .s' %.

! ': .(By the Ieacher).
My ITriends:''
Our lesson for the coming Sunday is
intended to teach us tho principles OF
humility and modcsty. Jesus was ell
route to Jerusalem at the time of this
lesson and the happening that we will
deal with here today occurred about a
month before his crucifXion. The Sa-
vior was sorely troubled, and heavily la
den, being we'll aware that he was soon
to be crucified by the Scribes and
Pharisecs.
But suppose we read the Scripture
| lesson before we go into any further
| discussion of the subject. The lesson
| as found in the Gospel Of st. Matthew,
chapter 20. verses 1929, is as follows:
The Scripture Lesson.
II. And Jesus going UP to Jerusalem took
| the twelve disciples apart in the way. and said
unto them.
| is. Behold we 80 UP to Jerusalem and the
Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief
priests and unto the scribes, and they shaii
condemn him to death,
| 10. And shall deliver him TO the Gentiles to
| mock, and 10 scourge. and to cruelty him 4; and
the third day he shall rise again.
90. Then came to him the mother OF Iebe-
dce's children with her sons, worshipping him.
and desiring certain thing of him.
81. And he said unto her. What wilt thou
She saith unto him. Grant that these my two
| sons may sit. the one on thy right hand and
| the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
%. But Jesus answered and said. Ye know
not what ye ask. Arc ye able to drink OF the
| cup that will drink Of, and to be baptized
with the baptism that I am baptized with
They say unto him. We are able.
g. And he saith unto them. Ye shall drink
indeed of my cup. and be baptized with the
baptism that am baptized with {: but to BIT on
| my right hand. and on my left. is not mine to
give, but it shall be given to them for whom it
is prepared by my Father.
"a. And when the ten heard it. they were
moved with indignation against the two breth-
ren.
%. But Jesus called them unto him. and
said. Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles
exercise dominion over them. and they that are
| great exercise authority upon them.
26. But it shall not be SO among you, let
them be your minister.
q. And whosoever will be chief among
you let him be your servant.
%. Even rs the Son of man came not to be
ministercd unto, but 10 minister. and to give
his life a ransom for many.
THE mother Of James and John, the
sons Of zebedee, came to: him with the
request that her boys he made greatest
in heaven and that one be allowed to
sit at his right hand and the other at
his left That was a natural request
for a mother. Naturally she wanted her
sons to have places of distinction. 1t
was only natural that she should want
for them the best places.
| The mothers name was Salome. She
witnessed the execution of Jesus upon
the cross and. she was one of, the Wo-
men at the tomb on that Easter morn
ing when he arose frp:n the dead. Ac-
cording to eminent authority. James
and John were courageous enough, but
Christ. had once rebukcd them for their
ambition, and so this time they got
their mother to speak for Them
The Three Rebuked.
Then Jesus rebuked the mother and
the two disciples, telling them that II
was not within his province to grant
such a request; but that disposition OF
places was within the province OF his
Father.
Yet it was not altogether selfish
request that they made, but according
to Rev. G.. II. Knighy: Christ saw and
appreciated the kernel Of good that lay
within the husk of their ambition-a
real faith in his coming glory, Il real
love to himself and q real desire to Dc
always as near to him as they could
get"
According to the Scripture the bal
ance of the disciples were moved 10
great indignation against the sons OIL
Zcbcdce when they heard their request
II was natural that they should be mad
about it. Their veXation might have
come from two causes. They were elth-
cr anxious each and every one OF them
TO have these honors for themselves, or
else disappointed and vcXed because
any of their number should aspire 10
distinction above tile others.
In his lecture to the two disciples
who aspircd to distinction over all the
| others, Jesus took care to impress them
that the desire to be rich, famous, pop
ular, powerful, learned, strong beaun-
| full, masterful-all this may be gooo OF
bad. according to its motive. All oi
these sought for themselves, corrupt
and harm the seeker and others through
him; sought for Christs sake with an
earnest desire To please him and better
the world, all of these will be blessings.
According to Principal Rowland:
"Worldly ambition begets seltlshness
and selfshness embtters life. Worldly
ambition defeats it's own end; men IN
high positions generally find trouble
and sorrow. Everywhere there arc Ma
nolcons on q small scale-men whU ny
endeavoring to elevate themseNes'
rush hcadlong into ruin
In the lesson here Christ teaches that
in his kingdom true greatness must DC
found in self sacrificing service. Ihis
is q lesson Of profound Importance TO
us all. and should be truly learned nE
Young people, especially as they stand