The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1921-01-20
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

Matt. 20:17-28.
Read Mark 10:35-45; Luke 18:31-34
The Son of man came not to be minis
tered unto, but to minister, and to
give His life a ransom for
many-Matt. POPS.
THE PRESS.
The heights upon which Jerusalem
crouched like dirt-colored lion loom
ed above the heads of the marching
pilgrims to the Passover feast. Jesus
knew as did no other what the out
would be and His clear mind was run
ming ahead into the details that pres
emily burst from His lips with the re-
vealing of what underlay those swift
strides that took Him ahead of all the
rest. Intent upon His mental picture
and busy with the fashioning of its
cross and its final goal of resurrection
He forgot all things else and the feet
kept time with the thinking so that
there was a space between Him and
the group behind. And the watchers
were amazed at the appearance that
was changing the whole figure into
that of martial daring and confident
authority. Perhaps there were ges-
tures-could He have stretched forth
His arms and tried that cross that
clearly doomed in His mind? Did He
shape his shoulders to the scourge?
Did He hurl death from Him in the
tomb's wrestle that destroyed that ter
ror's dominion? Something of the
struggle, something of the triumph
must have appeared if we would ac-
count for the amazement. Why should
the throng following behind the dis
ciples fear? They knew the position
of Jesus and the strangeness of this
! hour accentuated the demand of the
rulers for His apprehension-might
they become involved and forbidden
the Passover feast? Or was their
fear the far more tender one for Him
in Jerusalem rather than for them
selves? For many were Galilean
friends who had felt the touch of
kindly helpfhlness and wished honor in
stead of tragedy for Him. Probably
both with the latter in the ascendant
in that particular set of travellers. So
soon as the picture outlined all its
vivid colors in the mind of the Master
the disciples were taken into conf
deqce of speech but they were too in
tent upon their own interpretations
of events to catch its meaning. They
knew that the serenity of the familiar
! face was restored and the words pass
ed unheeded as they talked of the GER
tain coming of the kingdom at this
season. Had not Lazarus been raised?
Had not thrones been promised a few
miles back? Was there ever such
regal figure as their Lords? Some
enigma such as He had often sprung
upon them lay within the saying and
it was such discussion as this that oc-
cupied the group from which Jesus
had again withdrawn as He pushed
forward toward His goal.
THE PRAYER.
Many shall be last that are first
and first that are last" had been the
text of Christ's last chat along the
way. There was reason to find out
! something above relative positions in
the reign soon to begin for they were
among the first nowhere they to be
among the last in days to come? 1t
was unthinkable, yet this strange
Master had said it in straight enough
speech. Mother and sons We're vitality
interested and they would settle the
matter possibly at the urging of that
fine mother. For she was as certain
as any other that her boys were fitted
for the highest places and would pray
them into them as every other since
has attempted. 1t is significant that
the first prayer of a mother to Jesus
was for her boys. And He listened
as God always does, but He immedi-
ately indicted that it depended upon
them whether her request could be
granted or not. No mother can pray
scholarship into a truant nor honor
into shirk She was not denied, but
while the form may be refused the re-
Spouse is all the boy will accept Mon
lea prayed passionately that her dis
solute son might stay in provincial
Egypt rather than face the seductions
Of Rome, yet to Rome he went, there
to meet Him who planted the seven
hills and so to own Christ's mastership
that Augustine well earned the title
Saint. Jesus put it up to the boys.
"Can you drink my cup?" eve can"
is the everlasting response of clear
eyed youth, eager to serve and ambi-
tious for preferment upon whatever
field may be entered, from the sport of
kings to the service of the King of
Kings. That is the spirit being evok-
ed again in these last days as the call
to serve is heard and parents dedicate