Middletown transcript., 1921-01-22
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
SUNlMSC[I00L
LESSON
LESSON FOR JANUARY 23
PROMOTION in THE KINGDOM.
By REV. p. B. FITZWATER, D. D.
Teacher of English Bible in the Mood!
Bible Institute Of Chicago)
&C. 1920 Wentefn Newspaper Union.)

PROMOTION in THE KINGDOM.
LESSON TEXT-Matt 20:17-2S.
GOLDEN TEXT-The Son OF Man came
not to be ministered unto. but to minis
ter. and to give His life a ransom for
many.-Matt. 20:B.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Matt. 1927
20:16; Mark 10:32-45; Luke 22:24-30.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Wanting More Than
Our Share.
JUNIOR ToPIC-How to Win First
Place.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Right and Wrong Ambitions.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
GREATNESS Through Service.
!. Jesus. ForeteIIs His Death and
Resurrection.
1. The King on His way to Jerusa-
lem wv. 17-19). This is His last jour-
ney to the beloved city. He took the
twelve disciples aside from the group
Of travelling pilgrims to make known
unto them what was before them. On
the journey He went ahead of the dis
ciples. The courage thus shown by
the Lord amazed the disciples who
were following in fear MARK 10 1927.
Christ, the conscious and certain suf-
ferer, is courageous. His followers
who had nothing to fear were afraid"
2. Betrayal and death foretold
wv. Is, 19). He went forward fully
conscious of the awful tragedy Of the
cross. He for the third time since the
TRANSPORTATION tells the disciples of
His suffering and death, but they are
so filled with their ambitious schemes
that they do not understand Him. The
treachery Of Judas Iscariot; the
fierce prosecutions of the chief priests
and scribes; the unjust judgment; the
delivery to Pontius PLATE; the mock
ing; the scourging; the crown of
thorns; the cross; the hanging be-
tween two malefactors; the nails;
the spear; all were spread before His
mind like picture. Though He knew
all this He deliberately pressed on.
The joyous outlook upon the victory
which would be accomplished by the
shedding Of His blood led Him for
ward. He went courageously, for He
knew the time had come for the ac-
complishment of His Fathers will.
3. The resurrection foretold ". 19).
Truly this would have been dark
picture had the resurrection not been
made known. The resurrection life
beyond is always seen as the issue of
the cross. The blessedness of the life
beyond this "vale of tears" should
urge us on. In this we have Christ
as the great example (Heb. 1922.
u. The Ambitious Request Of James
and John (vv. 2O-23).
1. The request wv. 20, Ply. This re-
quest was made by their mother. The
request is for place Of prominence
in the kingdom. It is right for moth
ers to be ambitious for their boys,
but they should know that earth's pin
nacles are exceedingly dangerous. It
is very desirable that we get places
for our children near Jesus, but we
should keep out Of our minds the van
ity of the world.
2. Jesus answer. wv. %, 23).
He spoke directly to the men, not to
their mother, declaring that they
knew not what they were asking. He
showed them that the way to this
position Of glory was through suffer-
ing. The cup Of which they were to
drink was that of great suffering and
agony. The positions which they
craved were attainable, but in a very
different way from what they appre-
hended. The way to the places Of
glory in the kingdom of Christ is
through the path of lowly and self
forgetful service, even great suffer-
| ing
8. How to Be Truly Exalted wv.
24-2S).
| 1. The angry disciples ". 24). When
the ten heard of the request of James
and John they were filled with indig-
nation against them. Their displeas-
ure did not arise from the fact that
they were free from the same selfish
spirit, but that these two had thrust
themselves to the front; it was an
admixture Of indignation and Jealousy.
2. Greatness among the heather w.
25). The rule of the world has al
ways been by the strong hand. The
standards have been not moral excel
Ience, but wealth, station and power
Even today the reason one Y nation
rules the other is that the one pos
sesses sharper swords and heavier
clubs than the other.
3. Greatness among Christ's dis
ciples wv. 26, 27). Here the stand
ard is in sharp contrast. The way
to the places of prominence in Christ's
kingdom is the way Of self-abasement
1t is not wrong to be ambitious II
be great, but the basis of true great
ness is that which human self1shnes'
seeks to avoid. There will be de
grees of rank in Christ's kingdom, bu
this rank will be character, not posi-
ton or authority. The spirit O
Christ substitutes ''the greatness o
love for the love Of greatness" Thi
greatness is not won at the expens
of others.
4. Christ is the supreme example
Of greatness ". 28). All who woul'
be great should study and imftat
Christ. Let them forget self an