Evening star., 1930-05-03
Sunday School Lesson
By
Rev. Hugh T. Stevenson.

tunity TO be of service, and not for the
sake of what salary we may obtain for
our work.
The Courageous Christ.
Jesus had predicted that He would be
delivered to the Romans, who would
mock Him, and spit upon Him, and
cruelty Him. He prophesied that He
would rise again. A short time previ-
ously He had responded to the call OF
Mary and Martha and visited Bethany,
where Lazarus had been buried several
days and restored the one He loved to
life. This fact had stirred up His enc
mics to that extent, that Jesus knew
that this would be His last visit in the
flesh to Jerusalem. He knew that 1t
was His duty to face the cross, so He
pressed on without flinching or fear OF
the consequences. The apostles followed
Him filled with amazement. Evidently
canoe OF His predictions, because OF their
differences as to who should secure the
chief places in the kingdom.
A Mothers Ambition.
Mothers are always ambitious for their
strange about the request of Salome.
She is thought to be "a sister OF Mary,
the mother of our Lord" She courte-
ously asked that her two sons, James
and John, be assigned to the h1ghest
places of honor and power, when ChrlSt
assumed the reins of the Kingdom IN
His own hands. She sought these posi-
tions as matter OF favoritlsm. IL Is
evident that she misunderstood the
Masters messages concerning the char
acter of the Kingdom. She and her
sons retained a materialiStic view OF the
Kingdom. They may have been misled
in their Judgment because Jesus prom
ised to give the apostles the thrones OF
the IL tribes.
Jesus in His reply made clear to them
and the other members of His apostolic
band that no one should expect posi-
ton would be given them through Ia
voritism, although He did not openly
condemn Salome or her two sons Tor
desiring to secure the high positions.
He sought to show them that 1t would
be no favor to them to entrust them
with a position they were not able TO
meet its demands. Are ye able, He
asked them, "to drink the cup am about
to drink?" They thought that they were,
but they had to demonstrate 1t by SUI
fering, sacrifices and service to obtain
the rewards of the Kingdom. Their re-
| quest was an ignorant one. Jesus pointed
| out that the Father would bestow those
| places to those who oVercame sin and
satan in their struggles.
effort of the two apostles. Tho Master
sought to restore peace and order among
them by showing to them the test OF
greatness in His work as illustrated by
| Himself. "He car1e to minister and not
| TO be ministsred unto" The type Of
service that our Lord seeks from us is
| one that forgets self and considers al
WAYS the needs and interests of others.
If we desire to be great and obtain posi-
| tions of prestige in His Kingdom, we
can obtain them through life OF serv-
ice. marked by sacrifice, suffering and
| self-denial Jesus stands out in high re-
lief above all others because of His
courage, conduct and character. If we
would follow His example and do His
| will. we know that our services will bl
| recognized and rewarded. The path OF
| promotion leads to Calvary, teaching us
| that the way of suffering for others is
\ the way to win promotion in Christ S
Kingdom. Let us dedicate our lives to
Him for one of service for the glory of
God and the welfare Of our fellowmen.