The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1930-05-01
Lesson for May a
PROMOTION IN THE KINGDOM

LESSON TEXT-Matthew 20:17-28.
GOLDEN TEXT-The Son of Man
came not to be ministered unto, but
ito minister, and to give His life ran
som for many.
PRIMARY TOPIC-How to Become
Great
JUNIOR ToPIc-How to Become
Great.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
iIC-Greatness Through Self-Denying
Service.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
lIC-Christ's Standard of Greatness.
I. The King ForeteIIs His Death and
Resurrection wv. 17-19).
1. The King on His way to Jeru-
salem ". ~.
This is His last journey to the be-
loved city. He took the twelve disciples
aside from the travelling pilgrims to
make known unto them what was be-
fore them. AS they journeyed, he went
ahead Of the disciples. The courage
thus shown by the Lord amazed the
disciples who were following in fear
mark 1O:32).
2. The betrayal and death foretold
;(vv. IS, 19).
He went forward, fully conscious Of
the awful tragedy Of the cross. He
for the third time since the transfigura-
ition tells the disciples of His ap-
lproaching sufferings and death. But
they are so filled with their ambitious
schemes that they do not understand
Him. The treachery of Judas, the fierce
prosecutions by the chief priests and
,Scribes, the unjust judgment, the de-
livery to Pontius PLATE, the mockery,
the scourging, the crown Of thorns,
the cross, the hanging between two
lmalefactors, the nails, the spear-all
were spread before His mind like a
picture! Though He knew all this, He
pressed on, not Of necessity, but de-
,liberately. The joyous outlook upon
the victory which would be accom-
plished by the shedding of His blood
led Him forward. He went courage
ously, for He knew the time had come
for the accomplishment Of His Fa-
theirs will.
8. The resurrection foretold ". 1917.
Truly, this would have been a dark
picture had the resurrection not been
made known. The resurrection life
beyond is always seen as the issue
4 the cross. The blessedness Of the
.life beyond this "vale Of tears" should
induce us to press on. Christ is the
grand example. (Heb. 1920.
u. The Ambitious Request of James
and John wv. 20-23).
1. The request wv. 20, Ply.
This request was made by their
mother. The request was for a place
of prominence in the kingdom. It is
not wrong for mothers to be ambitious
for their boys, but they should know
that life's pinnacles are exceedingly
dangerous. It is desirable that parents
should get places for their children
near to Jesus, but the vain ambition
of the world should not occupy their
minds.
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 which they were to drink
was of great agony. The way to the
places of glory in the kingdom Of
Christ is by the path of lowly and
self-forgetting service.
III. 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 indignation against them. Their
displeasure did not arise from the fact
that they were free from the same self
ish spirit, but that these two had
thrust themselves to the front.
2. Greatness among the heather
". 25).
The rule of the world has always
been by the strong hand. The stand
ards have not been moral excellence,
but worth, station, and power.
8. Greatness among Christ's disciples
wv. %, 27).
The standard here is in sharp con-
trast. The way to the place of promi-
nence in Christ's kingdom is the way
of establishment. To give is greater
than to receive. To be serving some
one is much better than to be served.
There will be degrees Of rank in
Christ's kingdom, but this rank will
be character, not position, or author
ity. The spirit Of Christ substitutes
''the greatness of love for the love
Of greatness"
4. Christ is the supreme example Of
greatness ". 28).
All who will be great should study
initiate Christ. Let them forget
elf and serve others, even to the Civ
ing of their lives.
H.,..-~ GI-.-okkaI I Sc