The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-04-22
Sunday, April %.

| Ill to MS Neighbour: Cuei CioiS
love is the fulfilling of the law.
Romans 1910.
Returning IN the early autumn
of 20 A. d. from Caesarea Phil
! ippi where Peter made his great
confession and Jesus was trans
figured, the disciples disputed
over chief positions in the Mes
sianic Kingdom which they be-
lieved now emergent. When they
reached Capernaum and stopped
possibly at Peters home Jesus
gave them a double reproof, the
first aimed at their ambition and
the second at their exclusiveness.
THE REBUKE OF AMBITION
SelfiShneSS in spirit was shown
by the apostles on the way home
from Caesarea Philippi. They
recognized in Jesus the Messiah
but thought his kingdom would
be material rather than spiritual,
anticipating its early establish
ment, and took it for granted
that high positions would be held
by the twelve. They therefore
had no little argument as to who
, should be greatest, and some cool
ness if not bitterness was engen-
dered. Such selfishness had to
be checked. So upon reaching Ca
pernaum Jesus raised the ques-
ton and thrust his probe into
their hearts. First he laid down
the principle that any man who
would be first in honor must be
first in service. Then in the cen
ter of the group he took little
boy into his arms and solemnly
told them that they could not
even enter the Kingdom unless
they became as little children.
How unpretentious was the in
FAINT, how void of pride and
equivocation and hypocrisy; how
full of loving docility and trust
ing simplicity! Here was their
model, not in the governors
chair nor on the emperor's
throne. And let them know that
the Master Identifies himself
with his followers and especially
with the little ones in his King
dom. Hence receiving them is re-
ceiving him and receiving him
is receiving the Father on high.
Here then is the shining way
upward: The least become the
great and humility precedes hon.
or. -.
REBUKE OF ExcLUsIvENEss
Selfishness in service was be-
trayed by even the beloved and
devoted John and some of his
associates. They found E certain
man presumably Jew using the !
all-powerful name of Jesus in the
casting out of demons. They" re-
garded it a dissertation and the
open road to all sorts of abuse.
So they commanded him to quit
because he was not a fellow dis
ciple with them. The work he
did was good and certainly need
ed; the name he used was some
how effective; but he did not be-
long to the exclusive group. of
the disciples. who felt that they
had a monopoly of their Masters
name and fame and power. But
Immediately and we imagine with
almost a tinge of sternnesS he re-
buked their restriction. And his
reason was sound. If you are do
ing good every right-doer is for
you whether he is with you or
not. And we ought to recognize
good whenever and wherever it
appears. Moreover, the mental
task if glorified by loyalty to
Christ will not go unrewarded.
How the circle of good thus Wi
dens at the Masters word!
With the child still in mind
if not yet in his arms Jesus de-
nounced those who would lead
astray the little ones in the King
dom. Better to be sunk in the
sea by a milestone than to be
rock of stumbling in the path of /
the weak. When occasions for
stumbling come woe to the STUN
bling world; but a triple woe
upon him who causes the Stun
bling! But also we must keep
out of our own way as well as
that of others when anything
in us stands in the way of the
soul; there is but one scriptural
and sensible thing to do. We am
putate the gangrened hand or
foot in order to save life. We
have the infected eye taken out
in order to save. and strengthen
the eye that is left. If an oper-
alton is necessary it is better to
live MANNED than to die ,unmu-
tilated. 80
BEWARE OF sELFIsHNEss
| (D Selfishness Craving. "Who
was the greatest" Craving world
ly things one hungers to have
the best and the most, no mat
ter what others have. He wants
to be the biggest, no matter what
happens to others. ..
(2) Selfishness Conte n d n g.
"They had disputed one with an
other on the way" Ambition ar
CUES for place and power. 1t
tramples on others to build itself
up.
81 Selfishness Unconcealed.
'He asked them, What were We
reasoning?" Christ instantly saw
the unholy ambition of his dis
ciples. 1t shows in looks and
words and deeds. Cancer may be.
concealed for a time but not for
long.
(4) Selfishness raigne d.
"He sat down called =.
saith unto them" In the pres
ence of Infinite Goodness how
abashed is selfish ambition! The
arguing disciples stood silent be-
fore their Lord. Yet his word