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THE KING’S BUSINESS
cross could not cancel. Peter saw this afterward if not then (2 Peter 1:16-18). (3) The Lunatic Boy (9:14-29). How ever dark, sceptical, desperate the. times and venomous the devil during Christ’s ab sence, prayer and faith' are irresistible and the victory at hand. III. S ection E irsj (Mark 9:30-41). 1. Second Announcement of theCross (v. 31). .Three cardinal facts, of the Christ : (1) He was "delivered" to men (John 10: 18; 19:11; Acts .2:23; Gal, 2:20; John 3: 16); (2) to be killed; (3) and to rise. A God-given Lamb (Gem. 22:8) ; offered by him that had received the promises (Heb, 11:17; Rom. 9 :4 ); raised up (Heb. 11:19), such is the Gospel (1 Cor. 15:1, 3, 4). The disciples could .not understand. Precon ceived opinions blind to truth. We should hear with open mind. Had they got their ideas from the Book they would have un derstood (Luke 24:25, 26). They were afraid to ask Him. The flesh shrunk from the suspected answer (?). Do not let the fear of truth hinder the quest of it. Had they asked He would'have'“opened their understanding” (Luke 24:44; John 14:8, 9). 2. Selfish Ambition Rebuked. Even while Jesus spoke of the Cross the diSbiples disputed about their crowns. The cross was unreal, an impossibility to them, as it was a “stumbling block” (1 Cor. 1:23) to Israel. They thought- the throne, -not a cross, would be set up on their arrival at Jerusalem, for they felt that the crisis was near. Like many they followed- Jesps: for a crown, not knowing they must first follow with a cross. . Men who would $it on the throne should first fit for the throne. Had they understood the quality of the kingdom (Matt. 5:1-12) they would have felt their disqualification. In that kingdom men must .serve to reign, for tfiey shall reign to serve. In the cabinet of Christ His co-kings must have the “mind of Christ” (Phil. 2:1-9). They disputed “who should be greatest,” and each, doubtless, thought his chances best. - They". should ¡have considered what should be greatest and ‘each would have thought , his chance
the least, if he had any chance at all. Christ has crowns for character only, not for names, and every crown will be a surprise to him who receives it. “Lord, when Saw we thee an hungered and fed thee?” (Matt. 25:37-39). 3. Celestial Civil Service. The last in the list comes first. No office goes by fa vor: there are no political debts to pay ; recommendations are:not considered; can didates must show that they seek service, ndt office; and that they have had practi cal experience; for only the servant of all may .be lord of all, since the Lord of all was and still is at all men’s service. Only character certified by conduct counts for candidacy? 4. The Child in the Midst. Jesus chose a-child for an object lesson; not a spoiled child but a normal one; hard to find now; at least in America; a child-like child; pure, simple, n^t ^self-conscious, therefore not self-seeking. All children love to serve, and will drop play to help; nothing is such fun' ss-tb help in the real things of life; as for pay—they never think of it—the unspoiled ones. Not that we must be chil dren “in understanding” (1 Cor. 14:20). We must be “wise as serpents, though harmless' as doves” (Matt. 10:16). God’s Anointed is a holy Child (Acts 4:27). Fear not to become children, “children of the heavenly King," the whole realm is on guard for the prince. The Royal favor follows him who receives the heir apparent, and the fate of .Pharaoh’s horsemen over takes him who pursues, to do him harm (9:42; Exod. 15:10). IV. T he S ign of D iscipleship ( vs . 38- 41). Narrowness Rebuked. “Forbid him not.” .The fact that- one is not in our set, sect, or denomination is no sign that he is not in Christ. The signs of this are: That he honors Christ’s name, works in and by Christ’s name, and does’ good in Christ’s name, fighting the devil. Yet there are that cast out demons in His name who are not His. He is Judge (Matt. 7:22, 23); for :His name'is put qn much that is not
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