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THE KING’ S BUSINESS.
just at the time that Jesus was speaking to them o f His own death in their behalf the disciples began to quarrel with one another as to which o f them should be “accounted the greatest.” It seems incred ible that such a disgraceful rivalry should arise at such a time (cf. ch. 9:43-46; Matt. 20:17-24). But does mot the same conten tion arise among professed followers o f Christ today, and that too, even in con nection with the emblems that set forth His death in our behalf? The question as to who shall be the greatest has wrought more mischief among Christians and in the Church o f Christ than any. other. Almdst the last words that Mr. Moody spoke to the writer were, “What is caus ing all the trouble today is ‘who shall be the greatest.’ ” There'is nothing more nec essary for us to learn, and nothing harder to learn, than to esteem others better than ourselves (Phil. 2:3-5; Rom. 12:10L; 1 Peter 5:5, 6 ). Jesus met their outburst o f ambition with a very quick but searching rebuke. He told them that in the king dom which He appointed unto them, great-, ness was not measured as in the kingdom o f this world, by exercising lordship, but by lowliness o f mind and by service. He called their attention to the fact that He Himself was illustrating true greatness, the greatness o f God’s kingdom, by washing their feet. Monday, March 6. Luke 22:31-34. Jesus now turns to Peter and warns him o f his coming trial and fall. Satan had been offering a prayer. W e (Seldom think o f Satan as praying, but we are told he did on this occasion. His prayer was that he might have Simon to sift his wheat (v. 31, R. V .; Cf. Job 1:8-12; 2:3-6), And wonder o f wonders, Satan not only prayed, but his prayer was granted, he was permit ted to sift Simon. But there was another praying for Simon too, and that other was Jesus. Tne Lord’s prayer was That while he was being sifted he might be kept and faith might not:utterly die out. All the while Satan sifted Jesus prayed, and so Simon was perfectly safe even in Satan’s
sieve, and the only result o f Satan’s sift ing was that Simon came out o f Satan’s sieve with some o f the chaff o f self-con fidence sifted out o f him and purer wheat than he ever was 'before. Just so today when- Satan sifts us the Lord Jesus inter cedes for us and the outcome is sure (Heb. 7:25; 1 John 2 :1 ; Rom. 8:34). The only result o f Satan’s sifting, however hard to bear it may 4>e, will be that we will come out o f Satan’s sifting purer wheat than we have e,ver been before. When Peter had “turn«d again” he was to strengthen his brethren. Only the man who is himself thoroughly converted can help others, and when one is thoroughly converted it is his duty to begin at once to convert others. Tuesday, March 7. Luke 22:35-38. ...... . When our Lord" first sent His disciples forth He commanded them to “provide neither gold nor' silver, nor brass in your purses: nor wallet for your journey” (Matt. 10:9, 10). On that occasion they were to receive their support from the cities and villages which they, visited, but now things were different, they were to go forth to avowed, and open,_ and bitter enemies, so His directions differed. This illustrates how unwarranted it is to take directions that God gives His disciples for one set of circumstances and to insist that they shall govern His disciples under all circumstances. The principles o f the Christian life are always the same, but the applications o f those principles will vary according to the circumstances in which a Christian finds himself. The Lord Himself was to be reckoned with''the transgressors, and His disciples, if loyal to Him, could expect no better treatment than He Himself received (cf, John 15:20). In His being reckoned among the transgressors the prophecy of Isaiah regarding Him was being fulfilled to the letter (cf. Isa. 53:12). In telling them if they had no sword to sell their cloak and buy one He was not instructing them, as the sequel shows, to fight in self- defense with carnal weapons (note v. 38; cf. Matt. 26:51, 52), He was simply strongly emphasizing the thought that they were going forth to danger and conflict.
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