THE KING’S BUSINESS
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then? Was there any other reason for His not granting their request? Has Jesus ever promised to do everything we ask Him to do for us? What test did Jesus put to them? What did they tell Him? What does their reply show they lacked ? What did He promise them? How did the other disciples feel when they heard what had taken place? Was it right or was it wrong for them to feel so? Ambition and jealousy seem to have been at the bottom o f all the disputes o f the disciples; do they have any place in church troubles now adays? Did Jesus say it was wrong to wish to be great, or did He point out their wrpng ideas o f what greatness is?* How does our Lord’s standard o f greatness dif "\T ERILY “the Son o f Man came not to * be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.” This is the heart o f this lesson, and the heart o f the Gospel, and the heart o f service. Do you want to know how subtle is the selfishness o f the human heart? Contrast the Son o f Man as He tells o f His coming sacrifice for sin with the cold, calculating spirit o f His followers who are occupied with place and power in the kingdom. W e have here a little, vision o f the fam ily life o f Christ and His chosen ones. Human nature is nowhere revealed so per fectly as in the Word o f Goo. I f yo,u want to know what is in man, study the Bible and apply its revelations o f man’s heart to your own experience. There are four natural heads here, any one o f which affords opportunity for a heart to heart talk with your class: Christ’s Portrayal o f His Coming Suf fering. Man’s Proclivity for Place and Power. Christ’s Patience with His Disciples. Priority in God’s Kingdom. Contrast the patience o f Christ with the
fer from the world’s? See 1 Peter 5:5; Rom. 14:19; 15:2; 12:10. How did Jesus exemplify His own teaching? What might He have retained had He chosen to do so? See Phil. 2:5-8. What did He say He was laying down His life for? Isa. 53:6; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Cor. 15:3. I f we would be like Him, what must we do? What are some o f the ways in which we can minister to others ? Would you like to be able to do the miracles He did? Would that make you like Him ?' Would it b e ' more Christlike to be sympathetic, gentle, thoughtful and unselfish? Can we become &ese? How? See 2 Cor. 3:18; Galatians 5:22, 23. Will you, by His grace, make that your ambition? impatience o f the ten. The spirit o f sel fishness is not confined to the lower levels o f our life, but is manifested in the high est spiritual realm. It is audacious and flaunts itself in the face o f Christ Him self. The desire for place and prominence — for the limelight—is so great in us all that we do well to take heed. The thing which may be commendable in secular affairs—the desire to equip our selves for thé place o f largest advantage and remuneration—is the very spirit which is so severely condemned by our Lord in the spiritual realm. “ Seekest thou great things for thyself ? Seek them not.” Nat ural ability and attainments do not entitle us to place and position in our Lord’s esti mate, but it is service which merits His approval. “I f any 1man serve me, Him will my Father honor.” Christ did not come into the world to be an example to the World, but to be a Saviour, but He does place Himself before His followers as an example. “Follow Me” is His constant call. As we . come to know the shallowness o f place and prominence, for which even Christian people strive, and to know the
HEART OF THE LESSON
By T. C. Horton.
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