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THE K I NG ' S BUS I NES S
May, 1938
IN T E R N A T IO N A L L E S S O N C om m en ta ry Outline and Exposition Blackboard Lesson Children’s Division Golden Text Illustration Object Lesson B y B. B. S utcliffe B y G retchen S ibley B y H elen G ailey B y A lan S. P earce B y E lmer L . W ilder Points and Problems B y A lva J. M c C lain
within itself; it was fatal to Judas. His name echoes through the centuries and rep resents the acme of all that is hateful and despicable among men. The mystery of the choice of Judas as one of the disciples will be clear to us when, in the Lord’s presence, we are able to see as He sees. III. T he D evotion of the A postles (27-31) The devotion o f the apostles was real but deficient in certain important points. The disciples were ignorant of their own hearts as well as of the Scriptures. Our Lord warned them of what lay before them, and He gave them Scripture for His warning (vs. 27, 28). It was certain that they would be offended, but Peter might have been spared his denial had he believed the Scriptures. Peter was not forced to deny the Lord because the record of what would occur had been prewritten, but the events were written because God knew they would take place. The apostles’ devotion was real, but blinded by lack of knowledge of themselves. Peter vehemently asserted that he would not do what the Lord said he would do (vs. 29-31). Peter was so sure of himself that he turned from the only source of protection, the W ord of God. Relying upon himself and his imagined devotion, he went on to the shameful experience of denying his Lord. In this course of action, he is sadly typical of other followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. The apostles’ devotion was real, but being accompanied by pride, it culminated in failure. It is still true that “ when pride cometh, then cometh shame” and “ a man’s pride shall bring him low” (Prov. 11: 2; 29:23). The reality of their devotion is later re vealed when Peter was restored, both priv ately and publicly, to fellowship with tjje Lord (cf. 1 Cor. 15:5; John 21). All of the apostles were later stabilized in their faith, and their fearfulness was allayed by the sight of the risen Lord. The record of the Acts should be borne in mind when one thinks of the lamentable desertion of these disciples prior to Pentecost. They came at last to full belief in the Scriptures, to utter abandonment to the person o f the Lord whom they had forsaken, and to complete fearlessness in proclaiming His truth. In studying the subject of “ Serving by Personal Devotion to Christ,” we observe, in the woman mentioned in our lesson, the value of sympathetic understanding of the Lord and His ways; in the apostles, the danger of holding only a fancied devotion to 'the Lord, and in Judas, the fatality and shame of living in hypocrisy. Personal devo tion to Christ includes fidelity, finding its expression in acts of love. Points and Problems 1. Concerning the exact time of the anointing recorded in this lesson, there is
JUNE 5, 1938 SERVING BY PERSONAL DEVOTION TO CHRIST M ark 14:3-11, 27-31
terialism and put to shame the commercial ism of others (vs. 4-7). She seemed to grasp the great truth that the Lord Himself is owner of all the wealth of the world. He is not poor in material things, but often is very “poor” in the affections that should flow from the hearts of His people. Undoubtedly, the devotion of the woman was refreshing and pleasing to Him above much of the giving of others. He, as well as they, knew the poor had need, and He was more inter ested in the poor than any of His followers could be. In attempting to lift the poor into affluence we forget both the Lord’s person and His teaching. In the light of this passage, it may be said that all schemes to do away with poverty are doomed to failure in their larger aspects until the Lord Jesus Christ comes again to earth, to administer its affairs in righteousness. The woman’s devotion was intelligent (vs. 8, 9). She did what she could to show Him she understood something of the path He trod, and she would anoint His body, even before His death, for the burial. II. T he D evotion of the T raitor (10, 11) The devotion of Judas was stained with hypocrisy. He could flatter the Lord while scheming His death. The patience of Jesus shines in His dealing with Judas. Our Lord, who could read hearts as easily as we read a printed page, was not without understand ing of what lay behind the protestations of loyalty by the arch traitor. Yet He bore with him and gave him every opportunity to fill honorably the place assigned him among the other apostles. But the devotion of Judas was wholly self-centered. He had been appointed the treasurer of the little band, and he carried the common purse. While making a show of interest in the poor, doubtless he thought that if the ointment were sold, he would have the handling of the proceeds and from them his own store could be enriched. It was nothing to him that the poor were needy. At heart, he was a thief (cf. John 12:4-6). Selfishness carries its own poison
Mark 14:3 And being in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. 4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. 6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. 7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. 8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. 9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. 10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him. 27 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. 28 But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. 29 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, j’et will not I. 30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, be fore the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. 31 But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all. Golden Text: “ She hath done what she could”' (Mk. 14:8). Devotional Reading: Psalm 116:1, 2, 6, 7, 12-14. Outline and Exposition I. T he D evotion of the W oman (3-9) N TH E house of “ Simon the leper,” the woman who “ came . . . having an ala baster box of ointment” was devoted to the Person of the Lord (v. 3). Others were much exercised with the work of the Lord, but she, looking above the work, saw Him self. She proved she had listened with atten tion when He spoke of His approaching death. Therefore, she would let Him know her sympathy with Him in the sacrifice He was about to make. It may be that “ Simon the leper” was the father of Mary: and Martha and Lazarus, and the time may have been the day on which the dinner was prepared at their house mentioned in John 12., The woman’s devotion rose above all ma- [These lessons are developed from out lines prepared by the Committee on Im proved Uniform Lessons of the Interna tional Council. Thei outlines are copyrighted by the International Council of Religious Education and used by permission. Scripture portions quoted are from the King James Version unless otherwise stated .— E ditor .]
BLACKBOARD LESSON
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