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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
April, 1938
more, in the last analysis, only a child— one with the simplicity of a child’s faith—can understand the mysteries of the kingdom. Others may attempt to bring its infinite truths within the compass of finite mind, but reasoning alone cannot bring under standing. In passing, it should be noted that there must have been something surpassingly tender about our Lord to have little chil dren (cf. R. V.) show no hesitancy in going to Him and allowing Him to take them up in His arms. III. T he R equired T olerance (38-41) The disciples were so opinionated con cerning what was proper in their own eyes, that they could not allow even a good deed to be done unless the doer could ut ter their shibboleth (v. 38). Jesus quickly pointed out that the doer of such a good deed as the one which they described would never speak evil of Him (vs. 39-41). None would cooperate with Him who was not for Him, and all who were not against Him must be for Him. This does not mean, however, that because one does good in the! eyes of men, it neces sarily is good in the eyes of God. Much that looks good to man is abomination to God. “T o the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isa. 8:20). W e cannot, for the sake of cooperation with others, yield essential truth. But even so, our Lord here utters a stinging rebuke of a common fault among Christians, that of refusal to walk and work with some other saint because “ he follow eth not us.” Points and Problems 1. “He would not that any man should know it” (Mk. 9:30). Why this secrecy? The answer is supplied in the next verse: "For he taught his disciples” the new mes sage concerning the necessity of His death, which had been announced in Mark 8:31, a message so foreign to their ideas that Peter actually “ rebuked” his Master for sug gesting it. For the present, therefore, the Lord will withdraw from the crowds in order that He may teach the disciples what they need to know about His sufferings. 2. "The Son of man is delivered” (v. 31). The Greek verb is a present in tense which might be rendered “ is being delivered.” Delivered by whom? Viewed from the human standpoint, His enemies are even now laying their plans, hatching their plots against Him. But there is an other and a higher viewpoint. It will be Peter, just now so blind to this higher viewpoint, who will most clearly declare, the truth on the Day of Pentecost: “ Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23). The death of our Lord was no mere acci dent of human circumstance. The “ sway of circumstance” is God’s. Above the wrath of the enemies is the sovereign purpose of God. The Son of man “ goeth, as it hath been determined” (Lk. 22:22, R. V .). 3. “But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him” (v. 32). Some of the commentators are too harsh, I think, in criticizing these disciples for their failure to understand Christ’s teaching about the
and his boy was healed. There are many in the valleys of need today, and Jesus Christ wants His followers to carry the message of salvation to them. Here is a stamp that I cannot trust to deliver this letter, because it will not stick to the letter. It soon gets tired of its job and falls off. I am sorry that there are some Christians like, this stamp. They soon tire of carrying God’s message to those in need. God is looking for boys, girls, men, and women, who, like these faithful stamps, will carry His message to those in need of salvation, wherever they may be found. a kingdom that they were listening with closed minds.-Alas! How frequently is this the experience of the Lord’s people today! But, if Christ’s servants were to cooper ate with other servants, all must be taught something of the pathway which the Lord traveled: through the gloom, to the cross, and up to the glory and fellowship with God. Thus we, too, need to realize that the only true basis of cooperation among saints is found in the death and resurrec tion of the Lord. II. T he R equired H umility (33-37) Having forsaken all to follow One whom they believed to be a K ing who was about to set up His kingdom, the disciples were filled with thoughts concerning the favored ones who should be the greatest in that kingdom (vs. 33-36). Our Lord wants His disciples to have high ambition; He knows that the higher the aspiration, the higher will be the plane upon which the life is lived (cf. 2 Cor. 5:9) R. V .). But these disciples .instinctively knew that their am bitions were sordid and filled with the spirit that brings schism and strife. Hence they stood in shamed silence when He asked them what it was of which they had been talking. Without reference to their selfish thoughts, He clearly pointed out to them the true means of attaining greatness in the king dom (v. 35). “ If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and serv ant of all.” The lower one goes, the higher will be his exaltation by the Lord. The Lord revealed how one may be truly great (vs. 36, 37) by setting before His bearers a little child. Children unaffected by adult prejudices cooperate with one an other irrespective of differences in color, race, social or financial standing, or any thing else. And Jesus would teach His dis ciples this lesson in cooperation. Further- BLACKBOARD LESSON ,.58 "WEM-DI5PUTED-WUO SHOULD BE - OttEBTEST" moved, the stamp sees that the letter is carried on to the new address-; Last year while I was on my vacation, some of these letters were forwarded from place to place until they reached me. Did you ever stop to realize that stamps are like Christians? True Christians are like stamps in that they carry God’s mes sage wherever He may send them. Peter wanted to build on the mount of transfiguration, but the Lord Jesus knew about thè man in the valley who needed Him, and He led the disciples down to the man. The man received Christ’s message, Mark 9:30 And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it. 31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him,; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. 32 But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him. 33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way ? 34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. 35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. 36 And he took a child and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, 37 Whosoever shall receive one of such chil dren in my name, receiveth me; and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me. 38 And John answered him, saying. Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us; and we forbade him, because he followeth not us. 39 But Jesus said, Fbrbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. 40 For he that is not against us is on our part. 41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. Golden Text: “ For he that is not against us is on our part” (Mk. 9:40). Devotional Reading: 1 Corinthians 3 :5-l 1. Outline and Exposition I. T he R equired K nowledge (30-32) T O IM PART further teaching to His disciples, the Lord took them aside from the crowd (v. 30). His teach ing was concerned with His pathway, through suffering, shame, and death, to the glory of the resurrection from among the dead (v. 31). The idea that one should be delivered into the hands of men and be killed was within the compass of the dis ciples’ understanding, but that one should come back from the dead, or that there should be a resurrection from among the dead, was so entirely beyond their human comprehension that they failed to take it in. “They understood not” the' saying of the Lord, .“ and were afraid to ask him” fv . 32). The greatness of the revelation staggered them; unlike His enemies (cf. Matt. 27:62-66), they allowed His words to pass, forgotten. It may be, as indicated in the next verses, they were so intent upon M A Y 8, 1938 COOPERATING IN SERVICE M ark 9:30-41 "E. ueiw man shall geceiue wis own üouqud § s- $ -PCCO&DinG TO HISown LflbOD iCOR5» £ tou uE M l is noT nowisT us is o n oun mnr
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