of the Messiah. They desired to have the choicest offices in that kingdom. They sought the two most prominent cabinet positions. These two disciples were very earnest. But they should have been con cerned about being faithful in their present duties and should have left the matter of future rewards to the Lord. “ It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (1 Cor. 4:2). Let us be guided by this principle. We know that there will be rewards in the future for faithful service. But just what this reward shall be had better be left to the wisdom of our Lord. Certainly re wards are not to be given on the prin ciple of favoritism, only on the principle of unselfish faithfulness (v. 40). Preaching in Boldness Acts 4:13, 18-20 After Pentecost the disciples were possessed with new courage. In the verses before us we see Peter and John illustrating the sort of holy boldness that marked the ministry of all thé disciples following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. They were impelled by a mighty inner urge to preach the gos-
Lazarus as his sisters had expected their Lord to do. When Jesus finally arrived at their home, Lazarus had been dead four days. His sorrowing sisters and friends believed that there was noth ing that Jesus could do now. The Saviour performed one of His greatest miracles in raising Lazarus from the dead. In one second the home that Jesus loved was turned from a place of weeping and sorrow to one of greatest joy and thanksgiving! Is your home a place where the Lord Jesus Christ is loved and honored? Do all of those things which you say and do in your home honor Him? Would you feel embarrassed if the door should open some day and God’s Son would enter? Are there books and games and pictures in your home that you would be ashamed to have Him see? Would He be welcome at the kind of parties that you have in your home? Do your friends know the minute that they enter your home that the Lord Jesus Christ is a member of your family and shares in all that you do? Your home will be a Christ- centered home if, with Martha, you say: “ I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God.” Feb. 24, 1952 TRAINED AND TESTED FOLLOWERS Mark 9:2; 19:35-40; Acts 4:13; 18-20 Pointers on the Lesson Peter, James and John were specially privileged as Christ’s inner circle. They were present with Jesus in the home of Jairus, on the Mount of Transfiguration, and in the Garden of Gethsemane. Part of their discipline was a rebuke when a request was made for chief places. The subsequent loyalty of Peter, James and John proved their ability to take responsibility and their dependence upon a power greater than their own. This lesson may show how spiritual fellow ship leads to courageous action. On The Mount of Privilege Mark 9:2 Peter, James and John were chosen to be intimately associated with one of the great revelations of the New Testa ment. It seems quite evident that in the Transfiguration scene we have presented a preview of Christ’s coming glory. (See v. 1.) Everything in the story has typical significance. The Transfiguration of Christ shows Him as He will be when He comes in His millennial reign. The disciples had seen Him in humilia tion. Now they were privileged to have a glimpse as He will be as the King of Glory. All of a sudden a metamorphosis took place in the person of Christ as He was on the mount and He was changed into the appearance He will manifest in connection with His Second Advent. “ Peter, and James, and John” doubt less are typical of the saints who before Christ comes to reign will have a view of the King in His beauty. But there is also a very practical aspect. The J A N U A R Y , 1 9 5 2
humanity of Christ stands out beauti fully in this part of the story. He de lighted in the presence of others of like spirit with Him in the varied experi ences of His life. Luke 9:28 adds to pray as the motive of Jesus in taking the three disciples into the high moun tain. As normal men and women He enjoyed the fellowship of kindred spir its. Jesus knew the hearts of these disciples. He knew they would respond to the hallowed experience of the Mount. Do we live so that we can readily re spond to that which Christ wants to do in and for us? In Need of' Discipline Mark 10:35-40 In the request of James and John, it is evident that they manifested a selfish spirit. The Lord was not pleased with it. Humility is the grace our Lord de lights to see in the lives of His followers even as it was so characteristic in His own life (Phil. 2:5-8). By nature man is inclined to pride and vanity. Even God’s children find themselves often tempted in this regard. James and John were thinking of the coming kingdom
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