I, AMBITION AMONG THE FOLLOWERS OF CuRisT. 1. Noticeits occasion. It seems as if recent events gave rise to the desire for pre-eminence among the friends and disciples of Jesus. The special commendation of Peter which the Master had recently pronounced, and the selection of the same apostle, with James and John, to witness the Transfiguration, probably prompted the aspiration and the discussion here recorded. 2. The exact form this disposition assumed. The twelve looked forward to the Messianic kingdom, of which they had come to regard Jesus as the divinely appointed Head, and in which they all expected to occupy posts of dignity and power. But who should be greatest? Who should be the chief minister under the Messianic King ? Such was the matter in dispute, and that it should be so shows us how much the apostles had yet to learn. 3. The evil fruits of this ambition. It is quite in accord- ance with human nature that such a disposition shonld lead to disagreement and to contention. The twelve not only reasoned, they disputed; rivalry took the place of brotherhood. It is ever 80; when the desire for pre-eminence and supremacy takes possession of men’s hearts, farewell to contentment, harmony, and peace!
Il. Cugist’s REBUKE AND ZEMEDY FOB AMBITION. The observant eye of Jesus had remarked the wrangling which had gone on among his disciples, and his heart was pained. When he inquired into what had happened, they were ashamed and silenced ; and he proceeded to unfold a principle which should operate, not in this company only, but throughout all periods of his Church. 1. Christ reveals the new and Christian law of greatness. Only those who are willing to ve last of all, and ministers of all, shall be foremost in his kingdom, This was paradowgical, altogether in contradiction to the prevalent plan and principle among men in all grades of society, and in all com- munities, civil and ecclesiastical Jt was exemplified most illustricusly in the Lord Jesus himself. “Though he was rich, he became poor;” “ He took on him the form of a servant;” “The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.” In his own person—in his incarnation, his humiliation, his obedience unto death, even the death of the cross—our Lord furnished the one incomparable example of humility and self-denial, and laid the axe to the root of the tree of self-seeking and pride. It was a law containing within ¢t tts own sanction and power. The humiliation and self-sacrifice of the Lord Jesus were more than an example; they introduced a new motive of spiritual persuasiveness and constraint into human society. ‘T'he cross of Christ has been the great mora! power which has changed human society, and is now the one hope of human regeneration, 2. Christ enforces his new law of greatness by a striking symbol. Our Lord often taught by act, thus enforcing the lessons embodied in his words. On this occasion be took a little child, and preached an ever-memorable sermon from this beautiful and touching text. The infant was in himself a living and evident illustration of submissiveness, teachableness, and humility. And not only so; the infant furnished the great Teacher with the lesson he needed: “ Whosoever shall receive one of such,” etc. Instead of seeking to be preferred above their brethren, Christians are here taught to seek out, and to minister to, the lowliest and the feeblest ; and the ipspiriting assurance is added, that those who in the Master’s spirit receive -and aid the least of his disciples—the lambs of his fluck, the babes of his household— shall be regarded as having rendered a service to the Christ himself; nay, as having “ received ” the Creator and Lord of all, even him who sent and gave his Son for the salvation of mankind |
AppLicaTion. 1. Dispositions which we are ashamed to bring into the presence and under the notice of Christ, are by that very fact condemned, and must be at once repressed and checked. 2. Towards one another it behoves the disciples of Jesus to cherish sentiments of esteey and honour. 3. Towards the feeble and the obscure they should display the tenderesy consideration, remembering that those who serve Christ’s lowliest people serve Christ himself.
Vers. 38—41.— The judgment of charity. It is clear, from this passage, that the
i6 THE GOSPEL AOCORDING TO ST. MARK. [om. rm 1—50,
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influence of our Lord Jesus was wider than was known by his own immediate friends, and that his work was, even during his lifetime, advancing in directions of which
they were not aware. Accidentally, as it were, we gain an insight into the progress of the kingdom of Christ outside the immediate circle of his acknowledged and professed
disciples ; and the incident which affords us this insight, at the same time presents
to us truths and lessons of vast practical importance.
I. Bigorsy 18 HUMAN, AND CHARITY 18 Divove. If any one of the twelve might have been deemed free from all suspicion of bigotry, surely it would have been John, often called “ The Apostle of Love.” Yet from this incident, and from his wishing upon another occasion to call down fire from heaven upon unbelievers, it is plain that, at all events during the Lord’s ministry, he was wont to give way to an ardent, impetuous, violent spirit. In the view of a bigot, one who does not work in his own way is censured and condemned as unfit to work for God at all. The Lord Jesus proved his superiority to human infirmity by permitting and encouraging service which his followers would have forbidden.
I. OurwakD UNITY AND OONFORMITY ARE NO SUFFICIENT TEST OF CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP. Men are naturally prone to lay great stress upon this. The complaint, “ He followeth not with us,” has not been confined to the first followers of Jesus. The “following,” in such cases, means outward association and agreement in language, usages, forms of policy and of worship. But two considerations should check that narrowness which would limit discipleship to those who conform to established custom : 1. Some conform, who prove themselves to be lacking in the mind and spirit of Jesus Christ. 2. Some refuse, or aeglect to conform, who display such spirit, and whose actions show them to be Christ’s.