mount” and behold “ his glory,” “ glory as of the only begotten from the Father.” He had also begun to show unto them that “‘he must suffer many things,” and “ be killed,” making them “exceeding sorry.” And he had spoken to them of the time “ when the Son of man should have risen again from the dead;” but “ what the rising again from the dead should mean” they understood not. Now by silent and hidden byways, _ secretly, for “he would not that any man should know it,” they passed through Galilee and came to Capernaum. Jesus, taking advantage of this quiet, “taught his disciples” concerning the dark future that loomed upon him. But their minds seem to have been reoccupied, and “they understood not the saying.” Scarcely had they entered the t NGa6 when he demanded of them, “ What were ye reasoning in the way?” Shame covered their face, the searching question revealing the power of him before whom all hearts be open. They were dumb before him, for “ they had disputed one with another in the way who was the greatest.” The distinction conferred upon the three, or the signal honour paid to Peter, may have been the occasion for this dispute, fanned haps by the anticipation of the decease at Jerusalem. Possibly there may have ben an assumption of superiority on the part of one in that little republic. But such @ spirit must be instantly crushed; and on the dark human background must the principles of the true heavenly kingdom be thrown forward. In calmness “ he sat down,” and solemnly “called the twelve” to him, and laid down as a principle to be then and for ever remembered, that in his house, or kingdom, or brotherh things are different from what they are in ordinary communities of men. And strange as the radox may seem, the lowest is the highest, the most laborious servant is the true ace the least is the greatest. “If any would ove first, he shall be last of all, and minister of all.” Further to impress this truth upon the hearts of the men who were contending for the highest room, the chief seat, the father’s place in tha house, “ he took a little child ”"—the least in the house, and the furthest removed from the head ; lower even than the servants, for they command the little children—‘‘ and set him in the midst.” The Lord’s sermon from this visible text is elsewhere recorded at length. The lesson for us to ponder, and often to ponder, for we are in great danger of forgetting it, is—He is the chief, the greatest, the first, in the kingdom of heaven who does most service in it. ‘The honour is not to him who sits at the head of the table—any feeble one can do that; but to him who, girt with a towel, waits on the rest—to him who sees the true greatness of the kingdom; who so discerns its lofty, spiritual, and heavenly character, as to learn his own littleness in presence of it; who perceives that its highest end and aim is reached in rendering the utmost service to men. He who has seen the “Lord and Master ” of all girded with a towel, stooping to wash and wipe the feet of his servants; he who has most of this his Master’s spirit, who follows most closely in his Master’s steps of toilsome, self-sacrificing service; he who, like his Master, does the most and the hardest work in the house ;—yea, he is really and indeed the chief, the greatest, the first, in the house. And so, in truth, is it in all houses and in all kingdoms; the truly great are the labourers, the men who always see the kingdom to be greater than they, and, seeing the aim of the kingdom to be greater than the kingdom itself, are lowly enough and great enough to serve that aim, and have their greatness and most honour- able place, not in medals, and decorations, and plaudits, and rewards, but in the deep if hidden fact, that the kingdom’s welfare has been most advanced by them, that they have saved it from ruin or advanced it in honour, prosperity, and blessing. Then let every one seek eagerly the first, the highest place; but let every toilsome servant know that, in Christ’s view, that is most prized which is furthest from self-adulation, from empty vanity, from indolent glorying in place; that he who most obeys, who hardest works, who lowliest walks—he, even he, is chief. This is the highest tribute paid (1) to all lowliness of mind, (2) to all diligent industry, (3) to all willing, sel{-sacrificing service to the common good.—G,
Vers. 38—50.—Stumbiliing-blocks. ‘The same spirit which had led to the disputing as to who was the greatest,” had prompted the forbidding of one who, in Jesus’ Name, was “ casting out devils.” The only reason assigned for the authoritative prohibition was, * He followed not us.” If to pride envy succeeds, and if hatred lurks near to envy, malice is not afar off. The simple correction, “ Forbid him not,” is supported by the assurance that such a one cannot quickly become an enemy—“ speak evil of me;” and
86 THE GOSPEJ, ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. [on. rm. 1—60,
ec i ee
“he that is not against us is for ue.” This admonijtioa is urged by a teaching which branches out in three directions, relating to—
I, THE FAITHFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND BEWARD (¥F THE LEAST {EBVIOE RENDERED TO THE DISCIPLES IN THE Name oF Curisr—even “a cup of water to drink.” Very wide apart are the two works, the “casting out devils” and the giving “a cup of water t6 drink.” The one act may be performed by a mere child in age or in grace ; but the other is the work of the man in grace and years. That the disciples were in the wrong in forbidding him who did the greater work, is shown by the assurance that he who does the less is acknowledged and rewarded by the Lord of all. Did not the disciples know that the casting out of devils was service done to them? Were they as ignorant as so many to-day are, not knowing that in the con- quest of evil every one’s best interests are advanced? Intimately is the well-being of one bound up in the well-being of all. The human body is not more closely knit and compacted together than is human society. To do good to any part is to do good to the whole. And each part suffers in the suffering, or loss, or injury of any other. Then by whomsoever or howsoever devils are cast out, let every true lover of his race and every wise lover of himself rejoice. Such a worker is not “against us,” but “ for us.”