LESSON 8.—MAY 22.—JESUS TEACHES HUMILITY.
(35) "AND there come near unto Him James and John, the sons of Zebedee, saying unto Him, Teacher, we would that Thou shouldst do for us whatsoever we shall ask of Thee. (36) And He said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? (37) And they said unto Him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on Thy right hand, and one on Thy left hand, in Thy glory. (38) But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup that I drink? or to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? (39) And they said unto Him, We are able. And Jesus said unto them, The cup that I drink ye shall drink; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: (40) but to sit on My right hand or on My left hand is not Mine to give; but it is for them for whom it hath been prepared. (41) And when the ten heard it, they began to be moved with indignation concerning James and John. (42) And Jesus called them to Him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they who are accounted to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great ones exercise authority over them. (43) But it is not so among you: but whosoever would become great among you, shall be your minister; (44) and whosoever would be first among you, shall be servant of all. (45) For the Son of Man also came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many." Golden Text.—"For even the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister." Verse 45. (1) Which of the disciples came to Jesus with a special request? How did they introduce the subject? Verse 35. (2) How did Jesus encourage them to make known their request? Verse 36. Note 1. (3) What was their desire? Verse 37. Note 2. (4) What did Jesus say of this request? What other proposition did He set before them? Verse 38. Note 3. (5) What was their reply? Then what promise did Jesus make? Verse 39. Note 4. (6) What did He say of the places they desired to occupy? To whom would they be given? Verse 40. Note 5. (7) How were the other disciples affected by the course of James and John? Verse 41. Note 6. (8) To what did Jesus call their attention? Verse 42. (9) But how is the believer's conduct to differ from that of the world? Verse 43. (10) What must one do in order to be chief among the brethren? Verse 44. (11) What was Christ's own example in this respect? Verse 45. Note 7. 2. Ambition to be great was one of the worst hindrances to the disciples' understanding of the true character of the mission and kingdom of Christ. On another occasion they had been reproved for this trait of character, when they had disputed about which of them should be greatest. See Mark 9:33-38. But it seems that on the present occasion the two sons of Zebedee thought to take advantage of the others, and get a private promise when there was no one to protest. Matthew tells us that the mother of the two disciples accompanied them, and that it was she who really made the petition. However, notwithstanding the various lessons given by the Master on this subject, the spirit of ambition and jealousy permeated their hearts up to the time of the last supper (Luke 22:24), or even till their conversion after the Lord's resurrection. Political ambition, on the pretext of advancing the cause of God, is blinding many zealous "reformers" to-day concerning the principles and establishment of the Lord's kingdom in the earth. 3. "Ye know not what ye ask."—Many a man has experienced complete failure in life through seeking positions for which he was not qualified. It is well to know what is involved in a position, or the preparation for it, before assuming its responsibilities. 4. "We are able."—That they were not able of themselves to stand with Him in His sorest trial, was shown by their going to sleep when He needed their prayers and sympathy in the Garden of Gethsemane, and their deserting Him after His arrest. But it may be said that after their real conversion, they were always loyal, even in the face of bitter persecution. James was the first of the apostles to forfeit his life for the faith, and John was faithful throughout a long life of trial and persecution of various kinds. Thus was fulfilled the promise of the Lord. A further promise to all the twelve was that in His kingdom they should "sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." Matt. 19:28. But there is no intimation that any of them, either in this world or the next, should hold rank above the others. The Lord's reply to the request of His disciples that they should hold exalted positions in His kingdom shows that it is more important to be overcomers of the trials, temptations, and persecutions to which we are subject in this life than to be seekers after exalted positions, either here or hereafter. There is a precious promise to the overcomer in Rev. 3:21. 5. The positions in the kingdom are not given to individuals arbitrarily, especially not because of any influence they can bring, other than a fitness developed by Christian experience. These positions are prepared for those who shall acquire the qualifications. They were, therefore, not Christ's to give in an arbitrary manner, having been already assigned to whoever should grow into them, regardless of former position or condition. Judas might have been a ruler of one of the twelve tribes in the kingdom (Matt. 19:28); but when he fell, another took his office (Acts 1:16, 17, 20). 6. The indignation of the ten was quite natural, both because of the attempt of James and John to forestall their fellow workers, and because the ten were all possessed of a like ambition to be greatest in the Messiah's kingdom. 7. This lesson to the disciples that accompanied Christ in His earthly ministry is also for us. The kingdom of God is not conducted on the same lines as are the kingdoms of this world; neither are the children of His kingdom to be actuated by the same ambitious spirit that influences the people of the world. The example of His own mission to this world is an apt illustration of how His followers are to act in this world. 1 John 4:17.