WHO SHALL BE GREATEST?
By J. Clarke
This is one of the questions that occur to the carnal heart, in all great civil and political movements; and in great religious movements, happy and humble indeed is that soul who has no such evil suggestions of the carnal mind to oppose. A very striking instance of this kind is recorded in Matt. xx, 20-28. The mother of James and John came to Christ and asked that her two sons might sit, one on his right hand and the other on his left, in his kingdom. Jesus knowing that she was unconscious of the presumption which such a request manifested, met it with mild reasoning and persuasion, and tells them they do not know what they ask; while the sons of this aspiring woman, with the same unconscious presumption, press the petition, professing to be able to be baptized with the baptism Christ was baptized with; (O how they must have looked back upon this in after years,) and the mild, persuasive, loving Jesus was not only unoffended, but kindly called them with the other disciples to him, while he condescended to dispel the fog which Satan had managed to throw over them. He reasons thus: Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them, but it shall not be so among you; but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant; even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, (to serve,) and to give his life a ransom for many. A very short method, truly, of disposing of this art of Satan, this ambitious carnal propensity, which adulates self, and seeks its own glory. How sweet, how conclusive is the reasoning of Jesus. No rough or harsh terms, nor words of upbraidery, but the kindest language, to express the purest, loftiest thoughts. But we have light now upon this subject. We may quickly and clearly see the sin of ambition and pride. Says Christ, Whosoever shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Says David, My heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty, neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother. My soul is even as a weaned child. Is this the language of my heart? Brother, is this the language of your heart? Are we thus humble? May the good and merciful Jesus bear with us until we come wholly into the faith and patience of the saints.