the acts of the apostles-第102章
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glory upon the mount of transfiguration and His agony in Gethsemane； and it
was to his care that our Lord confided His mother in those last hours of
anguish upon the cross。
The Saviour's affection for the beloved disciple was returned with all the
strength of ardent devotion。 John clung to Christ as the vine clings to the
stately pillar。 For his Master's sake he braved the dangers of the judgment
hall and lingered about the cross； and at the tidings that Christ had risen；
he hastened to the sepulcher； in his zeal out…stripping even the impetuous
Peter。
The confiding love and unselfish devotion manifested in the life and
character of John present lessons of untold value
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to the Christian church。 John did not naturally possess the loveliness of
character that his later experience revealed。 By nature he had serious
defects。 He was not only proud； self…assertive； and ambitious for honor； but
impetuous； and resentful under injury。 He and his brother were called 〃sons
of thunder。〃 Evil temper； the desire for revenge； the spirit of criticism；
were all in the beloved disciple。 But beneath all this the divine Teacher
discerned the ardent； sincere； loving heart。 Jesus rebuked this
self…seeking； disappointed his ambitions； tested his faith。 But He revealed
to him that for which his soul longedthe beauty of holiness； the
transforming power of love。
The defects in John's character came strongly to the front on several
occasions during his personal association with the Saviour。 At one time
Christ sent messengers before Him into a village of the Samaritans；
requesting the people to prepare refreshments for Him and His disciples。 But
when the Saviour approached the town； He appeared to be desirous of passing
on toward Jerusalem。 This aroused the envy of the Samaritans； and instead of
inviting Him to tarry with them； they withheld the courtesies which they
would have given to a common wayfarer。 Jesus never urges His presence upon
any； and the Samaritans lost the blessing which would have been granted them
had they solicited Him to be their guest。
The disciples knew that it was the purpose of Christ to bless the Samaritans
by His presence； and the coldness； jealousy； and disrespect shown to their
Master filled them with surprise and indignation。 James and John especially
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were aroused。 That He whom they so highly reverenced should be thus treated；
seemed to them a wrong too great to be passed over without immediate
punishment。 In their zeal they said； 〃Lord； wilt Thou that we command fire
to come down from heaven； and consume them； even as Elias did？〃 referring to
the destruction of the Samaritan captains and their companies sent out to
take the prophet Elijah。 They were surprised to see that Jesus was pained by
their words； and still more surprised as His rebuke fell upon their ears：
〃Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of。 For the Son of man is not come
to destroy men's lives； but to save them。〃 Luke 9：54…56。
It is no part of Christ's mission to compel men to receive Him。 It is Satan；
and men actuated by his spirit； who seek to compel the conscience。 Under a
pretense of zeal for righteousness； men who are confederated with evil
angels sometimes bring suffering upon their fellow men in order to convert
them to their ideas of religion； but Christ is ever showing mercy； ever
seeking to win by the revealing of His love。 He can admit no rival in the
soul； nor accept of partial service； but He desires only voluntary service；
the willing surrender of the heart under the constraint of love。
On another occasion James and John presented through their mother a petition
requesting that they might be permitted to occupy the highest positions of
honor in Christ's kingdom。 Notwithstanding Christ's repeated instruction
concerning the nature of His kingdom； these young disciples still cherished
the hope for a Messiah who would take His throne and kingly power in
accordance with the desires
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of men。 The mother； coveting with them the place of honor in this kingdom
for her sons； asked； 〃Grant that these my two sons may sit； the one on Thy
right hand； and the other on the left； in Thy kingdom。〃
But the Saviour answered； 〃Ye know not what ye ask。 Are ye able to drink of
the cup that I shall drink of； and to be baptized with the baptism that I am
baptized with？〃 They recalled His mysterious words pointing to trial and
suffering； yet answered confidently； 〃We are able。〃 They would count it
highest honor to prove their loyalty by sharing all that was to befall their
Lord。
〃Ye shall drink indeed of My cup； and be baptized with the baptism that I am
baptized with；〃 Christ declared before Him a cross instead of a throne；
two malefactors His companions at His right hand and at His left。 James and
John were to be sharers with their Master in sufferingthe one； destined to
swift…coming death by the sword； the other； longest of all the disciples to
follow his Master in labor and reproach and persecution。 〃But to sit on My
right hand； and on My left；〃 He continued； 〃is not Mine to give； but it
shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of My Father。〃 Matthew
20：21…23。
Jesus understood the motive that prompted the request and thus reproved the
pride and ambition of the two disciples： 〃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
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as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto； but to minister； and to
give His life a ransom for many。〃 Matthew 20：25…28。
In the kingdom of God； position is not gained through favoritism。 It is not
earned； nor is it received through an arbitrary bestowal。 It is the result
of character。 The crown and the throne are the tokens of a condition
attainedtokens of self…conquest through the grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ。
Long afterward； when John had been brought into sympathy with Christ through
the fellowship of His sufferings； the Lord Jesus revealed to him what is the
condition of nearness to His kingdom。 〃To him that overcometh；〃 Christ said；
〃will I grant to sit with Me in My throne； even as I also overcame； and am
set down with My Father in His throne。〃 Revelation 3：21。 The one who stands
nearest to Christ will be he who has drunk most deeply of His spirit of
self…sacrificing love；love that 〃vaunteth not itself； is not puffed up； 。
。 。 seeketh not her own； is not easily provoked； thinketh no evil〃 （1
Corinthians 13：4； 5）；love that moves the disciple； as it moved our Lord；
to give all； to live and labor and sacrifice even unto death； for the saving
of humanity。
At another time during their early evangelistic labors； James and John met
one who； while not an acknowledged follower of Christ； was casting out
devils in His name。 The disciples forbade the man to work and thought they
were right in doing this。 But when they laid the matter before Christ； He
reproved them； saying； 〃Forbid him not： for there is no man which shall do a
miracle in My name； that
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can lightly speak evil of Me。〃 Mark 9：39。 None who showed themselves in any
way friendly to Christ were to be repulsed。 The disciples must not indulge a
narrow； exclusive spirit； but must manifest the same far…reaching sympathy
which they had seen in their Master。 James and John had thought that in
checking this man they had in view the Lord's honor； but they began to see
that they were jealous for their own。 They acknowledged their error and
accepted the reproof。
The lessons of Christ； setting forth meekness and humility and love as
essential to growth in grace and a fitness for His work； were of the highest
value to John。 He treasured every lesson and constantly sought to bring his
life into harmony with the divine pattern。 John had begun to discern the
glory of Christnot the worldly pomp and power for which he had been taught
to hope； but 〃the glory
