DESTINY’S BIBLE STUDY NOTES AND QUOTES

(The Life and Ministry of Jesus #39)

The Law of the New Kingdom

(See Matthew 20:20-28, Mark 10:32-45, Luke 18:31-34)

The time of the Passover was drawing near, and again Jesus turned toward Jerusalem. In His heart was the peace of oneness with the Father’s will, and with eager steps He pressed on toward the place of sacrifice.

A sense of mystery, doubt, and fear, fell upon the disciples. The Savior “went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid.”

His words in regard to betrayal, persecution, and death seemed vague and shadowy.

After the mother of James and John asks that her sons would be seated at His right and left in His kingdom, Jesus bears tenderly with them. He did not rebuke their selfishness in seeking preference over their brethren. He reads their hearts, He knows the depth of their attachment to Him. Their love is not a mere human affection. Though defiled by the earthliness of its human channel, it is an outflowing from the fountain of His own redeeming love.

When the ten heard of the request of James and John, they were much displeased. The highest place in the kingdom was just what every one of them was seeking for himself, and they were angry that the two disciples had gained a seeming advantage.

Religion, like most other things, was a matter of authority. The people were expected to believe and practice as their superiors directed. Christ was establishing a kingdom on different principles. He called men, not to authority, but to service, the strong to bear the infirmities of the weak.

Long afterward when John had been brought into sympathy with Christ through the fellowship of sufferings, the Lord revealed to him what is the condition of nearness in His kingdom. “To him that overcomes,” Christ said. “I will grant to sit with Me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am sit down with My Father in His throne.” (Revelation 3:21)

The one who stands nearest to Christ will be he who on earth has drunk most deeply of the spirit of His self-sacrificing love. Love that “vaunts not itself, is not puffed up… seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil.” (1 Corinthians 13:4, 5)

The plan and ground of salvation is love. In the kingdom of Christ those are greatest who follow the example Jesus has given. The words of Paul reveal the true dignity and honor of the Christian life: “Though I be free from all men, yet I have made myself servant unto all,” “not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” (1 Corinthians 9:19, and 10:33)

In matters of conscience the soul must be left untrammeled. No one is to control another’s mind, to judge for another, or to prescribe his duty. God gives to every soul freedom to think, and to follow his own convictions. “Every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” No one has a right to merge his own individuality in that of another. In all matters where principle is involved, “let everyone be persuaded in his own mind.” (Romans 14:12, 5)

In Christ’s kingdom there is no lordly oppression, or compulsion. The angels of heaven do not come to earth to rule, or exact homage, but as messengers of mercy, to co-operate with people in uplifting humanity.

To his latest days the burden of John’s testimony to the churches was, “This is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1 John 3:11, 16) This was the spirit that pervaded the early church.

No repentance is genuine that does not work reformation. The righteousness of Christ is not a cloak to cover unconfessed and unforsaken sin. It is a principle of life that transforms the character and controls the conduct. Holiness is wholeness for God. It is the entire surrender of heart and life to the indwelling of the principles of heaven.

The Feast at Simon’s House

(See Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-11, Luke7:36-50, and John 11:55-57, 12:1-11)

Simon of Bethany was accounted a disciple of Jesus. He was one of the few Pharisees who had openly joined Christ’s followers.

Mary had heard Jesus speak of His approaching death, and in her deep love and sorrow, she had longed to show Him honor. Breaking open her box of ointment, she poured its contents on the head and feet of Jesus. Then, as she knelt weeping, moistening them with her tears, she wiped His feet with her long, flowing hair.

Mary heard the words of criticism. Her heart trembled within her. She was about to shrink away when the voice of her Lord was heard, “Let her alone, why do you trouble her?” Jesus saw she was embarrassed and distressed, and He brought relief to her mind. Lifting His voice above the murmur of criticism, He said, “She has wrought a good work on Me… She has come aforehand to anoint My body to the burying.

As the alabaster box was broken, and filled the whole house with its fragrance, so Christ was to die, His body was to be broken, but He was to rise from the tomb, and the fragrance of His life was to fill the earth. Christ “has loved us, and has given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.” (Ephesians 5:2)

The Savior didn’t reproach Judas, and thus avoided giving an excuse for his treachery. But the look which Jesus cast upon Judas convinced him that the Savior penetrated his hypocrisy, and read his base, contemptable character. And in commending Mary’s action, which had been so severely condemned, Christ had indirectly rebuked Judas. Prior to this the Savior had never given him a rebuke. Now the reproof rankled in his heart. For a sum far less than the box of ointment cost, he betrayed his Lord.

The words spoken in indignation, “To what purpose is this waste?” brought vividly before Christ the greatest sacrifice ever made. From a human point of view, such a sacrifice was a waste. The loneliness of Christ, separated from the heavenly courts, living the life of humanity, was never understood or appreciated by the disciples as it should have been.

All men are not saved. Yet the plan of redemption is not a waste because it does not accomplish all that its liberality has provided for.

By curing Simon of leprosy, Christ had saved him from a living death. But because Christ allowed this woman to approach , and because He did not indignantly spurn her as one whose sins were too great to be forgiven, Simon now questioned whether the Savior was a prophet.

As did Nathan with David, Christ concealed His home thrust under the veil of a parable.

Each owed a dept of gratitude that never could be repaid. But Simon felt himself more righteous than Mary, and Jesus desired him to see how great his guilt really was.

The rigid rule of justice that Simon had desired to enforce against Mary, condemned him.

Mary had been looked upon as a great sinner, but Christ knew the circumstances that had shaped her life. He might have extinguished every spark of hope in her soul, but He did not. It was He who had lifted her from despair and ruin. Seven times she had heard His rebuke of the demons that controlled her heart and mind. She had heard His strong cries to the Father in her behalf. She knew how offensive is sin to His unsullied purity, and in His strength she had overcome.

The one who had fallen, and whose mind had been a habitation of demons, was brought very near to the Savior in fellowship and ministry. It was Mary who sat at His feet and learned of Him. It was Mary who poured upon His head the precious anointing oil, and bathed His feet with her tears. Mary stood beside the cross, and followed Him to the sepulcher. Mary was first at the tomb after His resurrection. It was Mary who first proclaimed Him a risen Savior.

Christ could wipe this dark world from His universe. But He does not do this. He is today standing at the altar of incense, presenting before God the prayers of those who desire His help.

The souls that turn to Him for refuge, Jesus lifts above the accusing and strife of tongues. No man or evil angel can impeach these souls. Christ unites them to His own divine-human nature.

Jesus knows the circumstances of every soul. You may say, I am sinful, very sinful. You may be, but the worse you are, the more you need Jesus. He turns no weeping contrite one away!

Jesus bids every trembling soul to take courage. Freely He will pardon all who come to Him for forgiveness and restoration!