EDUCATION IN VIEW OF SERVICE
[p. 171] EDUCATION IN VIEW OF SERVICE
The special thought on my mind is to show that we have to learn everything from Christ Himself. The gospel of Mark shuts the door on all the colleges and schools in that which concerns the service of Christ. It is said in John 7:15, “How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?” If it entirely lays aside human methods, still Mark’s gospel gives us wonderful education. Education is good, every one must be educated in order to take a place in the house of God, so that he may behave himself there. We have to learn that which is called good manners; we must not be rude, or discourteous, or unwise in our way of acting. As belonging to heaven, we know we are in sight of myriads of beings who have known God before us, not better than us, but before us, and it is of the highest importance that we should know how to conduct ourselves.
Matthew 11:29 tells us the Lord has said, “learn from me”. Now it is this point I would press, the thought of a model, that is to say, some one doing the things before you in order that you may see in what way they are done, and then praying to God that you may act in the same way. I would not like to be unlike the Lord. Thus when the Lord is seen praying, as it is recorded in Luke 11:1, one of His disciples said, “Lord, teach us to pray”. Prayer is not in words only. While you are praying God looks at your heart.
The disciple said, “Lord, teach us to pray”, not teach me; He would that all the brethren knew how to pray. When you are gathered together for prayer, you desire that all the brethren know how to pray — you cannot permit only old brothers to pray. You can thus have various prayers and accordingly variety and brevity. Look at the mount of transfiguration — the voice of the Father is heard: “This is my beloved Son, hear him”, (Mark 9:7). This is very short, but how complete! The Father could well have revealed more, but this is all He said. The Lord replies to the question asked, “When ye pray, say, Father, thy name be hallowed”. Read the prayer in Luke 11 and you notice how short it is.
Beloved, in the house of God brevity and variety are important things. Brevity truly makes room for variety. This is what the Lord expresses in His reply to the disciple wishing to learn how to pray, and that all should be taught to pray. This disciple desired, not to be chosen as the special brother for prayer but that all should learn to pray. Prayer is not a gift, it belongs to education, it is as though we listened to the Lord; He Himself puts words into our mouth.
Jesus withdraws with His disciples to the sea shore. The sea has a remarkable place in this gospel. In verse 9 He said to His disciples that a small ship should wait on Him. This completes what I had on my mind. For the education of His servants, His followers, the Lord retires with them to the sea shore, that which indicates to me that He leads them into contact with death. If the Herodians desire us to perish, death is always our portion. They cannot go beyond that. Whatever may be our position, we must always continue to work, and not to fall back on ourselves.
How wonderfully suitable a little ship is to the christian position! A little ship in which one works for the salvation of souls is very different from a cathedral. The little ship is furnished by the disciples; but why little? Because it suits us to be little; a little flock; little things are efficacious. Our position is marked by a little strength; it is a day of little things and obscurity. What a picture for us in contrast to all that surrounds us!
The Lord is satisfied to be in a little ship. He would teach us to be satisfied with smallness and obscurity, nevertheless marked by great strength — “a great multitude followed him”, and He healed many, and [p. 173] evil spirits fell down before Him, saying, Thou art the Son of God! It is worth the trouble of furnishing a little ship if you find there increased appreciation of Christ. The place where I serve, however important, can add nothing. The Lord is as great in the little ship as He is at the right hand of God; He is the same eternally; He is the Son of God.
If you would serve the Lord, you must be with Him. To be with Him and under His influence are the two things we have to seek. It needs grace and a special power to heal the sick. I am not speaking here of bodily sickness, but of sickness amongst the brethren here and there. May the Lord give us grace to heal them. “But let it rather be healed”, (Hebrews 12:13), so that no one should be cut off. That the sickness should be cured is important. And to cast out devils! May the Lord give us power against them! No quarter for devils, but, on the contrary, all our tenderness for the brethren; such is the thought.
The disciples must be with the Lord to learn, under His influence, how they must behave and carry out the service.