"JESUS CALLED THEM TO HIM"
“JESUS CALLED THEM TO HIM”
The occasion of the apostles being called to the Lord, as recorded in the above passage, was that ten of their number had become resentful because James and John had made a request to Him that one of them should sit on His right hand and the other on His left in glory. To say the least, James and John were not keeping “the unity of the Spirit” in cultivating this special interest, for such it was. For the moment they were separated in thought and desire from the others; indeed, if their wish were realised, there would be a distinction between them and the other ten even in the glory. This could not be love’s prompting, for it “seeks not its own”, 1 Corinthians 13:5, but rather the things of others.
The ambition of the two brothers excited indignation in the others, and thus a cleavage existed. Alas! this is frequently seen amongst the Lord’s people. To form groups, marked by special interests, is a constant tendency. It is evident that natural relationship influenced James and John, for they were brothers after the flesh. This inference is stronger in Matthew’s account of the incident. He tells us that it was their mother who made the request for her sons. It was a family affair. There was thus a special interest prompted by natural affection. Such a condition is not only damaging to those in whom it may exist, but it incites resentment in others; thus coteries form and love suffers or ceases its activities. The apostles were divided into groups of two and ten.
Other considerations besides family interests may also become the occasions of special bonds among people of God. Wealth and social distinction are common factors, also special or peculiar doctrinal views, or the adoption of certain brothers as leaders.
[p. 221] All these features were present in the assembly at Corinth when the apostle wrote his first epistle. In this epistle he deals with them in divine wisdom. Indeed, in both his letters to the Corinthians he amplifies in a remarkable way the Lord’s gracious admonition and instruction in the scripture before us.
The Lord answered the request of James and John with exquisite tenderness, reminding them of the cup He was about to drink and the baptism He was to be baptised with. Were they capable of the suffering involved? Solemn question, surely! And then the honour they sought was not His to confer; to sit on His right hand and on His left should be given to them for whom it is prepared. “For whom it is prepared” Mark 10:40 are remarkable words here. A humble, subject Man, truly a perfect Servant, is asserting the unalterableness of God’s gifts and callings. In Matthew 20:23 it is, “for whom it is prepared of my Father”. The words omitted by Mark are noticeable. Sovereign purpose is in evidence here.
Then Jesus called the apostles to Him. In such circumstances it is essential that we should get near the Lord, for obviously distance from Him exists. The ten disciples were at fault, as were the two brothers. There was danger of the principles that ruled among the nations creeping in among them. This must not be; a new spirit and principle had come in, and were before their eyes every day in Christ, whose disciples they professed to be. In His admonition the Lord asserts this spirit and principle. “So shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many”. Mark 10: 43 - 45. We thus have a remarkable example of the divine way of meeting and correcting a state of discord among the people of God. The Lord [p. 222] adduces Himself as the Model for us, His service, as here in the midst of His disciples, and His death.
May we indeed draw near to Him at this time and learn from Him We shall thus be meek and lowly in heart; and, as under His influence, like Judah and Ephraim in the future, we shall become one stick in his hand, Ezekiel 37:15 - 20.