To aim so high; to fall so low!
Judas Iscariot, like Lucifer, aspired to set his throne above the stars of God. Money was one of his idols, but the god of his heart was pride and selfish ambition. In the beginning he admired Jesus. He marveled at His power to heal the sick, to cast out devils, to raise the dead. He was attracted to the Man of Nazareth, who, coming from so humble and disreputable an environment, manifested such genius and originality and authority. His teachings. were fresh and invigorating; and Judas, sensing something of his own lack, was drawn to Jesus as an iron filing is drawn to a magnet. Judas joined the church. Soon he held office. His fellow disciples paid him deference; for was not Judas a scribe, a learned man, shrewd, capable, discerning? His vanity fed by their respect, he set his native cunning to work to attain to undisputed headship of the company. Skilled in dialectics, he taught the Bible class, weaving in many a misinterpretation and sophistry that he had learned from his rabbinical teachers and that he honestly believed.
The opposite teachings of Jesus offended him: since the prophecies plainly foretold the glory of the Messiah, who should sit on the throne of His father David, why did Jesus again and again declare that He was fated to die? Why should He counsel humility and self-denial and menial service? That was all good enough for Bartholomew and Thomas and Matthew and Simon Zelotes and Jude the Little. A dose of it would even be good for that brash fisherman, Simon Peter. And as for those ambitious sons of Zebedee, whose mother, Salome, was constantly feeding the wealth of their vulgar business into the treasury well, of course she and they must be treated with deference, so as not to dry up the stream of gold; but there were ways of circumventing their schemes. As for Judas, he was the diplomat, the statesman, the politician. He knew the way the cause should take; and he knew how to ride the crest of the wave of popularity. He would arrive!
Ambition to be the chief was rife among the twelve. There was rivalry; there were cliques; there was intrigue. The lesser attached themselves to the apparently greater; if•any could not be chief, at least he might be the right-hand man of the chief. Judas often arranged provocative situations, drew out interests, interposed questions and subtle answers. He sat at the steering oar, while he let the other row.
Basic Law of Christ's Kingdom
Suddenly James and John made a surprise move. They were undeniably the majority in the triumvirate whom Jesus most often took into conference and confidence. With their mother they went to the Master and boldly asked for the two highest places in the kingdom. They were gently refused, but the episode set off a tremendous explosion. Judas, for once taken aback, led the chorus of condemnation; but all the ten "were moved with indignation against the two brethren."
Then Jesus called them all together and laid down the basic law of the kingdom: "Whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all" (Mark 10:43, 44).
Judas did not believe that. It was contrary to all common sense, all experience of man. Whoever would be great must strive to be great. He must scheme and contrive and maneuver, and when necessary and expedient use brute force, to get to the top. This whole campaign of Jesus was going wrong, because He, Christ, was too otherworldly, too lacking in ambition, too obtuse to perceive His opportunities. Judas must correct that, for the prize of being chief in the kingdom was not lightly to be discarded. From that day he set his course on a tangent. He aimed at being the prime minister in the Messiah's kingdom. He
would maneuver events into a crisis, when the Christ must manifest His divine power, smite His enemies, sit on the throne, appoint the kingmaker lord over all his brethren. Judas aimed, he thought, at a star, but his star was a firefly. He stumbled in the morass of worldly ambition, and his life went out in infamy. His bishopric was left vacant; let another take it.
Who is the candidate? "I," says one; "I am greater than my fellows. I have native ability, thorough training, grasp of essentials, keen judgment. I will take Judas' place." "No!" shouts another, "you are too much like Judas himself: crafty, underhanded, supercilious, covetous of power. Look at me! I am humble and meek and lowly of mind, like my Master. I have long cultivated the virtues of Christian life. This is my opportunity. Vote for me!" But the Master says: "Who will wash the dusty feet? Who will feed the famishing while he himself goes hungry? Who will put his arms around the little children and tell them stories, rather than stand in the pulpit and utter golden words? Who will husk the corn in the freezing weather, rather than sit in the plushy committee room and legislate upon his fellows? Who will find more satisfaction in comforting the widow than in being elected as bishop? He is my chosen one. For love is the standard and the measure and the test. Who so loves the fallen and the needy and the helpless that he gives himself to serve, though he knows it not, is the greatest in the kingdom."
How foolish are we to follow in the footprints of Judas! How little and mean are the honors men may give, compared with the gladness and the glory of being one with Christ! What is a summa cum laude against a "Well done, thou good and faithful servant"! Shall I reject the companionship of Christ to gain a superintendency? Shall I give myself to criticism of Peter and James and John, because they went up on the mount of transfiguration, while I was left with an epileptic boy on my hands? Shall I-oh, dreadful thought!-scheme to the point of selling my Lord for the price of a slave?
The love of God that comes into the heart of the Christian cuts down all selfish ambition, all desire for preferment, all temptation to compare ourselves to advantage against others. It fills us with a holy ambition to serve the needs of suffering humanity, with no thought of office or power. The jangling and wrangling and criticism and scandalmongering that come from unconsecrated hearts are all eliminated when the Master girds Himself with a towel, pours water into a basin, and stoops down to wash my feet. My eyes upon Him, I see not myself, I see only the spotless Son of God, and through Him, purified and glorified, I see my brethren and the great multitude of earth's lost whom He came to save. All this, in blessed ministry, I see through Christ unless I am Judas!
Qualities Indispensable to a Missionary
L. H. OLSON Secretary, the South American Division
The very word missionary ought to fill with satisfaction and inspire the worker called to such a high ministry, for in fact God Himself sent His only Son to a foreign land as a missionary, and we also, following that sublime example, should respond joyfully to the invitation to go to faraway places If Providence so directs us.
Conviction of Divine Message
Indeed is the picture of the millions who are searching m the darkness for the Light of life. If any know nothing of a compassionate Saviour who came to earth to save us from our sins. But "how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Rom. 10: 14). Let us thank God for His message of counsel and hope. It is an encouraging message. Missionary should go to a new territory without holding the conviction that he IS carrying a divine message. Each one should be able to say with the apostle Paul, "I know whom I have believed." Besides, we should remember that we are not just another church, but that we have a message. Just as a voice prepared the way of the Lord at the time of His first advent, so now, m the last hour of the history of the world and n the eve of the second coming of Jesus Christ to the earth, another voice arises proclaiming a message o! warning in order that all those who are sincere in heart may be prepared to receive their God. Those who have been set apart for this ministry of warning are not mere professionals, but missionaries charged with a sacred trust. The coming of the Lord is drawing near, and we have a message of good news for a world condemned to destruction.
Sometimes the missionary will arrive at his new field of labor alone, without experienced counselors who can guide his first activities. Then he will have opportunity to practice moral integrity, maintaining immovable his faith in Divine Providence, and making the best of the circumstances.
Conviction of Divine Call
We can never overemphasize the importance of the missionary's feeling in the depths of his being his divine call, his vocation. When Paul, according to the record in Acts 9, saw Jesus Christ, he exclaimed, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" At the time he received this vision of his Lord, he dedicated his life to proclaiming the message of God to the people, and years later, with this dominating sentiment still vivid, he exclaimed, "Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" (1 Cor. 9: 16).
Health of Missionary and His Family
If there is anything supremely important for every missionary who goes to a difficult field of labor, it is his health and that of his family. If health is necessary for everyone, it is even more so for the missionary who must work under disadvantageous conditions. He must remember that rest is as important as work for God. He misuse his good judgment to find an mte1hgent balance under the conditions of work in which he is to carry on for a few years.
Importance of the Homemaker
It is important that the wife and mother keep the home in the most comfortable and attractive manner, so that when the husband and father returns from his missionary journeys he may enjoy being there. Such a home will be a sure refuge for the children, which they will always remember with affection. And it will serve as an example to the neighborhood. It is indispensable that the wife know how to sew, for thus she will be able to clothe her family with economy and good taste.
With respect to nutrition, the missionary will encounter new fruits and vegetables. The wife then will have the opportunity of choosing and preparing those foods in a healthful and attractive manner, as much for the satisfaction of the palate as for the conservation of health.
Perseverance
Once in the mission field, the worker should resolve to remain at his post of duty in spite of every difficulty and complete his period of service, overcoming every trial and obstacle, for just as God wants him to remain firm and true in his place of work, so the enemy would rejoice to see him discouraged and tempted to abandon the struggle.
Every worker will enjoy success while he fulfills his mission of lifting up Christ as the Saviour of the world, who transforms the hearts of men and teaches them to travel in the pathway of a holy life in the Lord. At the height of such a noble commission, the missionary, with his Bible in his hand, will be able to reach the goal marked by Heaven.
