Save for that blessed knowledge of Himself and the knowledge of the utter alienation of the carnal mind in its enmity against God, as proved in the rejection of Himself, it would be difficult to conceive how there could have been a “strife” in such a scene as is shown us in this upper chamber. The nature of this strife adds its solemnity to the fact; the word “strife” really means an ambitious contention, or love of quarrel; the word only occurs here. The dispute may have arisen while they were taking their places at the couches where they reclined, and may have perhaps been occasioned by some claim made by some for official precedence. Be this as it may, it is very clear that self and pride filled their hearts. Alas! it is all too evident that in the midst of all these deep solemnities, the thoughts of the poor disciples were about their vanity. Then the tender, gracious way He meets all is so blessed, there is no reproach of any kind, yet He so preciously sets them right: it was as though He said to them, “You are seeking for a high place, but I have taken a low one.”
What should we have said if so circumstanced? Would it not have been something severe, hard, wounding? Ah! nothing of that kind ever passed from His blessed lips. First, He tells us His verdict on the world—in it the proud are flattered, it likes the haughty and the great; but you shall not be so.
Oh what a comfort and solace to the heart it is to come to the mind of Christ! how precious to dwell upon His beauty and upon His lowly, perfect grace! He was among them as One that served; whatever high place they sought, He took the low place.
Thus we have the principle and pattern of all true greatness in His blessed words and Person here. No doubt with the disciples thoughts of the kingdom filled their minds in a carnal way, and led to the strife spoken of here for preeminence; it is in the presence of His coming and foretold sorrow all this takes place, as another so solemnly and blessedly says:
“And this, in the presence of the cross, at the table where the Lord was giving them the last pledges of His love. Truth of heart was there, but what a heart to have truth in! As for Himself, He had taken the lowest place, and that—as the most excellent for love—was His alone. They had to follow Him as closely as they could. His grace recognizes their having done so, as if He were their debtor for their care during His time of sorrow on earth. He remembered it. In the day of His kingdom they should have twelve thrones, as heads of Israel, among whom they had followed Him.”
Oh how perfect and precious is this grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, how tender and gentle are His rebukes; these never separate, never put us at a distance from Him, indeed they bring nearer to Him, as here, where, as we have seen, He speaks of them as companions of His temptations! In connection with all this, may we not say with another, that one feels too sadly in one’s own heart, that it is one thing to render to Jesus the tribute of admiration, or even of tears, and another to join one’s self with Him for better or worse, through good and through evil, in the face of the present world; one thing to speak well of Him, another to give up all for Him. Lastly, observe all this is on the way to the great end, the great consummation of all His blessed love and grace. It is striking and solemn to see how this blessed end is related in scripture. In the Gospel of Luke it is the Father as with Him, communion with Him, dependence on Him with the assurance of His support and acceptance. In Matthew and Mark it is God as absent from Him, and hence the cry of conscious abandonment and desertion. In John it is a divine Person everywhere, in the garden and on the cross, with His own hand He simply seals the accomplished work with the words; “It is finished,” and gave up His Spirit as having power over it (B"D,’T6,< J@ B<,L:").
How truly is it said that “He gives up His spirit Himself. No one takes it from Him; it is He Himself who gives it up. A divine act.” . . . He Himself separates His spirit from His body, and gives it up to God His Father; a divine act that He had the power to accomplish.
As we thus trace the blessed One through these varied scenes of sorrow to the close, are not our hearts responsive to the words: –
“O Lord! Thy wondrous story
My inmost soul doth move;
I ponder o’er Thy glory,
Thy lonely path of love.”