them, was 'not against' them. Such an one should be regarded as thus far with them; at

least be let alone, left to Him Who knew all things. Such a man would not lightly speak

evil of Christ - and that was all the disciples should care for, unless, indeed, they sought

their own. Quite other was it as regarded the relation of a person to the Christ Himself.

There neutrality was impossible - and that which was not with Christ, by this very fact

was against Him. The lesson is of the most deep-reaching character, and the

distinction, alas! still overlooked - perhaps, because ours is too often the spirit of those

who journeyed to Capernaum. Not, that it is unimportant to follow with the disciples, but

that it is not ours to forbid any work done, however imperfectly, in His Name, and that

only one question is really vital - whether or not a man is decidedly with Christ.

Such were the incidents by the way. And now, while withholding from Christ their

dispute, and, indeed, anything that might seem personal in the question, the disciples,

on entering the house where He was in Capernaum, addressed to Him this inquiry

(which should be inserted from the opening words of St. Matthew's narrative): 'Who,

then, is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?' It was a general question - but Jesus

perceived the thought of their hearts;39 He knew about what they had disputed by the

way,40 and now asked them concerning it. The account of St. Mark is most graphic. We

almost see the scene. Conscience-stricken 'they held their peace.' As we read the

further words:41 'And He sat down,' it seems as if the Master had a first gone to

welcome the disciples on their arrival, and they, 'full of their dispute,' had, without delay,

addressed their inquiry to him in the court or antechamber, where they met Him, when,

reading their thoughts, He had first put the searching counter-question, what had been

the subject of their dispute. Then, leading the way into the house, 'He sat down,' not

only to answer their inquiry, which was not a real inquiry, but to teach them what so

much they needed to learn. He called a little child - perhaps Peter's little son - and put

him in the midst of them. Not to strive who was to be greatest, but to be utterly without

self-consciousness, like a child - thus, to become turned and entirely changed in mind:

'converted,' was the condition for entering into the Kingdom of Heaven. Then, as to the

question of greatness there, it was really one of greatness of service - and that was

greatest service which implied most self-denial. Suiting the action to the teaching, the

Blessed Saviour took the happy child in His Arms. Not, to teach, to preach, to work

miracles, nor to do great things, but to do the humblest service for Christ's sake -

lovingly, earnestly, wholly, self -forgetfully, simply for Christ, was to receive Christ - nay,

to receive the Father. And the smallest service, as it might seem - even the giving a cup

of cold water in such spirit, would not lose its reward. Blessed teaching this to the

disciples and to us; blessed lesson, which, these many centuries of scorching heat, has

been of unspeakable refreshing, alike to the giver and the receiver of the cup of water in

the Name of Christ, in the love of Christ, and for the sake of Christ.42