suasion of her sons, (Mark x. 35) she said, Grant that these my two sons may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left, in thy kingdom.

58. Why did she ask permission for them to sit, one on his right hand, and the other on his left? A. Because these places were considered as the most honourable at the Jewish meetings or assemblies'.

59. What induced them to persuade their mother to make this request? A. Either from the promise of our Lord, that the disciples should sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel, or because they were elated at being selected with Peter, from the other disciples, to attend him at his transfiguration, and at the raising of Jairus the ruler's daughter. Vide chap. xvii. Quest. 35. 60. What was there extraordinary in this request? A. That they should so soon have forgotten the lesson which they had been taught at the transfiguration, that the kingdom of our Lord in this world was not of a temporal nature. Vide chap. xvii. verses 13, 14.

A. In the

61. What is meant by in thy kingdom? glorious kingdom which the Jews expected the Messiah would establish upon earth.

62. What did our Lord answer? A. Ye know not what

ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

-v. 22.

63. Why did they not know what they asked? A. Because they were ignorant that those who were to be the chief persons in his kingdom, instead of being gifted with worldly affluence, would be exposed to severer troubles and persecutions than those who were in an inferior situation in the Church.

64. What is meant by drinking of the cup which he shall drink of? A. Tasting the same sufferings, undergoing the same afflictions.

65. What is meant by being baptized with the baptism that he was baptized with? A. Being immersed in the same sorrows and afflictions.

1 In her request she might have alluded to the custom observed in the Jewish Sanhedrim; where, on each side of the prince of the Sanhedrim, sat those two persons, who were next in authority to him.

66. What did they answer? A. We are able.

67. What did Jesus then say ? A. Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

68. How was this prophecy of our Lord's, that those two disciples should drink of the cup that he should drink of, and be baptized with the baptism that he was baptized with, fulfilled? A. By the persecutions which both of them underwent. James was put to death by Herod, nephew of Herod the Great (Acts v. 40. xii. 1), and John was scourged and afterwards banished to the island of Patmos, (Rev. i. 9.) Tradition also says, that he was cast into a cauldron of boiling oil, but that he escaped unhurt.

69. What did Jesus mean by saying, that sitting on his right hand and on his left, was not his to give, but that it should be given to them for whom it was prepared of his Father? A. The words are obscurely expressed in the translation; the true translation, in which most commentators agree, is, "that it was not his, nor in his power to give it, except to those for whom it was prepared of his Father;" that is, for those who shall have attained the highest degree of holiness and piety on earth 1.

70. What effect had this upon the apostles? A. They were moved with indignation against the two brethren. v. 35.

71. Why so? A. Because they were indignant that these two disciples should wish to have more power, or a more exalted situation in the kingdom of Christ, than themselves.

72. What did Jesus then do? A. He called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them but it shall not be so among you, but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister.

73. What does he mean by this? A. That they, as his disciples, must not take example from the Gentiles, or heathen nations, whose princes and rulers exercise dominion over their subjects.

1 Vide the Greek.

74. What does he tell his disciples to do? A. That whoever wishes to be superior to his fellow-disciples, instead of endeavouring to rule over them, must show such superiority by acts of humility and meekness alone.

75. What is meant by being their minister? A. Acting even as servants, performing every friendly office of which they stand in need.

76. By what example does he encourage them to do so? A. Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.—

v. 28.

77. What is a ransom? A. The price by which any thing is redeemed.

78. Why does our Lord mention his own example? A. Because if he, the Son of God, while upon earth, did not exalt himself above others, and was so far from ruling mankind imperiously, that he ministered to their necessities, and even gave up his life to redeem them from the wrath of God, to which they were subjected by the sin of Adam, and by their own wickedness; even so should the disciples imitate his example, and shew their love to their fellowcreatures, independently of any selfish wishes for their own worldly advancement.

79. Why did he say this to them? A. He wished to check the jealous and envious disposition of the ten, and to rebuke the ambition of the sons of Zebedee.

80. Where did they go after this? A. To Jericho. Mark x. 46.

81. Who followed them from Jericho? A. Great multitudes.-v. 29.

82. Was our Lord addressed by any person on the way? A. Yes; by two blind men, who, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out to him.-v. 30.

83. What did they say? A. Have mercy on us, 0 Lord, thou Son of David.

84. What did the multitudes do? A. They rebuked them; that is, they bid them hold their peace, and be silent. v. 31.

85. Were they silent as the multitude commanded them? A. No; They cried out the more, saying, Have mercy upon us, O Lord, thou Son of David.

86. How did the blind men shew their faith in these

words with which they addressed our Lord? their calling him the Son of David.

Ques. 36.

A. By

Vide chap. xv.

87. What did Jesus do? A. He stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I should do unto you?

v. 32.

88. What did the blind men answer? A. Lord, that our eyes may be opened.-v. 33.

89. Did Jesus grant their request? A. Yes; He had compassion on them, and touched their eyes, and immediately their eyes received sight.

-v. 34.

90. How did those that were blind shew their gratitude to Jesus? A. They followed him to hear his doctrines, and became his disciples,

91. What is meant by becoming his disciples? A. Not that they were to be included amongst the twelve; but that they became believers in the Gospel. The term disciple was a name given to all such1.

GENERAL QUESTIONS.

92. On a former occasion, our Lord seemed to give to one of his disciples a degree of superiority over the others; which of them was it? A. Peter. Vide chap.

xvi. 45.

93. From what circumstance mentioned in this chapter, may we conclude that the other disciples did not understand the promise made to Peter, as giving him any superiority over them? A. From the request of Zebedee's children, to be allowed to sit, one on his right hand, and the other on his left, to the exclusion of Peter; and from the indignation which the others felt at the thoughts of one disciple being superior to the others.

94. Why did our Lord so often prophesy his own death? A. Not only to keep his disciples constantly in mind of it, and to check their expectation of temporal power; but also, when it did take place, to prevent their being alarmed or terrified, as they must be conscious it was for that purpose he came into the world.

1 Disciple, from discipulus, a scholar, a learner.

95. Our Saviour in this chapter is called the Son of David by the blind men. How often before had he been so called? A. Three times; first, by the blind men (chap. ix. 27); secondly, by the people (chap. xii. 28); thirdly, by the woman of Canaan (chap. xv. 22).

CHAPTER XXI.

1. WHERE were Jesus and his disciples going at this time? A. To Jerusalem.-v. 1.

2. When they came nigh to that city, what did Jesus do? A. He sent two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her; loose them, and bring them

unto me.-v. 2.

3. Where was our Lord when he gave these directions? A. At Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives.

4. Why was it called the Mount of Olives? A. From the number of olive-trees which grew there.

5. If any person objected to their bringing away the ass and her colt, what did our Lord command his disciples to say? A. The Lord hath need of them; and straightway (he added) he will send them.—v. 3.

6. What prophecy was fulfilled by our Lord entering Jerusalem upon an ass? A. That of Zechariah (chap. ix. 9), where he says, Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy king cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass.-v. 4.

7. What is meant by the daughter of Zion? A. Jerusalem, or the inhabitants of Jerusalem; so called, because part of the city was built on Mount Zion.

8. What is meant by the king coming meek, and sitting upon an ass? A. That instead of coming in great pomp and splendour, he came sitting upon an ass, to shew his meekness and humility.

9. Whom did Zachariah mean by the king? A. Our