The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-26
READING FOR THE DAY.
sunday-sohooi Lesson for Oct 3. 1885.

JESUS BETRAYED--John xviii, LA.
Golden Textile Son of Man is betrayed into the
hands of snners.-Mark xvi, al.
The supper, the long conversation, the prayer
of Jesus John xiii-xvii), that have occupied our
time for many weeks, end with the last chapter,
and Jesus now leaves the upper chamber"
and, passing through the streets of the city, he
departs by one of the eastern gates, and going
down into the valley of Kidron, he passes over
the brook, and soon enters a garden that he
frequented with his disciples. This was doubt
less garden of trees and Towering shrubs, sur
rounded by olives, and the ''olive-press' gave
name to the piece of ground. Godet suggests
that it was owned by friends of Jesus, and
Edersheim thinks that it was sort of private
ground where the Savior could quietly meet
those who wished to converse with him. II was
the most natural thing for Judas to look for
Jesus in this very place.
The walled garden of to-day may occupy
part of the Gethsemane of old. The aged olives
of to-day, according to the habit of the tree, may
have sprung from the roots of those on the
ground eighteen hundred years ago. AT least
the spot is very near, and probably on the very
site of the agony of Jesus and the betrayal of
Judas. The situation was fixed in the time Of
Constantine, when the testimony was positive
and sufficient
PRACTICAL LESSONS.
l. Jesus Outlines Resorted Thither with His
Disciples-Of all the hours passed here with Je
sus, and of all the events that occurred in this
familiar place, the story of this night alone is
recorded. There are many pleasant hours that
make no deep or lasting impression on our minds
or change in our lives. But the hours or pain
and struggle cut their lessons deeply in our souls
The scenes in "the upper chamber and Gethsem-
ane have far more profoundly influenced the
world than those on the Mount OF Transhgura-
ton and the popular welcome of Palm Sunday.
Welcome, then, the visits made to US in the
nights of sorrow, for Gethsemane is on the way
to Eden restored.
g We seek Jesus of Nazareth--How strange
that the world should ever seek Jesus to do Him
harm when He only comes to benefit and bless
men. 1t must be that His purity and goodness
make men conscious of their evil, and they re-
sent His righteousness
B. Put Up Thy Sword Into the Sheath-Peter
acted very naturally. Many of us believe in
fighting fire with fire." and there are those who
delight in giving back as good as is sent But
these bloody swords and these sharp tongues OF
satire must be sheathed as Jesus has no use for
them in cenquering human hearts. We must
suffer from men, and overcome them by our pa
thence and by being better and nobler than they.
4 They Led Him to Annas First-How often
single man has very much to do with the ad-
vancement of a cause, and by his decision he can
strew the way with thorns or roses. But how
very little, after ALL can any Annas or PLATE do
to prevent the triumph of Christianity or any
plan that is dear to the heart of Christ
THE GREAT LESSON.
Judas, also, Which Betrayed Him. Stood with
Them-A disciple becomes An enemy, and for
price betrays Jesus in the hands of those bent
upon His ruin. It is one of the evidences of the
truth of the New Testament that it
boldly announces facts that seem at first to
tell against it. Only true Christ and divine
cause could have lived through such failures and
betrayals. Really the truth, and glory, and di-
vinity of Christ made the clearer by contrast.
The crime of Judas has been the contempt of the
ages. But do not men in these times who are
church members often betray Christ and cast
their influence against the cause they have here
tofore professed to love? For the sake of money,
power, pleasure, men to-day betray Christ. They
are rot willing to call it by that name, but when
the light of the Judgment day is thrown upon
their lives. then, like Judas they. too, will see
the enornity of their guilt the sel6shness and
cowardice Of their SIM