The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-05-16


zone reading these notes .should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
Indicated above-l
SUBJECTS: l. TIE BETRAYAL OF CHRIST. 2
THE EAR OF MALcHUs CUT OFF AND RE-
STORED.
FIRST: The BETRAYAL.
Do not fail to read the following data: ST.
Matt, 90: 1850, far as the word come; st. /
Mark, II: 4315; st, Luke, D AZ, 4a; st. John,
1872, 81
l. Time
The betrayal took place on Thursday even
ing, March II, A. ID. 80, to wit, 1850 years ago
1t was night scene. We remember it was |
during the occasion Of the celebration of the |
Passover, and hence in moonlight Why then |
lanterns? The streets of Jerusalem were very |
narrow and full of shade Perhaps the night |
might have been cloudy. 1t was usual for the |
soldiers, and the Levitical officers and guard, |
whenever on night duty to take lanterns as |
part of their equipment. They may have
thought Christ would try to hide in some crew
ice or grottO. Gethsemane was quite enyel- |
oped III olive trees, and dark even in full moon |
Then we learn there was law requiring all
persons at night to carry lanterns aud their
want made people objects of suspicion. The
shadows of night suggested the power of dark
ness" {St. Luke. %: 53.) That was indeed
the fated night. Christ well said to his enemy,
4nlS Is your HOuf
q Place.
The betrayal took place in the Garden of
Gethsemane. (St Matt, 26 36.) That was the
place" referred to in St. John, 1872. 1t is a
little way up on the west side of the Mt Olives,
on the east side of the Valley of Jehoshaphat,
not far from the brook Kedron. 1t is said
there are yet within the Enclosure eight very
old olive trees The garden is surrounded by
a wall IL feet high, $50 feet on the sides and
Al Il II, NJ.
They are of heavy plastercd stones. Forty
years after the betrayal the Roman commander
pitched his tents on that very spot. 1t was a
place well known to Christ and his Apostles,
. for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his
Disciples" (St. John, 1922 Doubtless Christ
at the Passover within the city had laid out his
plans and made them known to the Twelve, so
that when Judas left he was aware Christ in
tended going over to the Garden of Gethsem-
ane.
3. The Betrayer.
The one who sold Jesus to the priests of the
Jewish Church was a Disciple of Christ yea,
an Apostle, one of the favored Twelve (St.
Matt, 10 A. 1t is suspicious fact against the
traitor, that he was treasurer for the Twelve,
and received 30 pieces of silver for his treach-
cry. Efforts have been made to apologize for
the act of Judas, but the severe language used
in the Bible referring to him seems to leave no
room for our formation of hopeful outlook in
| his favor. The betrayal is blot on human
| history. It's very contrast to ChIist's genuine
ness makes it seem the more dark and wicked.
| No sin is more foul than treaehery of q pro-
fessed friend. The leader of the rabble that
arrested our Savior was one of his own asso-
ciates. Ever since the name Judas has been
| brand of infamy.
A. The Kiss.
Judas was well acquainted with Christ and
could identify him beyond question. 1t was
| not likely habit of the Disciples of Christ to
! kiss their Master or Teacher. We never read
of Jesus kissing or being kissed save in this
| lesson. Bat see st. Luke, Z 45.) We do learn
| that in some of the ancient classic retreats in
/ structorS used to kiss their pupils. In some
nations kissing corresponds to our hand-shak-
! ing, and Is merely social act practiced with
out reference to oppositeness of sex. Compare
| / Sa., 20 ALL 1t is yet in use thus in Spain
and parts of France and Italy. The writer re-
Gently, in the depot at Jersey City, saw no less
than so Italian laborers kiss a comrade who
/ was just going to return to his native land.
The word for kiss in the lesson is intensive. 1t
means to kiss tenderly, and doubtless carries
! the idea of demonstrativeness and possibly of
| repetition, rendering it yet more easy for the
| enemies of Christ to make sure of the identity
! of their prey. 1t is clear Judas had an under
standing with the multitude as to how they
i might not be mistaken and possibly arrest the
/ particularly the Garden of Gethsemane were
shady. So, though the moon was full, it was
we'll to have person who knew Christ very
intimately point him out beyond doubt. Ju-
! das knew the attitudes, gestures, ways, tones
| of Christ, aud would be very certain, even in
| quite unfayorable circumstances, not to err as
to Christ's personality.
| In New Zealand and the interior of Austria
| liza kissing is utterly unknown. The natives
have no idea of the nature and significance of
the act. With them there would be some diff
Guilty in comprehending correct exegesis of
that portion of the lesson which is our present
! study. There would be no native word by
| which to express the act, and were one coined
they could not understand its meaning save by
illustration. Then they would gain only tho
| idea of the physical nature of the act, and fail
to realize its ahectional bearing and tender
| significance, all of which is necessary in order
| to get an idea of the utter treachery of a trail
torous kiss. M. G. Laughlin, writing in 1856,
| said " have spent two years in the Indian
| Territory among the Greek Indians, and / have
| yet to see the first Indian man kiss an Indian
woman. Such thing as kissing is an unknown
institution in the Greek Nation" Such peo-
pie can have no appreciation of the language of
| a kiss.
/ s. The arrest
We learn there was temple guard consist
ing of Levites whose business was to be on
/ vicinity from enemies. The temple inclosed
much of value calling for protection. e XII,
| 1878 Acts, 5 24.) 1t would seem they were
Jews for they reported not TO Plate, as Roman
soldiers would have done. but to the High
| Priest, the ecclesiastc authority. (St. John,
| 1919 But after the Jews were subjected to
the Romans guard of Roman soldiers was sta
toned in the garrison of the castle of Antonio.
Doubtless it was not difficult for the Sanhe-
drim to secure their services, specially if they
pretended the civil power was in any way
threatened. So both the Jewish temple guard
and Roman soldiers may have composed the
party for the arrest of Christ.
The forces with Judas were armed with
swords and staves or clubs. 1t was quite COM
mon for even private citizens TO carry a sort
of sword. The Twelve had two in their COM
pany (St. Luke, %: 3S
"t2hey laid their hands on Jesus and took
him." (St. Matt, 26: 50) 1t is plain this was
simply the preliminary of final arrest Christ
was not yet bound. That did not occur until
after an interval, during which Malehus suffer
ed the loss of his ear Wesfnd Jesus was able
to use his hands. (See st. Luke, %: 51.)
6. Suggestions.
/. Be not coyetous. Never sell Christ. Never
compromise Christianity for gain of money.
2. Never betray Christ. Be true friends,
There is no sin more despcahle than tIeachery.
| To sell out friend is social treason.
g. Wake up. There are yet betrayers Of
| Christ at hand Rise tSt Matt 26 461