The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-10-22
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
OCTOBER 20.
Lesson Text: "Jesus in Gethsemane,~
Luke xii, 39-5S-Golden Text;
Isiah liii., documentary. 49,

Isiah liii., documentary. 49,
80. "And He came out and went as Hewas
wont to the Mount Of Olives; and His dis
ciples also followed Him." After the last
lesson we must listen to His most gracious
words as recorded in John xiv, W., XVI,
bow our heads and hearts in deepest adora-
ton as We hear Him pray as never
man prayed before John xviii. Hs
prayed so earnestly for them, and for us who
believe on Him through their word, and
again as He thinks of His finished work the
glory fills His vision, and he asks that for Us
too. Then they follow Him, no doubt silent
and wondering, having heard such strange
things about another to take His place as
often gone to this mount before In the eyen-
ing (chap. xxi, 81; John viii, u, but rerhaps
never so late as this; and now it was the last
time, and He was more alone than ever as
far as human sympathy went. bis disciples
follow, but they do not understand.
40. "And when He was at the place he
said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into
temptation" They had all joined Peter In
saying that they would never deny. Him
mark xiv, 31), and COW they are about to
have little test Of how far they can 60
with Him and how much they can bear TOR
Him. According to Mark, He left the
took Peter, James and John, and began to
be sore amazed and very heavy, saying,
NV soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death."
As He enters into the deepening shadows
of the cross only these three are privileged
to come near. It is the place and hour, and
they are permitted to continue thus far.
Il. "And He Was withdrawn from them
about q stones cast and kneeled down and
prayed" The shadows still deepen, and
these, too, must be left. And now He Is
alone, and He falls on His face In prayer.
He treads the wine press alone, and ct the
people there Is none with Him lisa. kill. 81
Gethsemane may be fulfllment, II not the
dlillment Of those words. The adversary
5 about to engage Him in deadly conflict,
and will prevent the atonement II he posi-
hly can: y
move this cup from Me; nevertheless not
Ny will but Thine be DONE" He cannot mean
the cross and His being made q curse there
On, for to that BE steadily and unhinchingly
;ourneyed: but this is another cup a sore
derstand but little. Let ME state 1t as see
it and then prove it. In Bis great atone
ment which he came to accomplish he was
to be made curse by being hung upon q tree
(Gal. ILL.,. 13). His hands and feet were to DO
pierced (Ps xii, 16j; yet not bone was to
be broken IEx. xi., 4S). Thus His death by
crucihdon was plainly foretold and must be.
fulfilled. Now II Satan could manage to
kill Him in this Gethsemane conflict then
rhe work that He came to do would be un-
lone. This seems to have been the aim Of the
adversary. And X the Father should 80 VIII
it, Jesus would submit. -
4S. "And there appeared an angel unto
Him from heaven strengthening Him" One
of those blessed ones 60 ready to wait upon
Him and upon all who are His; who an
pounced and heralded His birth, and who
waited upon Him at his resurrection. and
spoke to Mary and the other women SO kindly.
How often we are strengthened by their low
ing ministrations we will never know while
in the mortal body.
"A. And being in an agony he prayed
more earnestly; and His sweat was as 1t were,
great drops Of blood falling down to the
ground" Being strengthened He continues
the conflict and is victor; but who can tell
the agony which caused this sweat like drops
Of blood? "'- :;
As. ':And when He rose up from prayer
and was come to His disciples He found
them sleeping for sorrow." The other gos.
pels record that He prayed three times, and
after each prayer came and found them
sleeping. IF it was for sorrow how was II
that their sorrow made them sleep, while
His sorrow, which was exceeding great
Mark xiv, 34), caused Him to sweat, as 1t
were, great drops Of bloodP May 1t be that
their sorrow was for themselves, or II IN
some degree Of pity for Him, their dear
Master, whom they saw to be so overcome
with sorrow, how. little, they knew OF the
reality Of His sorrow or Of the conflict
through which BE was passing. a, -,
46. "And said unto them. Why sleep yei
Rise and pray lest We enter into temptation"
1t was Door fulillment OF their readiness
to die with Him; but as He said, while their
spirit was willing their flesh was weak" end
He pitied them. They. did not know tne
mowers of darkness with which they had to
contend. with whom He had just been In
deadly conflict, and with whom they, to their
sorrow. would In due time be better ac-
quainted. ,..,
AZ. "And while He yet spake, behold Q
multitude, and he that was called judas, one
Of the twelve, went before them, and drew
near unto Jesus to kiss Him." He has been
contending with the adversary In person, and
now he is about to meet him in one OF His
professed disciples who while processing
friendship has murder in his heart.
4S. "But Jesus said unto him, Judas be.
Mark says that Judas said, Master, mas
ter" and kissed Him. Some one has re-
marked, how coolly deliberate, deeply hypo.
critical, diabolically malicious! See wnas
Satan can do and God can suffer.
49. 'When they which were about bum
saw what would follow, they said unto Him,
Lord. shall we smits with the sword| Had
BE not spoken Of sword and advised their
obtaining them? This, then, was surely the
time to use them. But. ah! they knew Him
not, they understood Him not, they had not
much Of His spirit; while we may lawfully
defend, ws must not attack. Inc weapons
of our warfare are not carnal. .4-s.
5O- IAnd one Of them smote the servant
OF the high priest and cut OF his right ear"
The servants name was Malchus, and it was
Simon Peter who had blundered John xviii,
IW. Had Peter been watching and praying
instead of sleeping he had not acte1 thus
rashly and unbidden.
81. sand Jesus answered and said. Suf1ef
We thus far, and He touched his ear and
healed him." Suffer ye thus far is not as u
BE said to Peter, You have gone far enough,
be content, for Peter had gone too lar ana
Jesus gently rebukes him, and also ADDS,
.vrhinEest thou that cannot now pray 70
My Sather, and He shall presently give Ms
more than twelve legions Of angslsT (Matt.
xvi 51-53. But He says to those who
would apprehend Him, who were probably
making noise enough about Peters art and
ready to kill Peter, "Bear with this, suffer
this much, for l will remedy it." and at tn,
same time He restores the mans ear; His
last act of healing is upon an enemy VINO mas
suffered at tne hands Of one OF His disciples.
52. "And Jesus said unto the chief priests,
and captains of the temple, and the elders,
which were to come to Him: Be ye come ous
as against thief, with swords and staves:
Had He been some robber CHER they could
hardly have made greater preparation to
take Him. But when we consider that He
was the Prince of Peace, the meek and
lowly Jesus, harmless as q dove, no" strange
it ali seemed!