Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1890-10-23


The lesson for Sunday, Oct 20, may bo
found In Luke %: 30-53:
INTRODUCTORY
The events OF this lc5son arc especially
significant In view OF the discsursc that has
just preceded John says IL was WHOM
Jesus had spoken thesc wOrdsu that - Ho
went forth with Ills disciples over the brook
Ccdron;" and, by consultation OF the har-
monies of the gospels, It will be seen that
" those words" embrace four whole chapters
OF Johns narrative; chapters they are that
IL would mako us sadly bereft TO do without.
The fourteenth OF John, opening witt tho
- Lot not your hearts be troubled.o the
fifteenth concerning the vine and tho
branches, the sixteenth containing the
promise OF the Comforter, and the scven-
teenth with tho matchlcss prayer OF Christ,
were all evidently written by one who kept
very close TO his Lord on that midnight
journey TO the garden. IL requires walk
no less close and sympathetic to understand
them now, but those who do enter into their
spirit are best prepared for the scene OF
passion to which VIC are ushered by tho
Scripture before us.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
He came out Out of tho city. Jesus
and the disciples had been there since about
six o'clock AS he was wont. For several
evenings he had been spending the nights
in the Mount OF Olives so as TO hasten back
into the city carly in the morning. See
Luke 2l: 81 (whore the word awent" Is more
accurately rendered was accustomed 10
go. Mount OF Olives. Across the brook
kedron, where they could find rude sort
OF shelter under the overhnnging bOughs.
-. Followed him. Not wholly. It was
following only, and that but partial
At the place. Probably where they were
accustC m I'd to lodge for tho night. Mat
then calls IL Gethscmane. garden on the
mount Pray that ye enter not into temp
tation. 1t seems to have boon q special In
junction in regard 10 special and imminent
trial.
Withdrawn from them. As IL carried on
by his tumultuous feelings. The same word
is used of boat, Acts. 21; 1, (awcrS gotten
from them. ". About a stones cast. Per-
haps 200 feet. 1t was Peter. James and
John who were thus near him, as a sort OF
body-guard Matt. %: 36-37. =. kAoclcd
down. In the attitude of intense supplica-
tion.
One of them. We scarcely neod be told
by John that this was Peter John IS: 10).
THE servant of the high priest, Mall
chus, evidently well along toward tho front,
a ringleader.. Right ear. Thus igno-
minously ended tho career of the apostolic
sword.
Appeared an angel, 1. O., revealed TO his
physical senses, I'm his earthly caTesr Christ,
I'm sense, shut himself off from open-eyed
vision. IL was part of his sclf-emptying.
-. From heaven. direct answer 10 his
prayer to heaven. Strengthening him.
The word means to put strength into so an
swering both parts Cf his prayer, |. c., as 10
the endurance OF his own suffcrincs and as
to the fufillment of Gods will.
In agony. The v o.d i'm the Creek (agonia)
meaning struggle or conflict. Not with
Gaq, We max, bel,eye. ~hat Nj Atbed dlffiS. A.
Kept praying More earnestly or very
earnestly, the comparative having frc-
quently this meaning. -. As IL were great
droTs OF blood. Rather like drups OF Hood.
Indicating the severity of the struggle.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
About stones cast Not more lie was
never far Withdrawn from his disciples.
Having taken upon himself the fic II v fash
ion OF man, he could never put hinlscf at
ing remove from his brethren. In liis hours
Of communion II was so; there upon tho
mountain-side in prayer, he was but u stones
cast away. And hero in his hour of dco2
trial, and yonder in the contumely of the
court, and farther on In the ignominy OF tho
cross-about a stones cast beyond his disci-
pies, calling them on. Yea, on the farther
side of the tomb, in the blessed resurrection
morn, about stones cast still; and now In
the glorious exaltat.on that Is his at tho
right hand of the Father, for those who
know the kingdom best, he Is but a stones
cast further on. Blessed Son and Master,
thou art never wholly out of sight OF our
humanity. Judea's night IS sometimes
dark, and Olives thickets sometimes dense,
but when We look. there thou art about
a stones cast withdrawn; and when We
Not my win but tt6fnc Our lord feaehcs
us here how 10 pray. DO you observe hero
twice the word OF resignation for once the
word of petition? IT is, 4If tEou be willing
remove this cup. not my viii but thine"
The request hangs, as IL were, suspended
upon the two abutments of submissive faith
i'm God. 1t was the will of the flesh that
Christ was putting beneath the viii OF the
spirit. Earth's will under heavens will.
That is the true and safe relationship. Thus
Is Gods will made mans viii, and then "all
things are yours, and ye are Christ's. and
Christ Is Gods"
My Jesus as Thou wilt.
Oh, let Thy Will be mine;
Into Thy hand of love
j would my all resign;
Through sorrow or through JOY,
Conduct me as Thine own,
And help me still TO say,
My Lord, Thy viii be done.n
And there appeared an angel unto him
from heaven strengthening him. Certainly
since he had leaned his Will on Gods. God
would take care OF his own. 1t Is TO the
trusting soul that David sends the glad
twentieth Psalm: ascend thy help from the
sanctuary, and strengthen thee out OF
ZIon.D That is the kind of strength VIC
want help out of the sanctuary, hands put
down to us out OF Zion aunderneath, the
everlasting arms" And just that Is ours.
sThy helpv IL is, n thou puttest thy trust
In God. resigning all TO him. HNot my will
but thine.r said Christ, and straightway at
his side stood Gods angels o Gods will Is
not n harsh WILL That strengthening angel
tells us what IL means lt is God caring for
his own. "a
Rise and pray. Was our Lord unduly
alarmed? Assurcdly not. The disciples
seemed quite Indifferent. Theirs was the
indifference of debasing ignornncc; tho sad
sleep that vcrges unto death. In some re-
spects we are too easy going and compla-
cent We say: al will 10th lay me down In
peace and slecp.n But we forget that that
was the calm declaration OF a man whose
mouth had just been full Of prayer. @Omer
the sacrifices OF Righteousness, and put your
trust in the Lordr After that We may
hope TO Gdwell in safety.n Angels shuddcr
ut the risks we mortals taNe. needless and
prayerlcss Our Lord himself looked upon
| the world as n fearful arena Of trial ana
termination. Only by faith and prayer arc
| we able TO meet IT, May the, church Of
| Christ, more than half asleep, while the
| enemy Is just at hand. hear the voico say
| ing. awhy sleep yer rise and pray, lest 70
| enter into temptation"
| And ho touched his car and healed him.
That was like our blessed Lord. lie would
| not call Gown his miraculous power IN his
own defense; the only use nc made OF Il
| when I'm jeopardy and persecution vas 20
/ mend aud heal tho single wound on the
i bodv of his tormenter. Presently his back
/ and brow will be bleeding, cruel nails in
hands and feet. lie brooks it all, though
| in inhnite pain. But now there Is look Of
1 helpless misery in transgrceror's face and
a penitcnt cry on his lip. fLord: rtmember
mes It Il too much for the divine COM
passion there, and "rhcc this day With me
| ~. p...HluoY A. anokon VS. tho last Won.