Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-11-20
JUDAS BETRAYS CHRIST
LESSON NIli, FOURTH QUARTER, IN
TERNATlONAL SERIES, NOV 22

Text of the Lesson, John xviii, 1-13-Com
nit Verses. 4-6-Goiden Text, Mark
xiv. 4I-Commentary by the Rev. u. VI
Stearns.
Compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by
permission of H. :. Hoffman, publisher, Phil
adelphia.
l. "When Jesus had spoken these words
He went forth with His disciples over the
brook Cedron, where was a garden, into
the which He entered, and His disciples
Matthew and Mark say that they sung
hymn, they also give the name of the
garden, Gethsemane, and state that on the
way thither Jesus foretold that on that
very night they would all forsake Him
(Math XVI, 30-36, Mark xiv, 2G-32).
9 And Judas also, which betrayed Him
knew the place, for Jesus ofttimes re
sorted thither with His disciples"
In chapter vii, SO; viii, |, we read that
Every man went unto his own house
Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives
This He did very often, and therefore
Judas knew the place well
B. Judas then, having received a band
Of men aud officers from the chief priests
and Pharisees, cometh thither with Ian
Matthew and Mark speak of great mul
titude with swords and slaves Iath. XVI
~, Mark xiv, 49,. Judas bed left the sup
per chamber before the discourse, and prob
ably at the close of the passover feast and
before the institution Of the supper
4. Jesus, therefore, knowing all things
that should come upon Him, went forth
and said unto them, Whom seek ye?'
1t is one of the greatest mercies of our
lives that we know not what shall be on
the morrow Gas. iv, l4, nor even what the
next hour may bring to Us. But Jesus
went forward from Nazareth to Calvary
knowing everything that should come to
Him from day to day.
8. "They answered Him, Jesus of Naz
areth. Jesus saith unto them, | am lie
And Judas also, which betrayed Him.
stood with them"
This title, Jesus of Nazareth" is found
just twenty times in the Gospels and in the
Acts In Matthew, twice, Mark, four
times Luke, three; John, four, and Acts,
seven 1t is the title of humiliation and
contempt, and yet of power; compare John
/, A. 4G, with Acts iv, 10. X, IS. reminding
us that when we are willing to be despised
and be nothing in the eyes of the world
then God can show His power in us. The
reply of Jesus, II am" found three times
in this lesson and so often in this gospel,
reminds us of Gods words to Moses "Thus
shalt thou say unto the children of Israel
AN hath sent Me unto you En- iii, IA
G AS soon then as He had said unto
them. am, they went backward and fell
to the ground"
See the power of His breath. what will
it be when with the breath of His lips lie
ch m ba ,xicl L. A g.,
rays of light from the same Jesus of NaZ-
areth sent Saul of Tarsus helpless to the
ground (Acts xxi, 6-s), and word fol
lowing sent conviction to his heart
I. Then asked He them again, Whom
seek ye? and they said, Jesus of Nazareth"
Had He so willed it they would have
been like the thousands of the Assyrian
army lisa. XXxvii, 80 and never have risen
to their feet again, but He allows them to
recover themselves and once more to an
proach Him when He again repeats His
question as before, and they give the same
reply. If with but a tru. h of their earnest
ness in seeking to take His life they had
only sought Him to give them life how diff
ferent had been the result
s. Jesus answered. have told you that
am He, it, therefore, ye seek Me, let these
go their way
Observe His care of the disciples, His
hour has come to die, but theirs not yet
He cheerfully gives Himself because His
slime has come; but He will spare them TIL
.heir appointed time
9. THAT the saying might be fulfilled
which He spake, OF them which Thou
gavest Me have lost none"
In this prayer He said, "Those that thou
gavest me have kept, and none of them is
lost but the son of perdtion. that the
Scripture might be fulfilled Chapter xvii
~ 1t does not appear that Judas was
ever given to Him, for had he been given
to Christ he could not have persisted. Why
Christ ever chose him, knowing him to be
a devil (chapter vi, 20, ~, is somewhat of a
mystery which we will better understand
some day. This much we know now, that
Judas was one of the strongest witnesses
to the innocence of Jesus (Math xvii, 3, a
10. Then Simon Peter having a sword
drew it and smote the high priests servant
and cut off his right ear The servants
name was Malchus"
Here we see an unbeliever suffering
through the rashness and un- Christlike
conduct of disciple, and that is no I'M
common circumstance in our time, but
rather cause of stumbling to many Not
only were two swords enough duke xii
Bs), but this one proves more than enough
IL. Then said Jesus unto Peter Put up
thy sword into the sheath the cup which
My Father hath given Me, shall not
drink itY'
Luke says that Jesus touched his ear and
healed him Xxi, 50. Matthew says that
Jesus said to Peter, They that take the
sword shall perish with the sword" (xxvi,
81 and added the words about the Father
giving Him more than twelve legions of
angels
IL. Then the band and the captain and
officers of the Jews took Jesus and bound
Him"
Matthew and Mark record that now all
the disciples forsook Him and fed (Math.
XVI, 30; Mark xiv, 50) just as Jesus had
foretold that they would, and as the Spirit
through Zecharah had also said hundreds
of years before (Math. XVI, 81 Zech. xiii,
| y. Every word of God shall be literally
fulfilled in due time. See Jesus meekly
| yielding Himself into the hands of this
mob; see them bind Him as if He had been