The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-11-18
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Christ Betrayed--John lS,l-l3-Memory
Verses IA.

Christ Betrsyed-John is,l-l3-Menory |
Verses A.6.
Especially Arranged from 8. S. Quarterly.1
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 90 1891.
GOLDEN TExr.-The Son Of Man Is betrayed |
Into the hands Of sinners.-Mark 14:4l.
CENTRAL TRUrH.-The best men and tho |
best causes have their hours Of darkness,
agony, desertion and defeat; but through these |
they achieve final victory.
TIME.-From midnight till three o'clock Fri |
day morning, April7, A. D. 80.
PLAcE.-The garden Of Gethsemane and the |
palace Of Caiaphas.
PARALLEL ACCOMPLISHMENT. $3.50, 3s-72;
Mark 1895, 3a72; Luke 2s:39-65.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES jesus prayer they
sang hymn, thus closing their long and
blessed meeting, and went out into the streets
Of Jerusalem toward the Mount of Olives
HELPS OVER HARD PLAcEs.-l. Brook Ced.
ron:" or Kidron; q ravine, brook in the rainy
season, that ran between Jerusalem and the
Mount of Olives. "A GARDEN" Gethsemane, on
the lower slope of the Mount of Olives. Here
Jesus uttered His agonizing prayer three times.
from twelve to one o'clock Friday morning.
B. IA band Of" Roman soldiers from the tower
Of Antonla. About one o'clock. 4. Jesus.
knowing" He went willingly, conscious of all
that was before Him. Here is probably where
Judas gave his kiss Of betrayal. T. They went
backward and fell to the ground:" The reasons
for this display Of power may have been: Q
II took place that He might show that He sur
rendered Himself to death willingly. Not only
was 1t impossible to take His life from Him,
but even to seize His person, till He willed that
men might do So (2) 1t took place also that He
might send His disciples away in safety. (S) 1t
convinced those who came to apprehend Him.
that even In the extremity Of weakness and
cub iosio in which He cuffare1 Himcalf n no
bound, He had power to protect His own. II
they had not thus felt His power, the whole
company OF the disciples would have been ap-
pretended. az 1t would show His disciples
His power, and awaken courage and faith in
them O. 1.-The saying" spoken in chap. l7:l2.
This was one fulflment. TO- peter
smote cut Off his right ear" Peter was
rash IN his bravery. This act was likely to
cause the disciples to be arrested as rebels,
and to make Jesus Himself seem rebel
against Rome, and His kingdom temporal
kingdom. Jesus destroyed the evil effects by
healing Malchus l2. 'Took jesus" then all
the disciples forsook Jesus and fed. 3D.
"Annas:" formerly high priest and now very
influential. He sent Him to Caiaphas, the high
priest, who first examined Him; then called
the Sanhedrim two to three o'clock, and they
decided He must die. During this hour Peter
three times denied his Master, who was in the
hall opening into the court where Peter and
John were around the fire. TO understand the
position Of Peter, we must remember that
Oriental palaces are built around an open
Quadrxug uiur court; some. Ines there Is n
large room open in front to this court. In such
a room Jesus had His first trial before the
Sanhedrim. Peter and John were in the court
near the fire where they could see Jesus and
watch the proceedings. The first two denials
were in the early part OF the trial, or at the ex-
animation before Caiaphas, soon after His en-
tering John 1916, II; Luke 22:5S) The third
denial must have been about three o'clock,
toward the close OF this first trial; for it was
about an hour after the others Luke 1850 and
at the hour of cock-crowing.
LESSON COMMENT.
While Jesus was speaking these
words"-namely, John l4-l7-Judas was
busy with the chief priests and Phari-
sees, making the final preparation for
His betrayal. Judas knew that Jesus
would probably 60 to the quiet Garden
Of Gethsemane that night, so he
guided the officers to that spot, and
there indicated which one was Jesus by
saluting him with a kiss AS the
armed throng gathered around Jesus
and His disciples, Jesus made no hest
tation about revealing Himself AS he
said: ~ am Hex it would seem as
though the Divine majesty of His per-
son in some way became for moment
apparent, for the officers staggered back
and fell to the ground. When they had
recovered their presence of mind they
again proceeded to their business.
Then it was that Peter, full of excite.
ment, drew his sword and struck out.
Jesus healed the damage done by His
over-zealous apostle and yielded Him
self quietly to the band of officers.
They tied the Master with ropes and
led him away for a preliminary exam
nation to Annas, father-in-law to
Caiaphas, the high priest. This was
probably about two o'clock in the
morning.
Until the very last, none of the apos
ties in any way suspected that they had
a traitor in their midst. In fact, they
must have had good deal of confidence
in Judas, for they had made him theil
treasurer After his character was re
vealed, they found that he had been 6
thief; but before the end came they un
doubtedly entertained no such suspi
cion. How was it, then, that Juda!
came to betray his Lord and Master
Did he leap at one bound from the posi-
ton of true and royal disciple to tha
of grasping, covetous traitor? Loci
at him, as months before he stood W
preaching the Gospel, and then look a
him hanging on a tree, a suicide! Can
it be the same man? Alas, yes! it il
the same. How came this dire end Il
overtake him? Of one thing we ma,
be sure: he reached the position o
traitor and suicide not at one leap, bu
step By step. FIRST, he mds coretous. NJ
man steals before he covetS. Desire al
ways precedes action. First we wan
to do thing; then we go ahead and d.
it. SECOND, actual theft. Wishing grew
into doing, and coveting ripened int
stealing. THIRD, he became a traitor
| Now he has gone very far from wher,
he once stood. He has given the rein
to his wicked desires, and the crisi
comes soon. Conscience is aroused
He sees himself in his true light Hor
ror fills his mind; but instead Of turn
ing around and confessing his sin t
God, he pushes ahead and, FOURTH, h
commits suicide. An apostle, and sui
eide! Is this possible? Yes, not only pos
sible, but actual. And when we hav
watched the downward steps, we ar
no longer so much amazed.-Rev. A. T
Schauffler, d. d.
| PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
|. In Gethsemane we are taught tn