The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-11-05
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

10.
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
Indicated aDove.I
SUBJECT: CHRIsT's PRAYER FOR Hrs Dis
cIPLEs ON NIGHT BEFoRE Hrs CRUcI-
FIxIoN.
1. Preliminary.
Our Savior offered prayers many times. We
probably have not record Of all His petitions
We notice the Lords prayer tSt. Mt, 1913 /;
brief ejaculatory petitions and thanksgivings
tSt. Mt, ll:25, 20; So. John, 8 II; II: A.
42); the prayer in Geth5emane (St. Mt, 90:
39l; and the several ordinations on the cross.
This prayer, which is our study, is the longest
petition Jesus ever offered so far as the records
show. lt has been styled his "Sacerdotal
Prayer"-a prayer which he could offer only
as he is our High Priest.
Our study is Christfs memorable prayer. We
notice its length, specifcness, tenderness. 10
was the plea of the Son with the Father MANY
times before Christ had said My hour has not
yet come" but the last night at length arrived.
the Crucihxion was at hand tho event fOreseen
for centuries was on the eve, the terrible
struggle looked forward to for 334 years waa
beginning.
IL is wonderful how much Of religious and
theological interest has been elected by that
impressive prayer
prays as the mighty Intereessor and Mediator,
standing between earth and Heaven, looking
backward and forward, aud compromising all
His present and future disciples In ono holy
and perfect fellowship with Himself and the
Eternal Father. The words are as clear and
calm az a mirror, but the sentiments "a deep
aud glowing G5 Gods fathOmless love 10 man,
aud all efforts 20 exhaust them are in vain"
Rev. DIR. NJ. S. Terry says: " In all sacred
literature there will not be found production
more wonderful than the 18th chapter OF ST.
Johns Gospel. Other Scriptures may exhibit
more Of outbursting passion; other prayers
may show more of the earthly and the human !;
other hallOwed strains display more Of rhetori-
cal beauty; but here - production impress
ingly unique. IL breathes the very sweetness
OF love. aud path0s so human and yet so
heavenly as TO hold US spellbOHnd by its deep,
strange power, and make Us feel as in the pres
ence Of holy OF holes, where all human wis
dom should be dumb. It is the utterance Of our
Holy Mediator, cain aud self-eonGdent as one
conscious OF all wisdom and power, and yet
tremulOus with q tenderness that takes in all
human wants"
Meyer: 1.-The nOblest and purest pearl o! de-
votOn in the New Testament" Dr.. A. Barnes:
" IL Is perhaps the most sublime composition to
be found anywhere" Tholuck: " If in any
human speech divinity is manifest. and sub
Unity is Joined to cOndesceudiug humility, it
Is IN this prayer"
The prayer is called microscopy. We notice
how it pleads in behalf Of the Discip Plies, and
that specially in verses 1926. We may divide
the prayer thus:
a. Verses to > are mostly for Himself
b. Verses 6 10 are for Disciples Of His day.
c. Verses 2O-26 all who were TO become fol-
lowers Of Christ thereafter.
When John Knox was dying be desired this
prayer TO be read 20 him. Martin Luther de-
elared Of il: "Plaiu aud artIess as is the Ian
guage, it is so deep, rich and wide that no one
is ever able 10 End its bottom or extent"
We can prohtably compare the prayer in It's
missionary spirit and universally of interest
with 3: l6.
The entire prayer embraces the whole Of the
18th chapter. We consider however only
verses liz.
s. Tins
We date Thursday evening March II, A. d.
% 1t was the evening before the Crucifzion.
We may say il was not far from midnight.
Christ's hour had come. wi
T. Place.
Probably the Disciples had not yet left the
large upper-room on BIT. Zion in the City Of
Jerusalem. Est. Mark, IL: Is; st. Lu., % r.
). The Prayer.
We find Jesus in the attitude Of suppliaAt,
Christ. 1t shows many beautiful qualities. We
SEQ his sympathy for his followers. lie realized
their wants and fOrekuew their sorrows and
prosecutions. The prayer proceeded from
heart full OF tenderness. We find we have a
High Priest who cannot remain untouched
with a feeling Of our infrmities. Heb, 4: Isl
6. Hearers.
The prayer was Of course addressed 10 God.
We notice the ascription, Father" IN verse I,
and. 20, Father" in verse 5. Compare verses
%. %. But the Eleven were present Judas
had left. (l3: 30.) Christ alluded to him in
verse II Of our lesson. The Eleven probably
heard the prayer. 1t must have been a great
comfort 10 them at the time, but specially a
source Of consolation in days afterward when
cast into troubles dangers, trials. The prayer
was said" (verse H., and was not a soliloquy.
Hence the Disciples likely heard it.
6. Verses Is iaclasire
Suffering is the way to glory. The death Of
Jesus was TO magnify God and Christ. The
glory Of a son is an honor 20 the father; the
greatness Of a father is a glory to son. It was
the wish of Christ that he might be gloriied,
not for personal qualification, but rather out Of
respect TO his Father. The glory Of both Father
and Son was to be the elevation Of humanity
We are children of God and he has a sort Of
family pride in our promotion, goodness, moral
greatness. Heaven is interested in earth Sal
walton IS q Work so honorable 10 God and the
Son as to elicit the wonder and praise Of angels
and all created intelligencies. The cross ele-
waited. by lifting up humanity, reflects eternal
brillianee on Deity. When one is himself
glorifed he is able 10 glorify others Glory
spreads feeding on glory IL is a proper sub
jet for prayer. Each should be anxious for
the greatest excellences so that he NAV be the
most helpful to the lOwly.
We see the life mission Of Christ. IL was to
secure eternal happiness 20 mankind. lie was
not by his death TO make us immortal for we
are eternal in duration of existence. His OBJ
ject was TO render such existence joyous The
result OF ChTist's work was the salvation Of all
who ayailed themselves Of the benefits of his
suffering, living as he did, dying as he did, sac
ridcing, toilng praying rs he did. IL was not
the purpose Of God, the Father and the Son, to
drive men to Heaven. but to open 10 for them
and give them all chance to be saved. There
IS no limit OF salvation save IN the minds Of the
lost There is no restriction except sin, a re-
stTiction necessary TO the very existence of
Heaven as a place Of purity and happiness
Christianity is being felt as power over all
the world call flesh" V. q. 1t carries life
everywhere and TO everyone.
knowledge is power in the matter Of saliva
ton. We must know Christ in order TO derive
benefit from his work, example and teachings
Ignorance can help crime. It is always in the
way of progress, temporal and spiritual Chris
tianity is a study; salvation is q science
Christ is Teacher.
There is utility in a correct creed. We must
know the Father as he is. viz, Us the only true
God. There is only one God There NAV be