Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-05-20
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSONviiL SECOND QuARTER INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, MAY Fl.

Chris Before the High Priest, John as:
I5-2z-Golden Text: He Came to His Own
and HIS Own Receaxed Him BOT, John IL
III. Commit verses 23-25)
rs. 4.And Simon Peter followed
Jesus, and so did another disciple;
that disciple was hnown to the high
priest, and went in with jesus into the
palace of the high priest"
The other disciple who was none
other than John himself, showed his
deep, abiding friendship by keeping as
close as possible to his Masters side,
and through his acquaintance with the
palace and the servants he was per-
mitted TO pass through the door or
wicket gate.
16. But Peter stood Mt she door with
out. Then went out that other disciple,
which was known sinto the high priest,
anl spake unto Der that kept the
door, and brought ts Peter"
If we see others following Christ
'safar off" or standing outside the
door, let US, like the loving John, en-
deavor TO get them near the Saviour.
IL. "Then saith the damsel that kept
the door unto Peter, Art thou not also
one of this mans disciples? He saith,
i am not"
The revised version reads. art thou
also one of this mans disciples?' she
knew that John was. and II was but
reasonable that she should take 1t for
granted that the one for whom be re
qnested admittance was also one Of
the disciples. Then Peter, who had
been so bold when by the Saviour's
side, and wen assaulted an armed
man when surrounded by Il number of
friends, now sllrank from n mere
maiden, and said, II am not"
-. The high priest then asked Jesus
of His disciples and of His doctrine"
This inquiry probably had two OBJ
iects: One was to entrap Jesus into
saying something which could be
twisted into n charge of blasphemy.
the other that 1t allowed time for the
Sanhedrim 70 be summoned, and
messengers were dispatched to scour
the city for the members.
20. Jesus answered him, I spake
openly 10 the world; | even taught in
the synagogue. and in the temple,
whittier the Jews always resort; and
in secret have | said nothing"
The revised version says that II
OF the officers struck Jesus with his
hand:" the margin reads, with arod."
Whitelaw says. Literally, gave Jesus
n stroke or blow rap: but whether 81
slap on the face "a box on the ear, or
a stroke with a rod, cannot be determ-
ined. In either case Ii was an insult"
Jesus in answering did not rebel,
but In that way emphasized that He
bad been unjustly smitten.
"Annas, therefore, sent Him bound
unto Caiaphas," 1t is presumed that
during the unofficial Investigation,
Jesus had been relieved of His letters.
and at the close of it He was again
bound and taken before Caiaphas,
who, as the real high priest, was pres
ident of the Sanhedrim. The penalty
of the charge (blasphemy) was death.
according to the Jewish law. The two
men who were witnesses perverted a
saying of Jesus and did not agree in
their testimony. Peloubet says, The
sentence was pronounced, the charge
being confirmed by Jesus witness
to the truth when He could keep sill
ence no longer. because, being put un-
Ter oath, His silence might be con-
,trued as a withdrawal of his claims.
He told them plainly that He was the
Messiah, the Son of God, and that
they should yet see Him sitting on
the right hand of power and coming
In the clouds of heaven" Having form
ulated their charges, they must adj
iourn till dawn to bring the case be-
fore the S~anhedrim at Il regular meet
ing in their own hall of meeting. Dur
ing the time of adjournment there
was a period of waiting of at least
two hours before the formal meeting
could take place. In this interval
Jesus was insulted and struck and
shamefully treated by the crowd. In
the original, no less than five forms of
beating are referred TO by the evang-
elists in describing this pathetic scene.
zone of the servants of the high
priest, being his kinsman whose ear
Peter cut off, saith. Did not see thee
In the garden with Him."
81. Peter then denied again: and
Immediately the cock crew."
John merely says 'Then Peter de
MED again. but Mark. whose gospel
Is supposed To have been derived from
Peter. says that he began to curse
and swear. Stalker says, Like a bull
In the arena, attacked and stabbed or
every side. Peter became blind with
rage, terror and shame; and pouring
out denials he added to them oaths
and curses. hurled at his adversaries."
Then Jesus looked at Peter and the
look broke his heart and caused him
TO weep bitterly (see Luke %; GU.
The formal condemnation of Jesus
by the Sanhedrim was at dawn, Fri
day morning, and is recorded in Luke
%; 6(-71.