The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-05-10
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MAY Ia.

ILL.,, 3-Commentary.
1. From 10 midnight to 1 o'clock Friday
morning, April z, A. D 80. when Jesus
had spoken these words" The discourse
and the prayer at the supper in the upper
room. "Over the brook Cedron," or
Kedron. Cedron me6ns THE Cedars," or
"Black," and is commonly supposed to re-
fer to the dark color Of the water or the
gloom OF the ravine. The brook was the
tween the city and tho Mount OF Olives.
There Is little water in the Kedron even In
winter. "Where was garden, or orchard
Of trees, including olive trees. 1t was
named Gethsemane-Oil-pres It WAS one
OF the many gardens surrounding
Jerusalem, and probably belonged to one
Of the friends of Jesus. for "Jesus ofttimes
resorted thither with His disciples" ". p.
'Into the which He entered and His dis
ciples." From the other evangelists ws
learn that, leaving eight Of the disciples
near the gate as guard, Jesus took Peter,
James and John farther into the garden.
Again leaving them, He went short dis
tance beyond, and prayed In an agony that
caused Him to sweat, as 1t were, great
drops OF blood. Three times He returns,
and finds the disciples sleeping at their
post. :.
2. "Judas >. knew the place." This
statement. was made to show how 1t was
that Judas could flnd Jesus. "Jesus Oft
times resorted thither." was a quiet
resting place, for retirement, prayer, per-
haps eep, and a trysting place also
where not only the twelve, but others,
also, may have been wont to meet the
Master.
3. Judas then, having received band"
or cohort, usually consisting OF three hun
dred to six hundred Roman soldiers from
the tower OF Antonia. "From the chief
priests" Who had obtained them from
the Roman authorities. Two or three days
before, Judas had plotted with the Jewish
rulers to betray Jesus into their hands for
thirty pieces Of silver (shekels OF sixty-four
to sixty-six cents each), and this night az.
ter leaving the upper room, and while
Jesus was discoursing with His disciples
around the table, where He had instituted
His memorial supper, and was praying for
them, Judas was with the Pharisees, ar
ranging the details OF bis treachery, re-
ceivlng band Of men aud officers to go to
the usual resorts OF Jesus at midnight, and
take Him into custody. "Cometh thither
with lantern, and torches" Although the
full moon was shining. many place in the
narrow streets and In the gardens would be
be dark, and 1t might be necessary to
rock tombs and caves with which the Ked-
ron valley abounded. With the Roman CO.
hort was a great multitude.
4. "Jesus. knowing" Nothing came to
Jesus as surprise. He was voluntary
sacrifice. went FORTH" from the shady
retreats OF the garden and from the COM
pany OF disciples, and faced the Roman
soldiers, and asked them, "whom seek ye?"
S. "Jesus of Nazareth" The answer may
perhaps reveal the light in which Judas had
represented Jesus to the Roman authori-
fiao-oF Na1areth n GplfIapp rr0pa m "a.
volt. "Jesus saith. Il nm He." The he
is not expressed In the Greek; hence 1t Is in
italics in the text; and am to Jewish ears
was the name OF Jehovah. Judas, II not
the chief priests, must have noticed the
significant words. Judas also stood with
them" This Is mentioned to show that he,
too, though badly bold by being possessed
OF Satan, fell backward to the ground with
the others, conscience-stricken and afraid.
6. They went backward" not fell back
ward, land fell to the ground" Appar-
emily this was the manifestation OF fasuper.
human power from Jesus.
Z. asked He them again." To empha-
size the reasons for this exhibition OF power.
8. III therefore ye seek Me, let these 90
their way" Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
seeth the wolf coming, and feeth not, be-
cause He careth for the sheep. He would
save the disciples; for they were needed to
carry on"His work. He also tested them as
to how closely they would, OF their own
accord, cling to Him in His hour OF trouble.
9. ''Tbat the saying might be fulfilled"
The saying Is quoted from Chrlst's prayer
"Hare I lost none" No power can
prevent Christ's guardianship over US, or,
like wolf, destroy one Of the sheep in His
fold. So we can trust Jesus, for never has
one been lost who trusted in Him.
10. "Then Simon Peter" The act was
characteristic, impetuous and bold. "Hav-
ing n sword drew It," First the disciples
asked Jesus IL they should defend Him
with the sword duke 20: 49). But Peter,
without waiting for an answer, begins the
defense. Probably he wished by this blow
to prove his readiness to risk his life for
his Lord, and to fulall his VOW (Mark IA:
27-3D; In all probability 1t was also his
the Lord Himself to rise In arms against
the foe. "The high priests servants"
Not officer, but a personal slave; R. ",
bond servant. He was probably one Of the
foremost OF the arresting party. "And cut
of his right ear" Peter was not likely to
strike with any other but right good will;
and no doubt the blow was intended to
cleave down the aggressor.
II. "Put up. thy sword" Because you
are opposing the plan OF God. "The cup"
Sorrow and suffering and death, repre-
sented as bitter medicine put in cup for
Him to drink. Exactly the amount de-
signed to be drank was placed In the cup.
shall not drink it?" Shall rebel against
Gods known will, md refuse to carry out
the divine plans for the redemption OF the
world?
12. "Then the band. took Jesus" Some
otthe more eager ones had taken hold OF
Jesus before the attempt OF Peter (Matt.
;26: 500; now the guard took possession OF
Him, pinioned Him, and let Him away.
Jesus protests against their violence, as II
they were taking some bHgand chief OF
.lawless band, while His whole life was op-
posed to this view mark IA: 48, 49). At
this time not only Peter, but all the dis
ciples torsook their Master and fed. They
were forbidden to defend Him; 80 far as
they could see they could only quietly yield
themselves up with Him, or escHpe In the
darkness. They were encouraged to do
this by Jesus request to the officers to let
them 20 (v. 81. And yet 1t was q dlsap-
..pointment. The disciples failed In faith
and courage when their great trial came,
13. "And led Him away to Annas first.
Jesus was led first to Annas, because this
old man had formerly been high priest
and, though deposed by the foreign power
that ruled Judea, was still the legitimate
high priest according to the law OF Moses,
the office being for life.
H. Now Caisphas." Why Is this fact
referred to here? Perhaps to show why
they took Him to Caiaphas, as one commit
ted to condemn Jesus, since he was willing
to destroy even an inaocent person to savd
the nation from what he considered greg!
'nsrfl from the Roman power