The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-05-11

with prayer. 1t is the climax TO all
His preaching. The circumstances
are pitiful. He is at the edge of Geth-
semane, at the foot of Calvary. Yet
there is no note of gloom or weakness.
There is not even a cry for help.
One word in the middle of the pray
er is really the KEY to it-"For their
sakes." 1t is prayer of intercessIon.
As high priest He approached the
majesty of heaven. The priest of the
old dispensation carried the twelve
tribes npon his bosom, craven in the
precious stones of his breast-plate.
The Priest OF the new dispensati on
carried the metaphysics upon heart.
There is infinite dignity in His at
titude. It is so remarkable that John
breaks his custom and refers to the
comparatively small incident of the
upturned face. There is the repose
of soul incident TO the consciousness
of a holy work thoroughly well done.
The note is one of triumph. He pre-
sents 20 His Father the men whom
He trained for Him.
The marvel of this prayer is that
each part of it seems complete and
separate, but in moment one pOurs
all its content and force into the next
and so on until the very heights of
heaven are reached. The prayer for
self is only made that it may be merg-
ed into a prayer for disciples, and
that in turn for Church, and that for
world.
1t has been called the glOritication
prayer because of it's first petition,
"Glorify Thy Son" Itrelates to His
own person. Yet there is no element
of selfishness in it. He wishes only
to reflect the glory of the Father, in
order that through this reflection as
many as possible should know the
Father as the true God. The at is
finished of the cross is an echo of
this obedience, which completes to
the last detail the work given by the
Father, forms the basis of the petition
which follows.
Jesus moves now in His prayer from
self to disciples. The beginning and
end of three years ministry is com.
passed in fewest possible words The
commanding purpose was to make a
number of chosen men acquainted
with God and with Himself as a Di-
vine Messenger In this He had been
superbly successful. His hearts de-
sire and prayer now is that the work
of His ministry NAV be conserved. He
does not pray in general terms for the
world. He Drays specifically for these
men. He is conscious that His own
exit from the world is very near. Thew
are to be left behind with the invalu-
able deposit of His teaching. They
must be kept inviolate or all is lost
1t would be a superlatiye blundar to
ask that thew be taken out of the
world with Himself, for the very pur-
pose of their training was that they
might remain as the almOners of
knowledge and grace-kept from evil ,
in the world, but not of it, sanctified
through truth.
The prayertakes still another sweep,
it's final and widest. When the Inter
cessor cries, ''Neithe- pray for these
alone, but for them which shall be-
lieve through their word" 1t is a
petition for the Church which is to
be. Incidentally it reveals the fact
that there was no shadow of doubt
upon Jesus mind but that His discip-
les would make converts. AS the
prophets said he would, He "sees His
seed" and prolongs in them His own
shortened days. He prays for the
unity and concord of the Church
And again, incidentally, He indie ates
that the realization of this ideal of
harmony is the convincing argume Mt
to the world of the Divinity of His
commission
The prayer is without amen "
But there is no evidence of Interrupt
ton. Instead of being broken off, it
llOW6fS OuU III fduIduC6 anu fragrance.
There is a beautiful vision which
Jesus entreats for the men whom God
had given Him. His hearts desire is
that they may see His glory. The
cress is the golden period to this in
comparable prayer The last a f1irma-
ton is that He will declare His Faith
er's name, but His ministry ends that
hour. There are no further oppor-
tunities of preaching. How, then,
will He make declaration? Is it not
by his obedience unto death?
The Teachers Lantern.
Some difficulties confront the read
er. The prayer is the best misunder-
stood of Jesus utterances. Spencer
believed it beyond comprehension.
He quantity said, st goeth beyond
the measure of faith which the Lord
is wonton to impart to his disciples
during their pilgrimage" For this
Ia