The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-11-05
BETRAYAL IF JESUS THEME IF SERMON Jesus All But Betrayed and Ar
 rested Himself FOUR DISTINCT ACCOUNTS The Perspective Scene Is Practically the Same In the First Three
 Gospels, but John Has
 Supplemented.
FOUR DISTINCT ACCOUNTS

l SuPPlCIncHASu,
 The Rev. Dr. A. J. Dickinson preached at the First Baptist church yesterday morning on "The Betrayal and Arrest oi i Jesus" taking his text from the fiftietf verse of the twenty-sixth chapter ol l Matthew: And Jesus said unto him. l friend, do that for which thou art come. Dr. Dickinson spoke as follows:
 In the betrayal and arrest we have a record from all four of the evangelists and it Is interesting to compare them with l q view to discovering how they are re- 1 lated. Matthew and Mark have the same narrative. which, however. in Matthew l is supplemented with certain teachings of Jesus, notably the text and the reply to the 'certain disciple" who used his sword. 1 It is clear that Matthew is here using Mark and supplementlng him from an- other source. If we accept the usual opinion that Peter is the source of the , substance of Mark and that the Apostle Matthew is the source of that part of the gospel of Matthew which is peculiar to it.. We have In the record of the last the testimony of the two apostles eonfated by the evangelist
 
 i in substance like the one in Mark, with the additions of certain words and inci- dents, such as CD the reply of Jesus to the kiss of Judas, "Betrayest thou the son of man with a kiss?" @ and that all of the disciples proposed to resist with the sword; (3) and that 1t was the right ear of the high priests servant that was cut off (D and that Jesus touched the ear and healed 1t; (0 and that He surrendered Himself with the general statement that this was the hour of the Jewish authori- ties and of the power of darkness.
 Different Picture in John.
 In John we have an entirely different picture with a somewhat different pers- pective wherein Jesus Himself takes the aggressive and surrenders Himself and excuses His disciples. He tells Us that it was Peter who struck off the ear of the servant of the high priest and that the servants name was Malchus; that He gave as His reason to Peter for not using the sword that He must drink the cup His father had given Him. So we have four distinct accounts. one in Matthew and Mark one in Matthew, one in Luke and one in John. The perspective of the scene is practically the same in the first three gospels, where Judas gives the kiss and the disciples begin to resist when the arrest is about to be made, and Jesus pro tests when He is being led away that they had no need to come out against Him as they would against a thief and a robber. This picture John has supple mented with a scene that took place be- tween the betrayal and the actual ap- preheuson, wherein Jesus surrenders Himself and excuses His disciples accord ing to His previous word.
 These facts are only a few out of a great many which go to show the literary connection between our several gospels viz: That Matthew used Mark and sup plemented his narrative with teachings from another source; that Luke had a source which was similar but not the same as Mark, as well as Mark itself; and he often followed the former in prefer ance to Mark; that John was well ac7 quanted with all three of our synoptic gospels and wrote to supplement ; the data given in them. This is not the place or time to go more into detail as regards this critical question; but this much we need in order to rightly interpret and combine the four distinct testimonies.
 The Opening of Drama.
 The drama opens with Jesus. who had awakened the disciples coming out. Of the gate of the gardan. and 'the multitude and the band from the chief priests and elders, armed with swords and slaves and bearing lanterns and torches and led by Judas, approaching. When they meet oc- CUTS the scene of the kiss. As Judas drew near to kiss Him, Jesus said Judas, betrayest thou the son of man with kiss?' He seems to have hestated, and Jesus said to him, "Friend. do that for which thou art come;' and he kissed Him. But the band does not seem to move. but stood back and Judas takes his stand with them, Is it possible that after Judas has done his part they are going to fail to take Him and lead Him safely away, as they had agreed to do? It was an awkward pause. and so Jesus takes the initiative out of their hands and advances and asks, Whom seek yep They say unto Him, Jesus of Nazareth '' Jesus said unto them, 'I am he" But in- stead of coming forward and apprehend- ing the surrendering prisoner. they go backward and fall to the ground. But Jesus follows them and again asks, Whom seek ye2'' Again they answer, Jesus of Nazareth" Again Jesus says, "I am he" If therefore you seek Me, let these, My disciples go their way" So He surrenders Himself and saves His disciples, showing, as John says. His good care of those the Father had given Him.
 Thus even at the arrest His first care is for those who have been given to Ills dlscipleship. and it reminded John of His saying that "of those thou hast given Me have I lost not one" Now, they are emboldened to do their duty and they ad- vance to make the arrest. But from the disciple band goes up the question, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?' and Peter, not waiting for orders, drew his sword and cut off the ear of Malchus, the servant of the high priest. Possibly he knew him. But Jesus rebuked him fol his rashness, saying, Put up again thy sword into its sheath, for all they which take the sword shall perish with the sword" How true that was of the many attempts to establish by force Mes siannic regime in Palestine during the first century. "1f needed military forces to defend Myself could l not pray to the Father and He would send Me twelve legions of angels? But how then could the scriptures be fulfilled which says that the Messiah must suffer? Shall l not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?' In the mean time they had bound Him. and the scriptures of which He was speaking was fulfilled before their eyes.
 Then turning to His captors He said, tWhy did you come out against me armed with swords and slaves as though you were going to apprehend a thief or d robber? There, was nothing in My life which would have warranted the fear that l would resist you. l sat daily in the temple and you did not take Me. l know why it is It is that the scriptures might be fulfilled" Notice how His eye Is ever on the scriptures that He may fulfill the lot therein prescribed for the Messiah. Thus is He anxious that even the officers should see in His death the Messiah of their scriptures Then all the disciples fled and they lead Him away to the au- thorties.
 Jesus Sacrifice.
 Nou. aS ue looS over this scene we oh-