The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-05-17
:. $3.50 ********@
= IN THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. =
: (By w. p. Chambers) =

Su III MY Wiz oCtioClhdiS ooSu- /
pies unique place in the mind of the
deveut Christian. 1t suggests at once-l
the mysterious agony, the thrice-re-
peated prayer, the apathetic disciples,
the perfidious kiss of the traitor, and
the Stacking of the Son of God. The
word means "oil presses Whether
the traditional site of the garden is the
correct one. or not, we know it was
located across the brook Kidron from
Jerusalem, and was at the foot, ON
the western slope of the Mount of
Olives. We know that Jesus often
went there with his disciples, and that
Judas could be reasonably certain OF
finding him there.
This visit to the garden is related
by all four of the Evangelists, with
some difference of detail. john only
tells us which one of the apostles used
the sword, and the name of the man he
wounded. The reason for this is per-
haps the same as was suggested for
the commission of the names of the
family at Bethany, until the actors had
al, passed away. Both Luke and John
note that it was the right ear of Nal
chus that was cut off, but no one ex-
[cept the doctor told how the wound
was healed. In like manner the same
writer only noted that the sweat on
the Masters face was as it were great
drops of blood.
The argument that Peter smote to
kill, because he cut off the right ear
OF his antagonist, is based ON two facts
neither of which is given. These are
that Peter and Malchus stood face
to face and that Peter smote with. his
right arm. 1t would have been like
Peter, however, to have slain him If
he could.
When Jesus stepped forward an
nouncing himself as the man they
sought, it was probably no exercise
of humna power that caused the crowd
to fall backward to the ground. The
dignity of outraged manhood produced
the same awe that sent the traders
and money changers covering from the
temple, for the second time. only a
few days before.
His tender care for the welfare of
his disciples is shown in the stippula-
ton that they should not be molested.
He wanted theni-as he wants us--to-
feel that of all that the Father had
given him, not one should be lost.
Mark tells us of young man who
ran away naked. leaving his garment
in the hands of those who would have
detained him. Some have thought
that this young man was Lazarus: but
the opinion that it was Mark himself
is much more prevalent, since he alone
| records the incident
When few weeks Previous, Gaia
phas had announced that 1t was ex-
pedient that Jesus should die for the
people, he had no thought that he was
giving expression to the subIiimest
truth that concerns the human race.
Even SO God makes the wrath of man
to praise him.
| In all the New Testament there is
not a syllable of Justification of Judas,
nor a hint of any palliation of his sin.
1t stands out in all its naked deform-
ity' blasted by the IMPLYING condem-
nation of God and men. 1t has been
left for modern charity to raise up
apoligists for the arch-traitor, and es-
TEEN him as an over jealous patriot
who would hasten forward the Mast
el's plans.
Poor old Peter! We love him more
tenderly because he is SO much like
we are. His terrible fall has been and
Will always be an object lesson to
those who feel that they are making
great progress in spiritual things. We
think of him as neither eating nor
sleeping all those gloomy hours, be.
cause he felt he was an outcast from
the love of God. How he pondered
the words, Il have prayed for thee,
that thy faith fail not" and how little
contemplation. But when on the res
direction morning, the message came
to him, 60 tell his disciples and Pet.
err how it thrilled his despairing
| l..
heart. No wonder he outran them all.
save the nimble footed John, to the
empty tomb. and no wonder he did
not hesitate to go in. Happy are we
II we may get the message of forgive
ness as promptly as he did.
Some twenty years before this. An.
mas, turbulent Sadducee of Alexan.
uria' mad been installed as high priest.
Inc office was not lifetime holding