The Yale expositor., 1908-05-15
JESUS BETRAYED
AND DENIED
Sunday School Lesson for May IL, 1908
Specially Prepared for This Paper

GOLDEN TEXT.-"Jesus said unto
them: The Son OF man shall be betrayed
into the hands OF men."-Matt. n:2.
TIME-Thursday evening and early Fri
day morning. April and Z, A. ID. JO
PLACE.-The garden OF Gethsemane.
on the slope OF the Mount or olives,
and the house OF Caiaphas in Jerusalem.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The Sleeping Disciples.-V. 1; Geth-
semane was plot Of ground (Matt.
1886, which appears to have been
on the Mount of Olives (Luke 22:39)
and beyond the ravine of the Kidron
John 1S:D. Leaving Jerusalem by
st. Stephens gate one comes to the
traditional site OF Gethsemane, at
distance of almost so yards beyond
the bridge that spans the Kidron. A
stone wall incloses a nearly square
plot of ground, which contains eight
very ancient olive trees. 1t is uni
versally admitted that the real site
cannot be far from the traditional
one."-Conder, in Hastings Bible Die
tionary.
The temptation of the disciples in
Gethsemane on the surface was a
temptation to physical sloth, the yield
ing of physical weakness; but deeper,
their sin was the lack of that sympa-
thy with Christ which would have
kept them awake, watching and pray
ing as he bade them. 1t was all the
worse because Christ had sought, as
his nearest companions, to give him
what comfort men could In his SUI
preme spiritual struggle, the three dis
ciples that were nearest him, Peter,
James and John. He had thus hon.
ored them at least twice before-when
he healed the daughter of Jairus, and
on the Mount of TRANSPORTATION.
The three disciples met this tempta-
ton by yielding to drowsiness, rous-
ing enough to perceive the agony OF
Christ which they have reported to
us, and then falling asleep again, in
spite of their Masters pleadings, twice
repeated, for their loving interest and
support in his great trial. Never In
all their lives could Peter, James and
John wipe out that failure from their
memories. And yet, have we one word
of blame? We have never been worn
with sorrow such as theirs. Have we
not also failed when our Lord has
asked US to watch and pray?"-R. G.
Gillie.
The Treacherous Disciple.-Vs. 2-9.
Already while Christ was uttering his
sad words of disappointment, sleep
on now" the lanterns and torches of
his captors were cleaning through
the trees.
Judas brings with him: 1. Officers
from the chief priests and Pharisees."
These were the temple servants, the
Jewish guard OF the temple. 2. "a
band OF men," "A detachment OF Ro.
man soldiers from the garrison sta
toned in the castle of Antonia, sent
to preserve order Matt. 26:5) and
frustrate any attempt at rescue
Century Bible.
Christ received them with full
knowledge of their purpose, and OF the
fatal result that would follow. He
did not attempt to hide, but went
forth" into the full moonlight from the
deep shade of the olives, "and said
unto them: Whom seek YEP" This
question was probably asked for the
drawing the attention of all upon him
self"-American Commentary.
When Christ calmly declared who
he was they fell backward on the
ground. Whether this was super
natural event, or allied to the sublime
force of moral greatness flashing in
his eye, or echoing in the tones of his
voice, we cannot say. He who had
hushed the waves and cast out the
devil, and before whose glance and
word John and Paul fell to the earth
as If struck with lightning, did per-
haps allow his very captors (prepared
by Judas for some display of his might
to feel how powerless they were
against im."-Pulpit Commentary.
Peter was brought to his senses by
a grieved look from his Lord. 'Tt was
enough. Like an arrow through his
inmost soul shot the mute, eloquent
anguish of that reproachful glance. AS
the sunbeam smltes the last hold of
the snow upon the rock ere It rushes
in avalanches down the tormented hill
so the false self of the fallen apostle
slipped away. Flinging the fold of his
mantle over his head. he, too, like
Iudas. rushed forth into the night.
Into the night, but, as has been beau
tifully said, 1t was to meet the morn
ing dawn II the angel OF Innocence
had left him, the angel OF Repentance
took him gently by the hand."-Far.
rar.
Practical Points.
The same possibilities of sin are be-
fore all men. Still, every day, our
Lord is denied and betrayed.
When we have sinned and repented.
let us not seek to bury our shame
and sorrow In forgetfulness, but let
us remember our fall that we may
avoid a second fall, and thus be CRATE
full to Christ for saving us and for
giving us.
Our safety lies in watching the little
temptations. Judas began. perhaps,
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