Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1910-11-24

Golden Text-"Who. when he was re-
viled, reviled not again. Peter 2:23.
Time-Friday morning OF the Crucihx-
Ion. continuing from between 1 ana
O'Clock until after sunrise.
Place-The palace Of the High Priest
Judas had betrayed his Master with
. kiss, and the great mingled company
OF rulers, Romans, officers, and sol.
diers with lanterns and swords and
slaves. were beginning their home.
ward march to the city.
Peter Immediately alone. single
handed. drew his sword and defed the
whole Roman and Jewish powers. He,
In his impetuous, loving, courageous
way, began to show that he would live
up to his promise that he would die
for Jesus before he would desert him.
Attacking the nearest one, who nay
have been offlcious in the taking of
Jesus, a servant Of the high priest,
Malchus by name, Peter struck wildly
and missing his mark cut off merely
the ear Of his enemy. Jesus imme-
diately stopped him. For 1t was I'M
necessary, since Jesus could have at
any time twelve legions of angel de-.
tenders. Peters defense was contrary
TO the teachings and plans of Jesus.
1t was useless, for Peter could not
overthrow by the sword the Roman
power. 1t was the worst thing he
could do for his Master: It would ruin
his cause and his defense, for II placed
him In the attitude of a rebel against
the Roman government, and plate
could not have pronounced him limo.
cent, for It would give color to the
charges of the Pharisees that Jesus
was an enemy Of Caesar, and a rebel
against the Roman government. Peter
might have been arrested for rebel.
lion. and perhaps the other disciples
with him, and their work of founding
the kingdom have been hindorcd.
Jesus remedies the evil by miracu.
lousy healing the wound. This heal.
Ing showed that Jesus was no rebel
against the Roman power. It showed
the nature Of his kingdom, as the king.
dom OF peace and truth and love. 1t
showed his OWL character and how
he lived up to his own ~precepts. 1t
showed his divine nature and power.
1t Is recorded only by the physi.
clan, Luke. (22:51). "Thus,' says
Tholuck. the last act Of those hands
before they we're bound was n work
Of mercy and of peace IN healing that
slight wound. the only one ever in.
ficted for his sake"
The trial before the Sanhedrin was
Illegal according to all the above tests.
II was held In the night. 1T was a
packed jury, a star chamber of self
appointed assessors" The object OF
the enemies of Jesus was to condemn
him and TO give him over to the
Roman authorities for c%rucinxion be-
fore his friends could rally and inter.
pose In his behalf. Sought false wit.
ness against Jesus, for it was impos.
sihle to condemn him by any true &C.
cusations. To put him to death. This
they had determined for reasons OF
their own. What they wanted was
some plausible pretcxt that would en-.
able them to persuade the Roman au-
thorities to put Jesus to death.
Jesus held his peace. They would
no accept a denial, and they would
have perverted the meaning Of any
explanation he could make. He re.
fused to cast pearls before swine" or
to give that which was holy to dogs
There are many times when it is well
for Christians to initiate their Master
In this. Do not waste time and
strength in replying to those who are
determined to oppose Christianity I'm.
der all circumstances. Replying often
advertises the enemy; and arguments
take the attention from the main work
Of the Gospel, the saving of the world
from sin. Attend to the business OF
the church, save mon from sin; cul.
ture them into a noble character, helr
he needy, visit the sick, preach the
Gospel. and the works of Christianity
will answer its enemies. At the same
time explanations of difficulties Ia
those who wish to learn are always IN
order.
Macaulay in his essay on Milton
says. Artistic tells a story of a fairy
who, by some mysterious law Of her
nature, was condemned to appear a;
certain seasons In the form Of a foul
poisonous snake. Those vino injured
ner during the period OF her disguise
were forever excluded from participa
ton in the blessings which she be
slowed. But TO those who, in spite OF
ner ioathsome aspect, pitied ana pro,
tected her, she afterward revealed her