Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1910-02-14
WHY JUDAS WAS LOST
AND PETER SAVED.
Sermon Preached by Rev. DR.. M. S.
Kaufman at Trinity Methodist Church.


Kaufman at Trinity Methodist Church.
Rev. DR.. NJ S. Kaufman's theme at
Trinity Methodist Epicopal church on
Sunday evening was Why Judas Was
Lost and Peter Saved. He said in part:
There are very few men in all hui
man history more widely known than
Judas and Peter. The one is notorious
on account of his infamy; the other is
known for his early fickleneSs and later
eternity of shame Peter achieved an
immortality of shining fame, emerging
from temporary shadow. Both men did
wrong Both committed serious Of
fences against the Son of God right
in the hnlelight of events and at an
epoch which gave their deeds most
conspicuous setting and fixed them
forever in the memory of man. Both
were disciples of the Supreme Teach
er. Marvellous advantages were en-
joyed bv both. One improved his
chances grandly for Gods glory and
mans elevation. The other so abused
his opportunities that they turned
against him and proved his ruin.
These two eminent men represent
two classes of people who still live.
Those who are loyal to Jesus and those
preciate Him and those who esteem
Him lightly or actually hate Him;
those who would rather, a thousand
times rather, die than to deny Christ;
ana those VINO would paSely DSLTdy
Him for a few pa1try dollars. Judas
and Peter are two types of human ma
ture. They reveal most powerfully
what is in man-causing to stand out
in bold relief mans capacity for 'basest
wickedness and for Hottest likeness to
Christ.
Look at Judas Like every human
being he was made up of qualities both
evil and good. We may think of him
as one who was gifted with superior
Tz-~ 1aa
capable intellectually and as well en-
dowed for handling the practical af-
fairs of life as any one of the twelve.
Had Christ established a temporal
kingdom most likely one of it's most
powerful supporters would have been
Judas. He would have been the fittest
man among them to provide the
fnances-so indispensable to a nations
welfare. There may have been in him
the elements of the higher order of
politicians, even of a statesman. He
gave clear evidence of being a man of
and much So-called worldly
wisdom and practical sagacity. In his
young manhood he must have cher
ished some noble ambitions or he
would not have been attracted to Jesus.
That these noble desires and asplra
tons were genuine is proved by his
continuing with the Master nearly
three years. Had there been nothing
good in Judas. Christ would not have
chosen him as one of His honored
helpers in founding the kingdom of
heaven upon earth. But gradually he
yielded to temptations and instead of
overcoming evil with good he allowed
the good within him to be overcome of
evil. After he had started on the down.
ward road he went to ruin rapidly.
In spite of most favorable environ
ment he chose the wrong and reaped
as he had Sown- From the sacred
presence of Gods own loving Son,
Judas went out into the night to COM
the truest friend he ever knew, the
truest Friend anyone has ever known. |
Jesus had never harmed him, had al |
ways been good to him, had sought in
every way to win him over to a, pure
and holy life but all to no avail Have
you ever been betrayed by one in
whom you had always tried to benefit
and bless? If you have, then you can
have some conception of how Jesus |
felt when the cold. cruel, traitorous |
kisses of Judas stung His face Judas |
stands out in history as the traitor. He |
chose the parts of black |
sin.
H. Notice briefly Peters character. |
He was a rough, uncouth Galilean fish |
srman, one among the first who was |
attracted to Jesus and early became |
His disciple He was an impulsive, |
unsteady, intense enthusiastic, child |
hearted man during most of the time |
le was with Jesus. His frank natural /
ness, his many blunders, even his sins /
'eVeal his perfect humanneSS and thus |
BRING him near to us. He is so very |
ike many other people that he has |
always had earnest sympathizers and /
ardent admirers and warm friends. He |
was usually first to speak in any |
rises. A natural born leader was he. |
What a strange bundle of contradic- |
ions! One hour declaring though al |
men forsake thee. yet will not l." The |
next hour he denies with an oath that /
ne ever knew Jesus. But what a pa |
&c h3f
ais Lord one minute and the next |
weeping bitterly over this dark denial |
rs though his heart would break. IS,
his was Peters redeeming quality; he |
Knew how to repent.
1. What became of Judas? LITTLE |
~ little he slipped away from re~,:i- |
-ude. His love of money became the |
absorbing passion of his life unr1l lie |
betrayed INTO the hands OF mu-ceisrs
lis truest Friend for the price OF a
lave; about fifteen dollars.
After this dastardly deed and he 81. w
90 late how foolish and wiczed be (
lad been, then remorse not repentance |
courged him with scorpion FER. eness |
md he committed suicide. 2euorse is /
lgony of soul by reason of the cens G
luences of ones sins. Repen- 1liee is |
of sin itself. Pemorsc
lrives one away from God. tsape1tarce
eads to self destruction. Req snte ace |
rings forgiveness and restoration TO |
Irvine favor. Judas hanged himself. |
vent to his own place, a doom I'd ,ul. |
2. What became of Peer? He |
struck bottom, SO to speak, 81 mis- Ter I
ible denial of Christ From mat |
Iepth of iniquity he began to climo and |
lept climbing until he well nj sh SEALED
he heights of splendid Christian man
rood. He became a wonderful man-
me of Gods most approved and nest /
uccessful workrnen. The largest
hurch edif1ce ever built is named after
Tl-ko ~ .r4R.N
st. Peter. All Christians of every
anne may well do him honor JUDAS
vas lost because he refused to let |
thirst into his life. Peter was saved |
because he accepted Christ heartily as
10Th Savior and Lord. Judas s..a.ia
elf first and was los-- Pe.ar ma e |