The Montgomery tribune., 1910-11-25

O'Clock until after sunrise.
Place--The palace of the High Priest
Judas had betrayed his Master with
a 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 aloge, single.
handed, drew his sword and defied 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 may
nave been oficious in the taking of
Jesus. a servant of the high priest,
Malohus 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 un-
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 It placed
him In The attitude of a rebel against
the Roman government, and PLATE
could not have pronounced him limo.
cent, for 1t 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, ana their work of founding
the kingdom have been hindered.
Jesus remedies the evil by miracu.
lously healing the wound. This heal.
Ing showed that Jesus was no rebel
against the Roman power. 1t showed
the nature of his kingdom, as the king.
dom of peace and truth and love. II
showed his own character and how
he lived up to his own precepts. ],
showed his divine nature and powsr.
1t is recorded only by the snysi.
clan, Luke, (22:51). Thus" says
Tholuck, "the last act VI those hands
before they were boupS was a work
of mercy and of peace in healing that
slight wound, the only one ever in.
flicted for his sake"
The trial before the Sanhedrin was
Illegal according to all the above tests,
1t was held in the night. 1T was a
packed jury, star chamber of self
appointed assessors.'-s The object OF
the enemies of Jesus was to condemn
him and to give him over to the
Roman authorities for cruciflxion be-
fore his friends could rally and inter.
pose In his behalf. Sought false wit
ness against Jesus. for 1t was impos-
sible to condemn him by any true ac.
cusations. To put him to death. This
they had determined for reasons of
their own. What they wanted was
some plausible pretext that would en-.
able them to persuade the Roman au.
thorities to put Jesus to death.
Jesus held his peace. They would
not accept denial, and they would
have perverted the meaning of any
explanation he could make. He re-
fused to east pearls before swine" or
to give that which was holy to dogs"
There are many times when II 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 un-
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 men from SIN; cul.
ture them into noble character, help
the needy. visit the sick, preach the
Gospel, and the works of Christianity
will answer its enemies. At the same
time explanations of difficulties to
those who wish to learn are always in
order.
Macaulay In his essay on Milton
says. "Aristo tells story of a fairy,
who, by some mysterious law of her
nature, was condemned to appear at
certain seasons in the form of foul,
poisonous snake. Those who injured
her during the period of her disguise
were forever excluded from participa.
tion in the blessings which she be.
slowed But to those who, in spite OF
her loathsome aspect, pitied and pro-
tected her, she afterward revealed her.
self in the beautiful and celestial form
which was natural to her, accompa-
MED their steps. granted all their
wishes, filled their houses with wealth,
made them happy In love and victori-
GUS in war" SO what is done to Christ
in his disguised and lowly form is a
test Of our character and of our love,
and will be rewarded and blessed by
him when he comes in his glory;
while those who reject him in his hui
mility must come before his judgment.
seat when he sits on the right hand
of the power of God.
A possible array of witnesses If they
had wished to learn the truth. What
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