The Dolores star., 1914-10-16

:.
GOLDEN TExr-watch and pray. tina,
70 enter not into temptation. Matt :e:N
II. v.
The account of Peters boast ".
$500, common but highly signih-
cant story. forms the connecting link,
in Marks Gospel, between this and
last Sundays lesson. After singing
the hymn v. 1.-THE Hallelujah).
Jesus and his disciples left the up
per room.
!. Into the Garden, w. 32-35. No
other passage In history so moves the
human heart with reverential awe
| Somewhere outside Jesus left eight
disciples. He took three, his closest
friends. and resolutely entered the
darkness. Our record tells US that he
was amazed and sore troubled" and
there Is q hint Of his humanity sug
gested by the fact that he should con
fess the same to the disciples. These
three had been with him on the Mount
of TRANSPORTATION there TO behold his
glory. Now they are to see the depths
of Divine selfabnegation. He trod
the winepress alone, however, f0r
he went forward little" ". 35),
The Masters Prayer.
u. Praying, w. 3e-3s. The Mas
ter's prayer was in reality q prayer
Of triumph: prayer which enables
us to apprehend. in part at least. his
suffering and suggestion Of his com.
ing glory. It is easier to appreci.
ate and to understand his prayer
than 1t Is to comprehend his glory.
The resolute abandonment Of himself
to the will Of his Father is one of the
awe-inspiring facts of history.
Jesus asked for this cup. drank II
and passed on to Calvary. In the
midst of his agony he is strength
ened, Luke 22:43. Returning. he
found the three disciples sleeping. Pc.
ter, who had made such boastful avow.
ais of fealty wv. 90. 800 and who il
about to undergo, and to fall. is ad.
dressed In tender \reproach. Simon,
sleepest thou. Couldest thou not
watch one hour" Then addressing
the three. he said. watch, and pray
that 70 enter not into temptation;
the spirit indeed IL willing. but the
flesh II weak"
Found No cemfortsrs.
~. Again praying. w. 3s-42. Again
he passes into the loneliness OF that
midnight hour. Again we hear his tri.
umphant paean OF prayer This time
he returns and finds the disciples
heavy with deep sleep. This 10 .
fulfillment Of Ps. 1920. Il looked for
comforters and found none" His
gentle reproach goes unanswered. For
third time he enters the trial and
returning commands the disciples to
sleep on and take their rest
There 10 little doubt that between
his permission sleep on" and the
declaration 1T 10 enough that the
Savior. in wakeful loneliness,
watched over the sleeping disciples.
At last he reused them for the en-.
envy. headed by Judas. were at hand.
Their dearly bought sleep was short
and We can imagine the confusion
caused by the torch bearing mob. The
Man Of sorrows IL calm In this hour
after his victory in prayer. The dis.
ciples. not likewise strengthened. fee
away.
The suprsms Value Of this story lies
In the effect II may produce upon
each one who comes to know II. To
one It does not speak at all. to an.
other. It melts the heart and brings
tears to the eye.
While he felt the sense Of all through
which he was passing, yet he did not
once hesitate. John 1877. 2s. never
for one moment FILTERED In his Co
operation with tho complete will Of
God. Again We arc compelled to bow
tho head with reverence before his
marvellous patience with the .disci.
pies. Nowhere else have We found .
record that will surpsss this picture.
especially tho latter end. ~ We see
him patiently waiting and watching
while they slept. The words OF the
Psalmist are brought to mind:
Like as a father pitieth His children.
10 the Lord pltieth them that fear Him.
For He knoweth our frame,
lilo remembereth that We arr dust.
Conscious Of his approaching pas.
sion. conscious Of tho strain OF tho
coming hours Of that fateful last day,
halting on the pathway Of his sorrows,
he gives his disciples time for rcpose.
While We contrast his selfsacrince
and their selnshness. yet. when We
study our own lives. Te hardly dare
to criticize. We are. however. I'm.
pressed with the marvellous privilege
they allowed 10 slip from them.
This Golden Text WAS spoken after
tho nrst period Of prayer. These
words were spoken In tender compass.
sion and In full recognition OF the
weakness Of the disciples. He knew
them altogether. the whole truth about
each one. That they desired fellow.