Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-10-14
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson III.-Fourth Quarter, For
Oct. 10, 1914.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, Mark xiv, 32-42.
Memory Verses, 34-36-Golden Text,
Matt. XVI, 41-commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.

we cannot understand, He comforted
that little band with the incompatible
words of John xiv, XIV, xvi and pray
ed the prayer of John xvii, such a
prayer as was never prayed on earth
before or since Then they sang a
hymn and went out into the mount of
Olives verse 26). He went forth over
the brook Cedron, because His son
Israel had turned against Him and
would not have Him (Ex. iv, %; Ps.
lxxxi. III. We cannot but think of
His father David going forth over the
against him QI Sam. XIV, 23). but as
truly as David returned and reigned
when the rebellion was over, so shall
the Son of David return and reign
when Israels rebellion is over.
Having entered a garden in Geth-
semane John xviii. u, He said to His
disciples, "Sit We here while I shall
pray" and. leaving eight of them, He
took Peter and James and John and
went a little farther and began to be
sorrowful and very heavy verse SO;
Matt XVI, 80. Putting the three rec
ords together as well as we can, it
seems to have been like this: He was
withdrawn from the three favored dis
ciples about stones cast, saying to
them, MY soul is exceeding sorrow
full unto death. Tarry ye here and
watch with me-" Then He went for
ward a little and kneeled down and
fell on His face on the ground and
prayed, saying, 30 my Father. If it be
possible let this cup pass from me;
nevertheless. not my will but Thine be
done" And there appeared an angel
unto Him from heaven, strengthening
Him And, being in an agony, He
prayed more earnestly. and His sweat
was as it were great drops of blood
falling down to the ground. (Matt
XVI, 37-39; Mark xiv, 1886; Luke xxi.
144.)
Then He came to the three and found
them asleep and saith unto Peter: Isl
mon, sleepest thoua Couldest thou not
watch with me one hour? Watch We
and pray lest We enter into temptation.
The spirit indeed is willing. but the
flesh is weak" He went away the sec
ond time and prayed the same words,
and returned and found them asleep
again. and they did not know what to
answer Him.
He went away and prayed the third
time. saying the same words. Then
He came the third time to the three
and said, "Sleep on now, and take your
rest, it is enough, the hour is come;
behold, the Son of Man Is betrayed
into the hands of sinners" Then He
returned to the eight and found them
also sleeping for sorrow, and said:
why sleep yer Rise and pray lest
We enter into temptation" This at
tempt at a conservative story Of that
awful night In the garden may not be
quite correct In every detail, but 1t is
helpful even to try to do it. Do 1t for
yourself, and you will be blessed In
doing it
1t is clear that He prayed three
times, that He found them three times
sleeping, that He sweat, as it were,
drops of blood, that an angel strength
ened Him, that after His agony He
was able to rise up and go to meet
His enemies.
What shall we say of the favored
three who were also with Him at the
raising of the rulers daughter and on
the mount Of TRANSPORTATION and two
Of them honored to bring to Him the
ass colt and to prepare the Passover?
What about their sleeping at His
TRANSPORTATION duke TX, 32), as well
as in the garden. and the fact that
neither glory nor suffering can keep
such mortals as we are awaken What
about the boasting of Peter and then
his not being able to watch one hour?
Oh, the loneliness of it all on His
side! mo man knoweth the Son save
the Father" How can He continue
to make anything out of us? May His
patience with us make us more pa
hent with each other.
As to His own experience in the
garden we may be quite certain that
He was not shrinking from death on
the cross, nor was He asking to be de-
ivered from that. We know that the
devil tried to kill Him as a babe in
Bethlehem and by His own townsmen
1t Nazareth and possibly in the storm
On the lake. but he could not, for the
lime had not come. My own convic-
hon concerning His agony and bloody
sweat in Gethsemane is that 1t was an
other attempt of the devil to kill Him
before the time and thus prevent His
reat sacrifice for sin on Calvary. The
Key to 1t is found In Heb. v, Z, HE
offered up prayers and supplications
with strong crying and tears unto
Him that was able to save Him from
Heath and was heard" 1t Is the rec
rd Of His third weeping. He prayed
b be saved from death. and He was
heard and therefore saved from death.
he death in the garden which seem