Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-10-15
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 1s
IN THE GARDEN OF oETHsEMANE.

IN THE GARDEN OF oETHsEMANE.
LESSON TExT-Mark h:s2-42. See also
Luke a;3s-46.
r. v.
The account of Peters boast ".
$500, a common but highly signif-
cant story. forms the connecting link,
In Marks Gospel, between this and
last Sundays lesson. After singing
the hymn v. 5 (the Hallelutah),
Jesus and his disciples left the up
per room.
l.. into the Garden, w. 32-35. No
other passage In history 30 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 a hint Of his humanity sug-
gested by the fact that he should con-
TESS 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 self.abnegation. He trod
the w%inepress alone, however. for
he went forward a little" ". $50,
The Masters Prayer.
II. Praying, w. $3.50. The Mas
Of triumph; q prayer which enables
US to %apprehend. in part at least, his
suffering and q suggestion of his COM
ing glory. It is easier to appreci-
ate and to understand his prayer
than it is to comprehend his glory.
The resolute abandonment of himself
to the will of his Father is n Of the
awe-inspiring facts Of history.
Jesus asked for this cup. drank it
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 boastfui avow-
ais Of fealty wv. 20, 30) and who is
about to undergo, and to fall. 10 adj
dressed In tender reproach, Simon.
sleepest thou. Couldest thou not
watch one hour?" Then addressing
the three, he said, watch, and pray
that ye enter not into temptation;
the spirit indeed is willing. but the
flesh 10 weak"
Found No comforters
III. 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 disciplea
heavy with deep sleep. This Is .
fulnllment Of Ps. $500. Il looked for
comforters and found none" His
gentle reproach goes unanswered. For
q third time he enters the trial and
returning commands the disciples to
sleep on and take their rest
There is little doubt that between
his permission sleep on" and the
declaration 1T il 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 is calm in this hour
after his victory in prayer. The dis
ciples. not likewise strengthened, Zee
away.
The Supreme Value Of this story lies
in the effect 1t may produce upon
each one who comes to know it. To
one It does not speak at all, to an
other. 1t melts the heart and brings
tears to the eye.
While he felt the sense Of all through
which he wss passing, yet he did not
once hesitate. John 1921. 2s. never
for one moment faltered In his CO.
operation with the complete will Of
God. Again we are compelled to bow
the head with reverence before his
marvellous patience with the disci-
pies. Nowhere else have we found .
record that will surpass this picture.
especially the latter end. al We see
him patiently waiting and watching
while they slept. The words Of the
Psaimist are brought to mind:
Like a. Q father pideth His children,
80 the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.
For He knoweth our frame.
He remsmbereth that we are dust,
Conscious Of his approaching pas
sion. conscious Of the strain Of the
coming hours Of that fateful last day,
halting on the pathway Of his sorrows,
he gives his disciples time for rspose.
While We contrast his self-sacrtncs
and their selashness. yet. when We
study our own lives. We hardly dare
to criticize. We are. however. i'm
pressed with the marvellous privilege
they allowed to slip from them.
The Golden Text was spoken after
the first 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
ship with him We feel confident, yet
they, svsn a. We 90 often likewise.
failed. Let us then endeavor to OBJ
serve and obey his injunction. Keep
awake, and pray ye enter not into
temptation Not that we shall be