The Dermott news., 1917-05-31

| tAiN sodittA NidSs'S, tt
 placed upon the dramatic scene in the
 garden of Gethsanane, and Peter's de- l nial at the fire. In some of the inter- mediate classes the scholars might he l asked 10 write short, one-minute es.
 says, describing the scene as though
 they. themselves. were present. For 1 the adult classes of course the central
 theme is the way that Christs follow
 CTS neglect him today even as the dis. l ciples slept in Gethsemane. and be- trayed him like Judas or denied him | like Peter.
 l. The Place of Retreat (vv. 1-3). In
 his emphasis upon the spiritual gran deur of the deity of Jesus, John does
 not dwell upon the agony in the gar
 den. He. however, gives us that nohlest l passage in the New Testament (chs 1 14-17), the like of which cannot he found anywhere else in the worlds
 writings. Having spoken these words
 Jesus and his disciples went over the Brook kedron V. D to the garden, there to bear the awful weight of agony that was crushing him (Matt. 26 :3S). while Tt the same time he must 1 strengthen his disciples. and fortify
 them against the coming trials. That this place was q place of frequent re-
 sort for Jesus. Judas WAS aware. II was Il sanctuary in which Jesus met the Father. and those who knew him knew it as q place of prayer. and the most likely place to find him at that
 time of night (v. 3. Rebuhed at Mary's prodsallty. Judas had consort. ed with the priests. and now Covetous- ness k to reap it's reward. Judas was
 not hardened in day. His greed for money. while at the same time listen Ing to the teachings of Jesus. had gradually hardened his heart
 II. Protecting and Protesting (vv
 4-1D. (See Matt 26: Mark II: Luke 211). Jesus went forth in order To con ecntrate the attention of the soldie-s upon himself. and to prevent n general attack upon the disciples. In answer
 to his question, they said they were seeking Jesus. the Nazarene," term
 ot contempt which Jesus answered hy saving. T nm he" John adds "and Judas also which betrayed him stood with them" Greed for money. grow. ing into theft and falscncSs of life
 ended with the hlackest crime the world has ever known. His Salutation
 sent them backward ty. 6. Perhaps among the officers were some who had failed to arrest him on n former occa.
 sion (ch. : :i6l, and who were now ovcrawed by his marvellous words and majestic hearing. Again he answered
 Whom seek vel" (v. O. and they said Jesus of Nazareth" inc same words ns before but probably in q changed tone showing that they were prepared to listen with respect. though certainly not with reverence. to what he might have to offer. What n dra-
 matte pleture-the hrazenness of sin. Judas who stood among the enemy, and the fearleSsness of virtue. Jesus. facing his accuSers. Augustine. com.
 mcntug on this verse. says, What will he do when he comes as n guest, If he did this when giving himself up as prisonerf' His act, however shielded his disciples, for not one of them was to he lost (v. Q k. VI, and | he knew they were not strong enough yet to stand the test of arrest and trial. Al this point Peter attempts to defend Jesus (v. 10).
 III. Peter Denying tvv 15-11). As Jesus was led away. his disciples for.
 sock him. They all left him, and fled. l hut Mark adds that certain young man followed Jesus. II Is cnnjectured 1 that this young man was Mark. With 1 quickness of action we are now trans. ported to the Judgment hall. There
 we see him hound. with his hands
 shaekled behind hIs back, and led | first to Annas (v. 13). which was an il. i legal transaction. "as though sowe | reformer should be tried at Tammany ! hall in New York" Uiohert T., Speerl. Annas was now very old. From him
 he was taken to Calaphas, followed by
 Peter "afar on" now in different
 mood than when he smote the high
 priests servants ear. With him was | that other disciple Johns way of re. ferrng to himselO. Now John was known to the high priest. and he went
 In with Jesus into the palace. hut | Peter was standing without at the
 door. Notice the steps of his failure ::
 First. he "slept" in the garden sec
 ond. he Ssolowed "afar or" Guke
 % :5D third. he "s,ood" without i:
 fourth. he "sat" in the midst
 Then notice the denials. the last ac
 companied by cursing. Attempts to
 compromise with the world meet with
 the same measure of failure today as
 when Peter was in the judgment hall
 Bad company Is a good thing 10 keer
 out of unless gone Into to witness for
 Christ. Peter did not have that pur.
 pose. The Lord had only to Hook" nt
 Peter Luke 12 :6D and he .remem
 bered We may deny Christ by our
 silence, by remaining outside of the I