The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-05-31
LESSON FOR JUNE 3
JESUS BETRAYED AND DENIED

In teaching this lesson 10 some of
the younger classes, emphasis might be
placed upon the dramatic scene in the
garden Of Gethsemane, and Peters de-
NAL at the fire. In some OF the inter
mediate classes the scholars might be
asked to write short, one-mInute es-
says, describing the scene us though
they, themselves, were present. For
the adult classes Of course the central
theme Is the way that Christ's follow.
ers neglect him today even as the dis
clples slept In Gethsemane. and be-
trayed him like Judas or denied him
like Peter.
.. The Place Of Retreat wv. 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 noblest
passage IN the New Testament (chs
AID. the like OF which cannot be
found anywhere else In the worlds
writings. Having spoken these words,
Jesus and his disciples went over the
Brook kedron ". ~ to the garden.
there to bear the awful weight of
agony that was crushing him Matt.
20 :3s). while nj the same time he must
strengthen his disciples, and fortify
them against the coming trials. That
this place was n place Of frequent re-
sort for Jesus. Judas was aware. II was
n sanctuary In which Jesus met the
Father. and those who knew him
knew II rs place of prayer, and the
most likely place TO find him nj that
time of night ". ~. Rebuffcd at
Mary's prodignllty. Judas had consort-
ell with the priests, and now covctous-
ness Is Ia reap It's reward. Judas was
not hardened In a day. His greed for
money. while nj the same time listen
ing 10 the teachings Of Jesus. had
gradually hardened his heart.
~. Protecting and Protesting wv.
4-1D. tSce Matt % Mark II; Luke
22). Jesus went forth in order TO CON
centrate the attention Of the soldiers
upon himself. and 10 prevent a general
attack upon the disciples. In answer
to his question, they said they were
seeking Jesus. the Nazarene." term
~ contempt which Jesus answered by
saying, 81 am he" John adds. "and
Judas also which betrayed him stood
with them" Greed for money. grow
Ing into theft and falseness Of life,
ended with the blacklist crime the
world has ever known. His salutatlon
sent them backward ". o.. Perhaps
among the officers were some who had
failed to arrest him on former occa-
sion Och. 7:46), and who were now
overawed by his marvellous words and
majestic bearing. Again he answered.
"Whom seek ye" ". -. and they
said. "Jesus OF Nazareth" the same
words ms before but probably I'm a
changed tone. showing that they were
prepared TO listen with respect. though
certainly not with reverence. 10 what
he might have to Offer. What a dra-
matte plcture-the brazenness OF sin,
Judas who stood among the enemy,
and the fearlessness OF virtue, Jesus,
facing his accusers. Augustine, COM
menting on this verse, says. ~what
viii h. do when he comes as n guest,
II he did this when giving himself up
as n prisonerr' His act, however.
shielded his disciples. for not one OF
them was to be lost ". o r. W., and
he knew they were not strong enough
vet to stand the test Of arrest and
trial. At this point Peter attempts to
defend Jesus e.. 10).
~. Peter Denying wv. 1910. As
Jesus was led away. his disciples for
sock him. They all left him. and Ned.
but Mark adds that a certain young
man followed Jesus. II is conjectured
that this young man was Mark. With
Quickness Of action we are now trans
ported TO the Judgment hall. There
we see him bound, with his hands
shackied behind his back. and led
first to Annas ". 49,. which was an H.
legal transaction. "as though some
reformer should be tried at Tammany
hall In New York" (Robert r. Speer).
Annas was now very old. From him
was taken TO Caiaphas, followed by
Peter "afar or" now In a different
mood than when he smote the high
priests servants ear. With him was
that other disciple Johns way Of re-
ferring TO HIMSELF. Now John was
known to the high priest, and he went
In with Jesus into the palace. but
Peter was standing without at the
door. Notice tho steps Of his failure;
First. he "slept" in the garden; sec
ond. he followed "afar on" Uuke
$3.50; third. he "stood" without
fourth, he "sat" In the midst.
Then notice the denials, the last &C
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 to keep
out of unless gone into to witness for
Christ. Peter did not have that pur-
pose. The Lord had only to "look" at
Peter Luke 22 :61) and he "remem-
bered." We may deny Christ BY our
silence. by remaining outside OF the
church. by denying his existence. By
profanity. by ridiculing his friends.
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