Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-05-31
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDNSQIOOL
LESSON
by E. o. SELLERS, Acting Director of
the Sunday School Course of the Moody
Bible Institute)
Copyright, 1917. Western Newspaper Unton)
LESSON FOR JUNE 8
JESUS BETRAYED AND DENIED

Al ledculHS tlllS leSSOH TO some Vi
The younger classes, emphasis might be
placed upon the dramatic scene in the
garden of Gethsemane, and Peters de-
nial 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 as 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
ciples slept in Gethsemane, and be-
trayed him like Judas or denied him
ike Peter.
|. The Place Of Retreat wv. 49, 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,
HID, 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 ". y to the garden,
there to bear the awful weight OF
agony that was crushing him Matt,
strengthen his disciples, and fortify
them against the coming trials. That
this place was place of frequent re-
sort for Jesus Judas was aware. 1t was
a sanctuary in which Jesus met the
Father, and those who knew Llin
src a nf n
most likely place to find him at that
time of night ". 81. Rebuffed at
Mary's prodigalfty, Judas had cons0rt.
ed with the priests, and now covetous~
ness Is to reap it's reward. Judas was
not hardened in a 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 wv.
AID. (See Matt, &c; Mark IA; Lake
22). Jesus went forth in order to con-
centrate the attention OF the soldiers
upon himself, and to- prevent a general
attack upon the disciples. In answer
to his question; they said they were
seeking Jesus; the Nazarene," term
Of contempt which Jesus answered by
saying, II 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. Fits safgtation |
sent them backward w.. 49,. Perhaps |
among the officers were some wire had |
failed to arrest him on former occa-
sion (ch. :4G), aud who were DOW
overawed by his marvellous words and |
majestic bearing. Again he answered, |
"Whorn seek ye?" " D.. and they
said, Jesus of NAZARETH" the same |
words as before, but probably in a |
changed tone, showing that they were |
prepared to listen with respect, though |
certainly not with reverence, to- what |
he might have to offer. What a. dra-
matte pfcture-the braZenness+ of sin, !
Judas who stood ameng the enemy, /
and the fearlessnesss of virtt9es Jesus, |
facing his accusers. Augustine, COM
mentifTg ON this vezse, says, what |
will he do when he comes as a guest, I
If he did this when giving himself up
as a prisoner" His act, However,
shielded his disciples for not one of |
them was to be lost {Y. 9 R. Wy, and
he knew they were not strong. enough
vet to stand the test of arrest and
defend Jesus ". 100.
III. Peter Denying wv. 15-f7)- AS
Jesus was led away, his disciples for
SOCK him. They all left him.. and fed,
but Mark adds that certain young
man followed Jesus. 1t is conjeetured
that this young man was Mark. With
quickness of action we are now trans
ported to the judgment half. There
we see him bound, with his hands
shaekled behind his bacR, and led
first to Annas ". t3), which was an il
legal transaction, 'as though some
reformer should be tried at Tammany
hall in New York; (Robert e. Speer).
Annas was now very Old. From him
he was taken to Caaphas, followed by
Peter "afar off, now in a differenE
mood than when he smote the high
priests servants ear. With him was
that other disciple (John's 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 the steps of his failure,
First, he slept in the garden; see
ond, he followed "afar off" duke
% 3D. 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 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 1ook" at
Peter Nuke % :61) and he "remem-
| hnrp1 - KNa NAV Iopv Of nv orr