The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1919-12-04
IMPROVED UNIH0RM INTERNATIONAL
SUNlMSC[lO0L
LESSON
tBy REV. p. b. FITZWATER, d. D.,
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago)
Copyright. 1919. Western Newapsper Union,
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 7
PETER AND JOHN ASLEEP IN
GETHSEMANE.


LESSON TEXT-Mark 14:s2-42
GOLDEN TEXT-watch ye and pray,
lest ye enter into temptation "A 49,
ADDITIONAL MATERIAi-Mat. 1856.
10; Luke 22:39-54: John 1Sl-n
URINARY TOPIC-An Angel Strength
ening Jesus.
JUNIOR ToPIC.-Peter and John FAN
INTERMEDIATES TOPIC = Asleep on
Duty
SENIOR AND ADULT TOPIC-Jesus
Depends upon His Disciples.
!. christ's Suffering wv. 32-34).
l. The place ". 32). The garden Of
GethScmane-an incloSure containing
olive and fig trees, beyond KIdron,
about threc-fourths Of mile from Je-
rusalem. The name means Olive-press.
Inc name Is significant of the occasion.
fhersh"im says 1t is an emblem OF
trial, distress and agony. Perhaps the
garden was owned by one OF Jesus
friends
:. His companions ". 35). He took
with him the II disciples. that they
might share, so far as possible, this
sorrow with him. Being real human
being he craved sympathy. He bade
them watch with him. While he knew
that he must "traad the winc-press
alon",' he had n keen appreciation OF
sympathy so far rs those who loved
MIN could give It. The behavior of the
disciples shows the utter limitation OF
human sympathy.
3. His great sorrow ". 34). This Is
the same as the coup" in verse SO. II
was not primarily the prospect OF
physical suffering that was crushing
MN; 1t was the suffering as q sin.
b"arcr-thc sensations Of his pure soul
coming into contact with the awful sin
ana guilt of the world. Only pure and
refined natures can understand this.
In addition to this, there was the judg-
mcnt stroke from the holy God as Il
fell upon his Son instead of the sin.
ncr. God caused the inlQuities OF the
world to strike upon Jesus UI Cor.
5:21: Isa. 53 :G>.
u. Christ Praying WV. 35-i2).
Though he priced human sympathy
In tn" hour of supreme need. his only
recourse was prayer. The sympathy
OF our friends is helpful, but in the
great crises of life we can find helm
only when we 60 to God in prayer. "Is
any among you afflicted? Let him
pray Jamcs $40.
!. The first prayer wv. 35-3S). U)
His posture ". 35). He fell on his
face, PROSTATE on the ground In the
hour Of our great need we naturally
proStratc ourselves before God. This
Is becoming posture. (2) His ptti-
tlon ". 3G). 'Take away this cup
from me- BY the cup is meant his
death on the cross He did not desire
To escape the cross. No doubt It was
most gricvous to him to face It's shame.
but he pressed on. knowing that for
this cause he had come INTO the world
(John :27, 2S: Of. Heb. 2:14). He
prayed that the "hour might pass from
him." that Is, that his life might he
prolonged tn die on the cross mt the
appointed time to make atoncmcnt for
IN" sins Of the world. The burden was
so great that 1t seemed his life would
h" crushed ont. His prayer was heard
tI"b. 5:O. When God hears our
prayers he grants the petition desired
q John 5:1i-lO. Angels ministcrcd
to him. giving the necessary grace to
'''''' w. NV 'i''i NIsuh' foD. t'bD
His resignation ". 3G). His will was
in Suhicctinn TO the Father. He knew
that his death on the cross was the
will Of God the Father: for ne was the
Lamb slain from the foundation If the
world. (4 The disciples rebuketl ".
30. lie singled out Peter, since he
had been IN" most conspicuous I'm pro
claiming his loyalty (John 1899.
Though h" would go with him to death
he could not watch one hour. 60 Ex.
h0rtatinn to the disciples ". 3S)
"Watch and pray lest We enter into
tcmptation." The only way to be able
To stand in the time of trial Is to he
watching and praying. Jesus knew
that although the disciples meant welt,
they would fail in the trial unless aid
ed from above. The flesh Is too weak
to stand the strain.
.. TIL" second prayer wv. 80. 4O).
Tie withdrew tho second time from his
disciples and uttered the same words
I'm prayer. This was not vain rcpeti
ton. II is proper to repeat our re-
quests. He found the disciples asleep
ngan. Their shame and confusion was
more marked than at first.
.. The third prayer wv. Al, 42).
He uttered the same words In hIs
third prayer matt. 2G:4D. He now
tells the disciples to sleep on and take
their rest, aS the hour had come for
his betrayal. There is such n thing
aS being asleep when wanted and
awak!ng when 1t Is too late. If the
disciples had been praying they would