The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-04-16

enter not into temptation. Matthew zo:41.
The morning of that great day
when atonement was made for the
sins of all the world was nearly at
hand. In the darkness of the night,
following the institution of the Lords
Supper, and the words and prayer Of
our Lord (John 15-17), He and His
disciples came to the Garden of
Gethsemane. Taking three of His
disciples He went deeper into the
shadows to pour out before the Fa-
Their His soul, Exceeding sorrowful
even unto DEATH"
? It is a sacred scene, and we feel
a sense of awe and reverence as
we approach it, feeling that we too
would prefer to tarry outside the
garden, did we not feel that we
should try to understand little bet
ter what took place that night.
We are especially concerned with
Peter and John, who with James
shared our Lords sorrow up to
point, and then so sadly failed Him.
We note that they had
I. High Privilege (Matt. 26:36-38).
To be asked by Christ to stand by
in this crucial hour was to be en-
trusted with one of the greatest
privileges a man could ever know.
AS there swept over His holy soul
a great tidal wave of sorrow unto
death, He wanted and needed their
fellowship. AS DR.. Maclaren puts it,
He "grazed the very edge" of hui
man endurance. "Out of the dark
ness He reaches a hand to feel the
grasp of friend, and piteously asks
these humble lovers to stay beside
Him; not that they could help Him
bear the weight, but that their pres
ence had some solace in it. His ag-
ony they could not bear with
Him, but they could watch with
Him, and that poor comfort is all He
asked"
Undoubtedly they intended to do
it. Jesus bore witness that their
spirit was willing ". 41), but in spite
of that, and all the boasting of Pc
ter at the table that he would never
desert Him, they failed Him in His
hour of need. It was
III. Sad Weakness wv. 39-46).
Our Lords prayer showed great
faith in God the Father, the terrific
recoil of His soul against being
blackened with the burden of sin,
and complete surrender to the Fa-
theirs will. Here was true denial of
self and submission to God, but it
was nonetheless an appalling expe-
rience for our sinless Lord. So He
went back for fellowship with His
three trusted friends-and they were
asleep.
Jesus recognized that the weak
ness of the flesh caused them to for
get and slumber. We may profit by
a little closer scrutiny of the scene.
Was it just a physical tiredness?
That doubtless entered in, but was
not Jesus even more tired than they
could possibly be? Was it not rather
the weakness of Indifference? They
did not yet fully believe that their
Lord was about to die. That was
why they were quickly scattered in
unbelief when He did die. This mat
ter was not so serious in their sight,
SO it was not difficult to yield to the
tired body and the deep, quiet dark
ness, and fall asleep.
We are in much the same posi-
ton. Danger-grave, spiritual dam
ger-threatens our souls, our fami-
lies, our nation. We who call our
selves Christians have declared our
readiness to stay awake and alert.
But we hav become at home in
this world, the enemy soothes us
with the assurance that all is well,
time goes on and nothing too seri-
GUS happens. So, we 60 to sleep
right in the midst of danger, and
sleep on even though the Master
awakens us again and again.
But now the scene changes. The
mob has come to take Christ, and
then the sleepy Peter, now much
awake, INDUCES in
III. Foolish Courage (John 1910
12).
The act of Peter was courageous,
even to the point of recklessness.
What chance had he against great
armed multitude? 1t was the natural
impulse of loving heart, but it was
misguided and foolish.
What did he think to accomplish
to deliver Jesus from those who
would cruelty Him? That would have
meant no death on the cross and no
redemption. The hour for the offer
ing up Of the Son of Man as Saviour
had come. Peter might have learned
that with our Lord in the garden,
but then he was asleep. Christ who
had hitherto walked right through
the crowd of enemies (Luke 4:30),
now submitted. In the dark hours
Of the night He had been prepared to
drink this bitter cup ". III.
We need to learn from this expe-
rience of Peters lest we make the
same mistake. There are all too
many in the Church who are asleep
as far as its spiritual struggles and
opportunities are concerned, who
are eager to WELD a reckless sword
in outward conflict. In their folly