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TH E KING’S BUSINESS
himself up that he leads the band over Kedron and up to that sacred spot to arrest Jesus. Satan hardens the heart that gives him entrance beyond the reach of all holy persuasion. The evangelists emphasize the fact that he was “one of the twelve!” This fact augmented his guilt and the Saviour’s sorrow. The utter hardness of Judas is seen in the sign he appointed, a kiss, and he not only kissed Him, but “kissed Him much” (Greek). The kiss of Judas was the last kiss that Jesus received on earth. The one who drew his sword and smote the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear was Peter (John 18:10). Neither Matthew nor Mark mention this fact, for Peter was still living when their Gospels were written, indeed the Gospel of Mark was written at his dictation. It was a fool ish act, Peter was seemingly trying to prove his fearless loyalty to his Lord of which he had boasted a few hours before, but when a better opportunity came to prove it he failed utterly. It is not by a spasmodic act of rash daring that we prove our deep loyalty to Him, but by calm, steadfastness, under prolonged trial. Peter was so excited that he clumsily let his sword fly without intel ligent aim and only hits an ear. Jesus Himself is perfectly calm, and while He reasons with his captors gives the disciples a chance to escape. Mark alone mentions the incident recorded in verses 51, 52. He himself was probably the young man. It is one of the many touches in the Gospel that go to show that the story is not fiction but fact, and facts learned from eye-wit nesses. Saturday, August 28. Mark 14:46-52.
Thursday, August 26. Mark 14:37-42.
'While Jesus prayed the Apostles slept. The sleep of the apostles was natural (cf. Luke 22:45), but it was not excusable. It was a fulfillment of the prophecy, “I looked for comforters, but I found none” (Ps. 69: 20). Jesus asked then a gentle, but re proachful question (v. 37) that revealed His own heartbreaking sorrow and longing for sympathy on the one hand and their lack of self-sacrifice on the other. Is He not asking the same of us today? He also spoke to them an earnest word of warning about their own need of prayer, but they heeded it not and were soon fast asleep again; so the next day, while Jesus tri umphed through that night of prayer, they failed because they had slept when they ought to have prayed. Three times did Jesus meet the Father with the same cry. What a rebuke to those spiritually lazy ones who would have us believe that it is a mark of lack of faith to ask for the same thing a second time. When Jesus returned the last time to the disciples' He no longer needed their sympathy, the battle was over, and furthermore it was too late: so He says “sleep on now.” Will we sleep so long that the hour will pass by when we can be of any use to our Lord? Judas probably led the soldiers and the posse of temple police first to the house where he had left Jesus and the other dis ciples, and, finding they had left the house, he led them to the garden, where as he well knew Jesus was wont to resort with His disciples for retirement and prayer (John 18:2, 3). Judas had often sat beneath the shadows of these old olive trees listening to the words of loving counsel that fell from the lips of Him Who spake as never man spake. Often there he had heard the voice of Jesus raised in prayer to God: and now he is so overmastered by greed and by the power of him to whom he had given Friday, August 27. Mark 14:43-45.
Sunday, August 29. Mark 14:53, 54.
“Peter had followed Him,” that sounds well: we should all follow Jesus (Matt. 16:24; John 12:26). But there are two ominous words added, "afar off” : if we fol low Jesus, we should follow close. Further-
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