this particular place as given in John is similar to our own. We say, “We believe.” It is possible there might be an unsaved person—an unbeliever, in the midst of our Christian group. When Peter said, “ We believe,” the Lord said, “Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?” and “he spake of Judas Iscariot.” “ Then took Mary a pound of oint ment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filed with the odour of the ointment. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should be tray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein” (John 12: 3-6), Judas was the treasurer of the disci ples and handled whatever cash was accumulated among the disciples. He was naturally a thief, and it was evident that he had been pilfering the treasury during these three years with our Lord and His disciples. Of course, Jesus was aware of it. “ And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him” (John 13:2). It was not until after the Lord’s Supper which followed the Pass- over Supper, that Judas yielded himself and the devil took over to betray the Lord Jesus through this man. “ When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. Then the disci ples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake” (John 13:21,22). “ Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? “Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. “ Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night” (23-30). We are not familiar with this custom. As far as I can understand, in Christ’s day and land, it was customary at a feast such as this for the father to give the sop to the first-born who was what we might call the favorite son. The sop was given the one who was in the place of preference, for he took the father’s Page Sixteen
place. When the father dipped the sop and gave it to the son, it was a note of special favor. We would expect Jesus to give the sop to John, who had become by his utter yieldedness to the Lord, the first among the disciples. Several times in John’s writings he mentions himself as the
fortably reclined around a table. In those days, they did not look at a watch to see how quickly they could get a meal fin ished but spent three or four hours in fellowship around the table. John was leaning upon the Lord, so when Peter wanted an answer to his question, he turned to John and said, “John, you ask him.” All John had to do was look up into the face of the Lord and say, “ Who is it?” “He it is to whom I shall give the sop.” Instead of giving it to John, which would have been in order as far as pref erence was concerned, He gave it to Judas. This speaks of a final invitation, “ Judas, I love you. I’ll give you prefer ence over all the disciples.” It was the last effort of the Lord to win that man to Himself, but Judas, instead of yield ing, turned his back upon the Lord. When he made his final decision, Satan entered into him and Judas went out of the presence of the Lord to an eternal darkness. The Lord knew what Judas was going to do. The disciples did not know whether it was to buy food or to give it to the poor. We do not know whether when the Lord declared that the one to whom He passed the sop was he who should be tray Him, that only John heard, or just Judas, or the group. We do know that before the eyes of the group, the sop was extended to Judas. Whether he ac cepted it is not stated, but we know that he did refuse the gesture of love involved which would have redeemed him. The Lord knew he would not ac cept it, but that did not hinder Him from making the offer of love to the “ friend” who would betray Him. “ When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes re sorted thither with his disciples. Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. “Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them” (John 18:1-5). “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled” (John 17:12). Here is another name given to Judas—Son of Perdition. “ I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me” (John 13:18). Now the Scripture that was fulfilled is Psalm, 41:9: “ Yea, mine own familiar (Continued on Page 26) T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
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The True Alchemy Romans 8 :28 True love of God within the heart Makes all things work for good; It has a sweet, transforming art— If men but understood! It brings a gladness out of grief, Wakes praises in the night; It makes the long, dark hours seem brief, When comes the dawn of light. The heart that has God’s throbbing love Finds all things turned to gold; It sees God’s rainbow arched above Where once the storm-clouds rolled. This love can change our woe to weal, Find goodness hid in pain, And to the eye of faith reveal That all our loss is gain.
A heart possessed of love divine Finds help its cross to bear; When such for us is God’s design Love helps to bravely dare; And if we bear in faithfulness, God’s angels will come down, And liff the burden of distress And give for it a crown.
—Edgar Cooper Mason
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disciple whom the Lord loved. At the feast John was leaning against the very body of the Lord. In that day men re clined on lounges similar to the old- fashioned ones we see occasionally today. One end curved up, providing a comfort able cushion. The shoulder leaned against the headpiece as they leisurely and com
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