305
T h e K i n g ’ s B u s i n e s s
May 1928
3. The testifying of false witnesses. Vs.. 55-59. ;■>*, ' _ 4. Jesus on thé witness stand. Vs. 60-62. ó 5. Jesus condemned arid mistreated. Vs. 63-65; ; ' 6 . Peter’s three denials of Jesus. Vs: 66-72. ; III. The Trial of Jesus before Pilate. ' 15:1-5. _ J.:.; .: 1. Jesus delivered to Pilate’s Court.- v. l. 2. Jesus on thé' witnësâX'àiârid.Xi Vs* 2-5. ■V* IV. Pilate’s Surrendering IeSUS:-to 'the Mob. Vs. 6-15. . 1. Pilate’s offeririg/tb'surrépdèr, Jesus/ jigibr Barabbas. *Vs.. 6 UG. Sg 2. At the; insistence of the Jews Jesus is ’delivered to.be'crucified’. Vs. 11-15. ■ —g — T ext: Mk, 14:43-15:15 VVJHAT the enemies o f Jesiis had long aimed at, they were about to realize. They had tried often to seize Him, but he slipped out of their hands "because His hour icas not yet A *3^, come.” Nor could they k have taken: Him nonL h|d ' He riot freely den of Gethsemane. The word “immedi ately” (v: 43) indicates the sudden in- bUrst o f the crowd, breaking the holy si- lericë o f the garden. . ' The betrayer had givén his cohorts a token: “ Whomsoever I shall kiss, the same is H e” (v. 44). The word indicates that he “rained kisses upon Him.” It was black enough to betray ajjjriend with one kiss, but—more nauseous—he repeated it. Such hypocrisy is not reached at one leap. There are long underground tun nels o f secret siri and insincere disciple- ship leading to such a step. “ One o f them drew a sword and smote a servant o f thé high priest" (v. 47). Off went an ear. If swords are to be used, they should be made to do something of more account than clipping an ear. That is the so-called “muscular Christianity’1’—-it is usually rash and accomplishes nothing. Peter had seen a chance to make good his-v boast; that was all. “ Put up the sword,” said Jesus (Mt. 26:52-53). “ If I need help, I. can call twelve legions o f angels.” He wanted neither earthly nor heavenly power to save Him from the cross. “How shall the Scriptures be fulfilled? Thus it must be” (Mt. 26:54). Where was Peter’s faith? Turning to the mob, Jesus said, “Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves to take me?” What sense was there in all this parade o f arms? He had no intention of resisting and no purpose o f attempting to set up an earthly throne. Then comes the sad feature o f the story: His disciples “all forsook Him and fled” (v. 50). Who will-say: “I wouldn’t have „done it” ? Alas, how weak are our reso lutions! We hear an awakening discourse and resolve to offer Him an undivided heart. W e suddenly face a hostile world —and melt like butter. Such is man. God forgive, us for our failures to stand by Him ! In verses 51-52 an apparently meaning less detail is thrown in : “A certain young f Î f C m N l U c i y surrendered 'Himself. The rabble coines, headed by Judas, just ' ;as the'Savipffrìtébnifès forth! - from the gar i f f '
man having a linen cloth ’cast about his naked body” slipped out of his clothes and fled when someone laid hold o f him. What bearing has this upon the story? Mark, the writer, was apparently the one who escaped, and we may understand how he would recall this detail when he reach ed this point in the account, although, through modesty, he withholds his name! It is like many other accidental details in the gospels—a proof that the story is drawn from actual life. Fiction writers do not irijert .details which have no bear- ingupoffthe story. Jesus was led away to the high priest (v. 53 .) “l ’eter followed afar off, even into the palace” (v. 54). ; He drew up to the fire to warm himself. No literal fire can relieve a spiritual chill. The warmer Peter got, the colder lie -got. It is dan gerous to seek comfort :at the enemy’s . fire. It Hi said that an elephant cannot be co-axed to walk over a bridge which is ■not strong enough to bear] its weight. The instinct'.‘S f/th e beast protects him. Yet how many Christians do ijo't seem to have 'sense enough to keep, off the devil’s bridges! - •- ¿Jljiisinjf borg. • false-.-unto«© against Jesus. \Vhat could they ...do' with one against , whom '.theV had' no'Indictment? They * must' ' have testimony, j They pumped somntvfdth ensuring ;;^iiestions, bribed others !.;an.d.' tried/ to.i frighten others into making damaging statements (vs. 55-56). It was the duty o f chief-priests and elders to. pujjj'sB 'false’ witnfiss‘k's\ (Deut. 19: 16- T7j,': yet they .hhems§l^es{ were .'ringleaders in a crime that tends to overthrow all jus.- tice. They could not make their witnesses agree, (v. 59). By the. utmost stretch of their law they could not accuse Jesus of anything upon which a sentence of death could be founded. The high priest then urged Jesus to be His own accuser. “ An- srverest thou nothing? What is it which these witness against thee?” (v. 60);, What a question to put to a prisoner! “H e answered nothing" (v. 61). Silence is Sometimes more effective than speech, .A s one says: “ I have often repented at having spoken, but rarely at having kept . silent.” Christ has set the Christian an example. Let us ponder the wisdom of His course when falsely accused. “ Art thou the Christ, the Son o f the Blessed?” This question from the high priest would certainly force Him into their trap. Jesus replied: “I AM ." His two-word answer was an assertion of deity, for “I AM ” was the title of Je hovah (Exo. 3:14). Furthermore, the very titl t :“ the Blessed” which the Jews applied to God, is distinctly given by Paul to Jesus (Rom. 9:5). Jesus added : “ Ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the. right hand o f power and coming in the clouds o f heaven" (v. 62). Judge and accusers will change places. They '-will be the silent ones then —silent with guilt. If they were confused in the presence of Jesus, the prisoner, what will be their confusion in the presence of Jesus, the Judge? In the opinion of the high priest, these words convicted Jesus as a blasphemer (v. 63)ilt In his rage “ he rent his clothes.” Dr. Henry says: “If Saul’s rending Samuel’s mantle was made to signify the rending o f his kingdom from him (1 Sam. 15:27-28), much more did Caiaphas’ rending his own clothes signify the rend ing of his priesthood from him, as the rending o f the veil at Christ’s death sig nified the throwing o f all open.”
FRED S. SHEPARD ’S BLACKBOARD OUTLINE
L i s t e n i n g t o EARNING OF OYALTY TO Take heed how ye hearS-Luke 8:18 When all was ready oh that last night, Jesus, sat down at the table with his twelve friends.' One o f them was not a true friend. The false one was Judas, who bargained with Jésus’ enemies to’ give Him up to them for thirty pieces of silver. As they sat together, Jesus said one of the friends at the table was going to be tray Him—that is, give Him up to His enemies.. The others were troubled and each one asked, “ Lord, is it I?’’ Jesus, showed 'them it was Judas,, and then the traitor went out. Jesus took bread and asked a blessing upon it. Then He broke it and gave to each one at the table, say ing, “Take, eat, this is my body broken for you.” He meant that as the wheat, was crushed to make the bread, so His body was to be broken. Then Jesus took the cup into which the juice of the grapes had been pressed, and passed it to His friends saying, “Drink ye all of it.” He wished them to think as they, drank it that His blood was to be poured out for them. His body was to be bruised, as the grapes were bruised when the juice flowed out. It was a picture of suffering and was to help them think o f the lové that caused Him to give His life to save from sin. We have the Lord’s . Suppér* in church now,, and you have seen it, perhaps. When you are old enough to be sûre that you understand, and that you have given yourself to be Jesus’ child always, trust ing Him to forgive and save you, then you may have your name written in the books of the church and come to the Lord’s table. . As Jesus gave the bread and the cup, He ’said, “ This do in remembrance of me.” He wished them to remember Him and what He was willing to suffer to save them. He told them as often as they kept this Supper, they would show the Lord’s death till He came. He is coming again. W e do not know when, but we know that He will come. Until then, all who love and trust Him will remember Him. (Prayer.) J u n e 10, 1928 The Arrest and Trial L e sso n i n O u t l in e Mk. 14:43-15:15 I. The arrest of Jesus. Vs. 43-52. 1. The betrayal and seizure o f Jesus. Vs. 43-46. 2. The attempted resistance of Peter. V. 47 (see Jno. 18:10). 3. Reply of Jesus to those arresting Him, Vs. 48-50. 4. The Escape of the frightened young man. Vs. 51-52. II. The Trial o f Jesus before the Jewish Sanhedrin at Night. Vs. 53-72. 1. The convening of the Court. V. 53. 2. Peter observing the situation from Court. V. 54.
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