King's Business - 1961-04

will lift up ms heel against me” (John 13:10,18). Again, Judas was unnamed. Jesus gave the traitor every opportu­ nity to get back into line before it was too late. Again (Matthew 26:21), He said, “ one of you will betray me” and again no name was mentioned. The disciples, greatly disturbed, all began to ask, “ Is it I? Is it I? Is it I?” Even Judas, sly fellow that he was, ventured the question in mock sincerity: “ Lord, is it I?” The disciples were arranged about a low table, lying on mats with their heads towards the center of the table, their feet extended, like spokes extending from the hub of a wheel. Across the table from Jesus, Peter, whose curi­ osity was almost at the breaking point, motioned to John, lying next to Jesus, to ask Him who was going to betray Him. John quietly asked Jesus and received the answer, “ he it is to whom I shall give a sop . . .” But this still did not identify Judas, as all the disciples received the sop. Only the quiet statement to Judas himself — “ that which you are going to do, do quickly!”— identified the traitor. But no one else understood (John 13:27-29). How loving the Lord is! Even the one who betrayed Him was shielded from the scorn and hatred of the other disciples to the last. And these men could surely show scorn and hatred; they had demonstrated this (Mark 10:41). Finally, the sad statement was uttered when the deed had been done: “ none of (these disciples) is lost, except the son of perdiction” (John 17:12). When Judas came to his senses and realized the enor­ mity of his crime, he was terrified. If it had been his pur­ pose merely to force Jesus’ hand, he began to realize that the device wouldn’t work. He—Judas—had sent an inno­ cent Man to His death. We recall the feverish attempt to undo what he had done: the return of the thirty pieces of silver, the futile reasoning with the religious leaders, the desire to convince them that it had all been a mistake. But all was in vain. Finally, the traitor went out in re­ morse and hanged himself. What a terrible end for one who had had such a prom­ ising beginning! How the lesson of Judas’ downfall ought to create within each of us the desire to surrender our all to Christ. Let us examine our lives and make certain that there is nothing in our hearts that would even begin to approach betrayal. May there never be any price that would purchase our loyalty to our Savior and Lord. Let the tragic end of the strange man from Kerioth be a con­ stant warning to us all to live our lives always in the center of His will. Herbert Henry

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Ehrenstem is at present the director o f Bible

EASTER

study correspondence courses. Contributing

by Dr. Albert J. Lindsey

editor, Eternity. Bible teacher on

staff o f the Evangelical

Foundation. Associate in Research Department o f the Foundation

W h a t is t o u r Easter aspiration? The little child thinks of bunnies and eggs. The business man talks of sales and profits. Young people discuss parties and gatherings, and a multitude, young and old alike, lose themselves in the thought of Easter finery. You will do well to keep in mind the fact that this finery will

and teacher of the New York Bible class.

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THE KING'S BUSINESS

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