King's Business - 1961-04

The men were stunned by what they saw, but failed to realize The magnitude of what was taking place before their very eyes. But Jesus knew His hour was come, and He must leave His own, Ordained of God to give His life for­ saken and alone. The chosen few were stirred anew as Jesus let them know The purpose of His life of love, the reason for His woe. His blood must flow for all mankind— for human sin and shame Ere He return to God on high, the One from whom He came. He spoke to them more dearly than He ever had before, And they were grieved to think that they would see His face no more. “ I go away,” they heard Him say in words of tender love; But He would send the Holy Friend, His Spirit from above. But soon the feast was ended and the group prepared to leave, Bewildered by the many things which they could not perceive. They sang a hymn and left the room —a fearful looking sight; And reached the Mount of Olives in the darkness of the night. The Son of Man again began to tell of future strife And how that they would flee away before He gave His life. But Peter and the others said that such could never be, And vowed complete allegiance to the Man of Galilee. His voice divine continued through the darkness and the chill Until in time they came within a garden on the hill. The humble Lord, whom they adored, would have them tarry there, For He must heed a mighty need and look to God in prayer. So Jesus drew Himself aside in old Gethsemane With fiery Simon Peter and the sons of Zebedee. He pled that they should watch and pray, for sorrow did abound. He went a little farther, and He fell upon the ground. In deep distress and loneliness He prayed with holy zeal; “ Thy will be done,” said God the Son despite His great ordeal. But Peter and the others lay in slum­ ber from the start, Which added still more sorrow to His burdened heavy heart. He prayed as only He could pray; He prayed with all His might, For sorrow, anguish, grief, and pain

were part of Him that night. In agony, more earnestly He sought His God in prayer, Till He was wet with bloody sweat, despite the chilling air. Three times He prayed, “ Thy will be done;” three times He looked to God; Three times He saw the chosen few asleep upon the sod. Ere long He bade His men to rise; the traitor was at hand. And while He spoke, a mob appeared with Judas in command. His enemies, the Pharisees, were they behind the plan To come by night prepared to fight and take the Son of Man? He told them plainly who He was, and ere He did conclude They fell away upon the ground, be­ wildered and subdued. Then Judas heard the peerless voice which couldn’t speak amiss. “ Betrayest thou the Son of Man,” said Jesus, “with a kiss?” He rose in fear and then drew near to do that very thing; The jealous band most surely plan­ ned to take away the King. Then Simon Peter drew his sword, preparing for the end, But Jesus chose to call him off — to yield and not defend. The Lord agreed to go with them, as God His Father willed. His men forsook Him there and fled, and Scripture was fulfilled. They led Him down and into town as one would lead a beast; Securely tied, He came inside the palace of the priest. But Peter followed far behind, the; brazenest of all, Till he came beside the fire in thel center of the hall. He feared the end was soon to cornel as Jesus said it would, And sat among the servants to ob­ serve as best he could. The night wore on till nearly dawn; the council sought in vain To frame a lie depicting why the Master should be slain. They hated Him without a cause—in­ tent-on His decease, And lied about Him many times, but Jesus held His peace. At last the aged priest addressed this Son of Abraham, “ Art Thou the Christ, the Son of God” And Jesus said, “ I am.” He also told how God of old would honor Him in time, And thus allowed the frenzied crowd to charge Him with a crime.

Men heard the cry of blasphemy and hastened to condemn, For guilt was all but proven in the sight of each of them. They spat upon the King of Kings, and smote Him on the face, And mocked the very Lord of life to put Him in disgrace. But cruelty and mockery could never cause Him fear; The gruesome scene could only mean that death lay very near. Now Peter sat beside the fire, anxious and afraid, And heard an accusation that a cer­ tain woman made. “ This man was also with Him,” she declared upon the spot. But Simon Peter turned away and said, “ I know Him not.” The rugged saint had proven faint; he rose in deep despair And tried to hide amid the throng quickly assembled there. But he was apprehended twice in but a little while, And twice again denied His Lord in very vulgar style. And met the gaze of Jesus Christ whom he had failed to own. A cock was heard, a conscience stirred, and Peter went outside To bear his grief without relief in tears he couldn’t hide. The dreadful nig! morning ca: The Lord was faithful of t$e The council fixe; and shape And lejhjffi^i m$sphere : of T h ^ lied wittjj^ri before the judg Divinely trained, mairied in silence Now PilateNnm rel© i answered? no : a To charges iriori o: comrt had' w The govlnju domJmn And wondered failed to prc ve Tha scene cor made tte vicl “l^hat » s t thou S o l^L *q u

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