the desire of ages-第124章

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that　he　might　be　a　disciple　of　Jesus。　She　was　one　of　the　servants　of　Caiaphas'　household；　and　was　curious　to　know。　She　said　to　Peter；　〃Art　not　thou　also　one　of　this　Man's　disciples？〃　Peter　was　startled　and　confused；　the　eyes　of　the　company　instantly　fastened　upon　him。　He　pretended　not　to　understand　her；　but　she　was　persistent；　and　said　to　those　around　her　that　this　man　was　with　Jesus。　Peter　felt　compelled　to　answer；　and　said　angrily；　〃Woman；　I　know　Him　not。〃　This　was　the　first　denial；　and　immediately　the　cock　crew。　O　Peter；　so　soon　ashamed　of　thy　Master！　so　soon　to　deny　thy　Lord！

The　disciple　John；　upon　entering　the　judgment　hall；　did　not　try　to　conceal　the　fact　that　he　was　a　follower　of　Jesus。　He　did　not　mingle　with　the　rough　company　who　were　reviling　his　Master。　He　was　not　questioned；　for　he　did　not　assume　a　false　character；　and　thus　lay　himself　liable　to　suspicion。　He　sought　a　retired　corner　secure　from　the　notice

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of　the　mob；　but　as　near　Jesus　as　it　was　possible　for　him　to　be。　Here　he　could　see　and　hear　all　that　took　place　at　the　trial　of　his　Lord。

Peter　had　not　designed　that　his　real　character　should　be　known。　In　assuming　an　air　of　indifference　he　had　placed　himself　on　the　enemy's　ground；　and　he　became　an　easy　prey　to　temptation。　If　he　had　been　called　to　fight　for　his　Master；　he　would　have　been　a　courageous　soldier；　but　when　the　finger　of　scorn　was　pointed　at　him；　he　proved　himself　a　coward。　Many　who　do　not　shrink　from　active　warfare　for　their　Lord　are　driven　by　ridicule　to　deny　their　faith。　By　associating　with　those　whom　they　should　avoid；　they　place　themselves　in　the　way　of　temptation。　They　invite　the　enemy　to　tempt　them；　and　are　led　to　say　and　do　that　of　which　under　other　circumstances　they　would　never　have　been　guilty。　The　disciple　of　Christ　who　in　our　day　disguises　his　faith　through　dread　of　suffering　or　reproach　denies　his　Lord　as　really　as　did　Peter　in　the　judgment　hall。

Peter　tried　to　show　no　interest　in　the　trial　of　his　Master；　but　his　heart　was　wrung　with　sorrow　as　he　heard　the　cruel　taunts；　and　saw　the　abuse　He　was　suffering。　More　than　this；　he　was　surprised　and　angry　that　Jesus　should　humiliate　Himself　and　His　followers　by　submitting　to　such　treatment。　In　order　to　conceal　his　true　feelings；　he　endeavored　to　join　with　the　persecutors　of　Jesus　in　their　untimely　jests。　But　his　appearance　was　unnatural。　He　was　acting　a　lie；　and　while　seeking　to　talk　unconcernedly　he　could　not　restrain　expressions　of　indignation　at　the　abuse　heaped　upon　his　Master。

Attention　was　called　to　him　the　second　time；　and　he　was　again　charged　with　being　a　follower　of　Jesus。　He　now　declared　with　an　oath；　〃I　do　not　know　the　Man。〃　Still　another　opportunity　was　given　him。　An　hour　had　passed；　when　one　of　the　servants　of　the　high　priest；　being　a　near　kinsman　of　the　man　whose　ear　Peter　had　cut　off；　asked　him；　〃Did　not　I　see　thee　in　the　garden　with　Him？〃　〃Surely　thou　art　one　of　them：　for　thou　art　a　Galilean；　and　thy　speech　agreeth　thereto。〃　At　this　Peter　flew　into　a　rage。　The　disciples　of　Jesus　were　noted　for　the　purity　of　their　language；　and　in　order　fully　to　deceive　his　questioners；　and　justify　his　assumed　character；　Peter　now　denied　his　Master　with　cursing　and　swearing。　Again　the　cock　crew。　Peter　heard　it　then；　and　he　remembered　the　words　of　Jesus；　〃Before　the　cock　crow　twice；　thou　shalt　deny　Me　thrice。〃　Mark　14：30。

While　the　degrading　oaths　were　fresh　upon　Peter's　lips；　and　the　shrill

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crowing　of　the　cock　was　still　ringing　in　his　ears；　the　Saviour　turned　from　the　frowning　judges；　and　looked　full　upon　His　poor　disciple。　At　the　same　time　Peter's　eyes　were　drawn　to　his　Master。　In　that　gentle　countenance　he　read　deep　pity　and　sorrow；　but　there　was　no　anger　there。

The　sight　of　that　pale；　suffering　face；　those　quivering　lips；　that　look　of　compassion　and　forgiveness；　pierced　his　heart　like　an　arrow。　Conscience　was　aroused。　Memory　was　active。　Peter　called　to　mind　his　promise　of　a　few　short　hours　before　that　he　would　go　with　his　Lord　to　prison　and　to　death。　He　remembered　his　grief　when　the　Saviour　told　him　in　the　upper　chamber　that　he　would　deny　his　Lord　thrice　that　same　night。　Peter　had　just　declared　that　he　knew　not　Jesus；　but　he　now　realized　with　bitter　grief　how　well　his　Lord　knew　him；　and　how　accurately　He　had　read　his　heart；　the　falseness　of　which　was　unknown　even　to　himself。

A　tide　of　memories　rushed　over　him。　The　Saviour's　tender　mercy；　His　kindness　and　long…suffering；　His　gentleness　and　patience　toward　His　erring　disciples；all　was　remembered。　He　recalled　the　caution；　〃Simon；　behold；　Satan　hath　desired　to　have　you；　that　he　may　sift　you　as　wheat：　but　I　have　prayed　for　thee；　that　thy　faith　fail　not。〃　Luke　22：31；　32。　He　reflected　with　horror　upon　his　own　ingratitude；　his　falsehood；　his　perjury。　Once　more　he　looked　at　his　Master；　and　saw　a　sacrilegious　hand　raised　to　smite　Him　in　the　face。　Unable　longer　to　endure　the　scene；　he　rushed；　heartbroken；　from　the　hall。

He　pressed　on　in　solitude　and　darkness；　he　knew　not　and　cared　not　whither。　At　last　he　found　himself　in　Gethsemane。　The　scene　of　a　few　hours　before　came　vividly　to　his　mind。　The　suffering　face　of　his　Lord；　stained　with　bloody　sweat　and　convulsed　with　anguish；　rose　before　him。　He　remembered　with　bitter　remorse　that　Jesus　had　wept　and　agonized　in　prayer　alone；　while　those　who　should　have　united　with　Him　in　that　trying　hour　were　sleeping。　He　remembered　His　solemn　charge；　〃Watch　and　pray；　that　ye　enter　not　into　temptation。〃　Matt。　26：41。　He　witnessed　again　the　scene　in　the　judgment　hall。　It　was　torture　to　his　bleeding　heart　to　know　that　he　had　added　the　heaviest　burden　to　the　Saviour's　humiliation　and　grief。　On　the　very　spot　where　Jesus　had　poured　out　His　soul　in　agony　to　His　Father；　Peter　fell　upon　his　face；　and　wished　that　he　might　die。

It　was　in　sleeping　when　Jesus　bade　him　watch　and　pray　that　Peter　had　prepared　the　way　for　his　great　sin。　All　the　disciples；　by　sleeping

714

in　that　critical　hour；　sustained　a　great　loss。　Christ　knew　the　fiery　ordeal　through　which　they　were　to　pass。　He　knew　how　Satan　would　work　to　paralyze　their　senses　that　they　might　be　unready　for　the　trial。　Therefore　it　was　that　He　gave　them　warning。　Had　those　hours　in　the　garden　been　spent　in　watching　and　prayer；　Peter　would　not　have　been　left　to　depend　upon　his　own　feeble　strength。　He　would　not　have　denied　his　Lord。　Had　the　disciples　watched　with　Christ　in　His　agony；　they　would　have　been　prepared　to　behold　His　suffering　upon　the　cross。　They　would　have　understood　in　some　degree　the　nature　of　His　overpowering　anguish。　They　would　have　been　able　to　recall　His　words　that　foretold　His　sufferings；　His　death；　and　His　resurrection。　Amid　the　gloom　of　the　most　trying　hour；　some　rays　of　hope　would　have　lighted　up　the　darkness　and　sustained　their　faith。

As　soon　as　it　was　day；　the　Sanhedrin　again　assembled；　and　again　Jesus　was　brought　into　the　council　room。　He　had　declared　Himself　the　Son　of　God；　and　they　had　construed　His　words　into　a　charge　against　Him。　But　they　could　not　condemn　Him　on　this；　for　many　of　them　had　not　been　present　at　the　night　session；　and　they　had　not　heard　His　words。　And　they　knew　that　the　Roman　tribunal　would　find　in　them　nothing　worthy　of　death。　But　if　from　His　own　lips　they　could　all　hear　those　words　repeated；　their　object　might　be　gained。　His　claim　to　the　Messiahship　they　might　construe　into　a　seditious　political　claim。

〃Art　Thou　the　Christ？〃　they　said；　〃tell　us。〃　But　Christ　remained　silent。　They　continued　to　ply　Him　with　questions。　At　last　in　tones　of　mournful　pathos　He　answered；　〃If　I　tell　you；　ye　will　not　believe；　and　if　I　also　ask　you；　ye　will　not　answer　Me；　nor　let　Me　go。〃　But　that　they　might　be　left　without　excuse　He　added　the　solemn　warning；　〃Hereafter　shall　the　Son　of　man　sit　on　the　right　hand　of　the　power　of　God。〃

〃Art　Thou　then　the　Son　of　God？〃　they　asked　with　one　voice。　He　said　unto　them；　〃Ye　say　that　I　am。〃　They　cried　out；　〃What　need　we　any　further　witness？　for　we　ourselves　have　heard　of　His　own　mouth。〃

And　so　by　the　third　condemnation　of　the　Jewish　authorities；　Jesus　was　to　die。　All　that　was　now　necessary；　they　thought；　was　for　the　Romans　to　ratify　this　condemnation；　and　deliver　Him　into　their　hands。

Then　came　the　third　scene　of　abuse　and　mockery；　worse　even　than　that　received　from　the　ignorant　rabble。　In　the　very　presence　of　the　priests　and　rulers；　and　with　their　sanction；　this　took　place。　Every　feeling　of　sympathy　or　humanity　had　gone　out　of　their　hearts。　If　their　arguments

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were　weak；　and　failed　to　silence　His　voice；　they　had　other　weapons；　such　as　in　all　ages　have　been　used　to　silence　heretics；suffering；　and　violence；　and　death。

When　the　condemnation　of　Jesus　was　pronounced　by　the　judges；　a　satanic　fury　took　possession　of　the　people。　The　roar　of　voices　was　like　that　of　wild　beasts。　The　crowd　made　a　rush　toward　Jesus；　crying；　He　is　guilty；　put　Him　to　death！　Had　it　not　been　for　the　Roman　soldiers；　Jesus　would　not　have　lived　to　be　nailed　to　the　cross　of　Calvary。　He　would　have　been　torn　in　pieces　before　His　judges；　had　not　Roman　authority　interfered；　and　by　force　of　arms　restrained　the　violence　of　the　mob。

Heathen　men　were　angry　at　the　brutal　treatment　of　one　against　whom　nothing　had　been　proved。　The　Roman　officers　declared　that　the　Jews　in　pronouncing　condemnation　upon　Jesus　were　infringing　upon　the　Roman　power；　and　that　it　was　even　against　the　Jewish　law　to　condemn　a　man　to　death　upon　his　own　testimony。　This　intervention　brought　a　momentary　lull　in　the　proceedings；　but　the　Jewish　leaders　were　dead　alike　to　pity　and　to　shame。

Priests　and　rulers　forgot　the　dignity　of　their　office；　and　abused　the　Son　of　God　with　foul　epithets。　They　taunted　Him　with　His　parentage。　They　declared　that　His　presumption　in　proclaiming　Himself　the　Messiah　made　Him　deserving　of　the　most　ignominious　death。　The　most　dissolute　men　engaged　in　infamous　abuse　of　the　Saviour。　An　old　garment　was　thrown　over　His　head；　and　His　persecutors　struck　Him　in　the　face；　saying；　〃Prophesy　unto　us；　Thou　Christ；　Who　is　he　that　smote　Thee？〃　When　the　garment　was　removed；　one　poor　wretch　spat　in　His　face。

The　angels　of　God　faithfully　recorded　every　insulting　look；　word；　and　act　against　their　beloved　Commander。　One　day　the　base　men　who　scorned　and　spat　upon　the　calm；　pale　face　of　Christ　will　look　upon　it　in　its　glory；　shining　brighter　than　the　sun。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　76

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Judas


The　history　of　Judas　presents　the　sad　ending　of　a　life　that　might　have　been　honored　of　God。　Had　Judas　died　before　his　last　journey　to　Jerusalem　he　would　have　been　regarded　as　a　man　worthy　of　a　place　among　the　twelve；　and　one　who　would　be　greatly　missed。　The　abhorrence　which　has　followed　him　through　the　centuries　would　not　have　existed　but　for　the　attributes　revealed　at　the　close　of　his　history。　But　it　was　for　a　purpose　that　his　character　was　laid　open　to　the　world。　It　was　to　be　a　warning　to　all　who；　like　him；　should　betray　sacred　trusts。

A　little　before　the　Passover；　Judas　had　renewed　his　contract　with　the　priests　to　deliver