the desire of ages-第152节

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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。




（716）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　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　Jesus　into　their　hands。　Then　it　was　arranged　that　the　Saviour　should　be　taken　at　one　of　His　resorts　for　meditation　and　prayer。　Since　the　feast　at　the　house　of　Simon；　Judas　had　had　opportunity　to　reflect　upon　the　deed　which　he　had　covenanted　to　perform；　but　his　purpose　was　unchanged。　For　thirty　pieces　of　silverthe　price　of　a　slavehe　sold　the　Lord　of　glory　to　ignominy　and　death。

Judas　had　naturally　a　strong　love　for　money；　but　he　had　not　always　been　corrupt　enough　to　do　such　a　deed　as　this。　He　had　fostered　the　evil　spirit　of　avarice　until　it　had　become　the　ruling　motive　of　his　life。　The　love　of　mammon　overbalanced　his　love　for　Christ。　Through　becoming　the　slave　of　one　vice　he　gave　himself　to　Satan；　to　be　driven　to　any　lengths　in　sin。

Judas　had　joined　the　disciples　when　multitudes　were　following　Christ。　The　Saviour's　teaching　moved　their　hearts　as　they　hung　entranced　upon　His　words；　spoken　in　the　synagogue；　by　the　seaside；　upon　the　mount。

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Judas　saw　the　sick；　the　lame；　the　blind；　flock　to　Jesus　from　the　towns　and　cities。　He　saw　the　dying　laid　at　His　feet。　He　witnessed　the　Saviour's　mighty　works　in　healing　the　sick；　casting　out　devils；　and　raising　the　dead。　He　felt　in　his　own　person　the　evidence　of　Christ's　power。　He　recognized　the　teaching　of　Christ　as　superior　to　all　that　he　had　ever　heard。　He　loved　the　Great　Teacher；　and　desired　to　be　with　Him。　He　felt　a　desire　to　be　changed　in　character　and　life；　and　he　hoped　to　experience　this　through　connecting　himself　with　Jesus。　The　Saviour　did　not　repulse　Judas。　He　gave　him　a　place　among　the　twelve。　He　trusted　him　to　do　the　work　of　an　evangelist。　He　endowed　him　with　power　to　heal　the　sick　and　to　cast　out　devils。　But　Judas　did　not　come　to　the　point　of　surrendering　himself　fully　to　Christ。　He　did　not　give　up　his　worldly　ambition　or　his　love　of　money。　While　he　accepted　the　position　of　a　minister　of　Christ；　he　did　not　bring　himself　under　the　divine　molding。　He　felt　that　he　could　retain　his　own　judgment　and　opinions；　and　he　cultivated　a　disposition　to　criticize　and　accuse。

Judas　was　highly　regarded　by　the　disciples；　and　had　great　influence　over　them。　He　himself　had　a　high　opinion　of　his　own　qualifications；　and　looked　upon　his　brethren　as　greatly　inferior　to　him　in　judgment　and　ability。　They　did　not　see　their　opportunities；　he　thought；　and　take　advantage　of　circumstances。　The　church　would　never　prosper　with　such　shortsighted　men　as　leaders。　Peter　was　impetuous；　he　would　move　without　consideration。　John；　who　was　treasuring　up　the　truths　that　fell　from　Christ's　lips；　was　looked　upon　by　Judas　as　a　poor　financier。　Matthew；　whose　training　had　taught　him　accuracy　in　all　things；　was　very　particular　in　regard　to　honesty；　and　he　was　ever　contemplating　the　words　of　Christ；　and　became　so　absorbed　in　them　that；　as　Judas　thought；　he　could　not　be　trusted　to　do　sharp；　far…seeing　business。　Thus　Judas　summed　up　all　the　disciples；　and　flattered　himself　that　the　church　would　often　be　brought　into　perplexity　and　embarrassment　if　it　were　not　for　his　ability　as　a　manager。　Judas　regarded　himself　as　the　capable　one；　who　could　not　be　overreached。　In　his　own　estimation　he　was　an　honor　to　the　cause；　and　as　such　he　always　represented　himself。

Judas　was　blinded　to　his　own　weakness　of　character；　and　Christ　placed　him　where　he　would　have　an　opportunity　to　see　and　correct　this。　As　treasurer　for　the　disciples；　he　was　called　upon　to　provide　for　the　needs　of　the　little　company；　and　to　relieve　the　necessities　of　the　poor。　When　in　the　Passover　chamber　Jesus　said　to　him；　〃That　thou　doest；　do　quickly〃　（John　13：27）；　the　disciples　thought　He　had　bidden　him

718

buy　what　was　needed　for　the　feast；　or　give　something　to　the　poor。　In　ministering　to　others；　Judas　might　have　developed　an　unselfish　spirit。　But　while　listening　daily　to　the　lessons　of　Christ　and　witnessing　His　unselfish　life；　Judas　indulged　his　covetous　disposition。　The　small　sums　that　came　into　his　hands　were　a　continual　temptation。　Often　w