the desire of ages-第153节

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is　hands　were　a　continual　temptation。　Often　when　he　did　a　little　service　for　Christ；　or　devoted　time　to　religious　purposes；　he　paid　himself　out　of　this　meager　fund。　In　his　own　eyes　these　pretexts　served　to　excuse　his　action；　but　in　God's　sight　he　was　a　thief。

Christ's　oft…repeated　statement　that　His　kingdom　was　not　of　this　world　offended　Judas。　He　had　marked　out　a　line　upon　which　he　expected　Christ　to　work。　He　had　planned　that　John　the　Baptist　should　be　delivered　from　prison。　But　lo；　John　was　left　to　be　beheaded。　And　Jesus；　instead　of　asserting　His　royal　right　and　avenging　the　death　of　John；　retired　with　His　disciples　into　a　country　place。　Judas　wanted　more　aggressive　warfare。　He　thought　that　if　Jesus　would　not　prevent　the　disciples　from　carrying　out　their　schemes；　the　work　would　be　more　successful。　He　marked　the　increasing　enmity　of　the　Jewish　leaders；　and　saw　their　challenge　unheeded　when　they　demanded　from　Christ　a　sign　from　heaven。　His　heart　was　open　to　unbelief；　and　the　enemy　supplied　thoughts　of　questioning　and　rebellion。　Why　did　Jesus　dwell　so　much　upon　that　which　was　discouraging？　Why　did　He　predict　trial　and　persecution　for　Himself　and　for　His　disciples？　The　prospect　of　having　a　high　place　in　the　new　kingdom　had　led　Judas　to　espouse　the　cause　of　Christ。　Were　his　hopes　to　be　disappointed？　Judas　had　not　decided　that　Jesus　was　not　the　Son　of　God；　but　he　was　questioning；　and　seeking　to　find　some　explanation　of　His　mighty　works。

Notwithstanding　the　Saviour's　own　teaching；　Judas　was　continually　advancing　the　idea　that　Christ　would　reign　as　king　in　Jerusalem。　At　the　feeding　of　the　five　thousand　he　tried　to　bring　this　about。　On　this　occasion　Judas　assisted　in　distributing　the　food　to　the　hungry　multitude。　He　had　an　opportunity　to　see　the　benefit　which　it　was　in　his　power　to　impart　to　others。　He　felt　the　satisfaction　that　always　comes　in　service　to　God。　He　helped　to　bring　the　sick　and　suffering　from　among　the　multitude　to　Christ。　He　saw　what　relief；　what　joy　and　gladness；　come　to　human　hearts　through　the　healing　power　of　the　Restorer。　He　might　have　comprehended　the　methods　of　Christ。　But　he　was　blinded　by　his　own　selfish　desires。　Judas　was　first　to　take　advantage　of　the　enthusiasm　excited　by　the　miracle　of　the　loaves。　It　was　he　who　set　on　foot　the

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project　to　take　Christ　by　force　and　make　Him　king。　His　hopes　were　high。　His　disappointment　was　bitter。

Christ's　discourse　in　the　synagogue　concerning　the　bread　of　life　was　the　turning　point　in　the　history　of　Judas。　He　heard　the　words；　〃Except　ye　eat　the　flesh　of　the　Son　of　man；　and　drink　His　blood；　ye　have　no　life　in　you。〃　John　6：53。　He　saw　that　Christ　was　offering　spiritual　rather　than　worldly　good。　He　regarded　himself　as　farsighted；　and　thought　he　could　see　that　Jesus　would　have　no　honor；　and　that　He　could　bestow　no　high　position　upon　His　followers。　He　determined　not　to　unite　himself　so　closely　to　Christ　but　that　he　could　draw　away。　He　would　watch。　And　he　did　watch。

From　that　time　he　expressed　doubts　that　confused　the　disciples。　He　introduced　controversies　and　misleading　sentiments；　repeating　the　arguments　urged　by　the　scribes　and　Pharisees　against　the　claims　of　Christ。　All　the　little　and　large　troubles　and　crosses；　the　difficulties　and　the　apparent　hindrances　to　the　advancement　of　the　gospel；　Judas　interpreted　as　evidences　against　its　truthfulness。　He　would　introduce　texts　of　Scripture　that　had　no　connection　with　the　truths　Christ　was　presenting。　These　texts；　separated　from　their　connection；　perplexed　the　disciples；　and　increased　the　discouragement　that　was　constantly　pressing　upon　them。　Yet　all　this　was　done　by　Judas　in　such　a　way　as　to　make　it　appear　that　he　was　conscientious。　And　while　the　disciples　were　searching　for　evidence　to　confirm　the　words　of　the　Great　Teacher；　Judas　would　lead　them　almost　imperceptibly　on　another　track。　Thus　in　a　very　religious；　and　apparently　wise；　way　he　was　presenting　matters　in　a　different　light　from　that　in　which　Jesus　had　given　them；　and　attaching　to　His　words　a　meaning　that　He　had　not　conveyed。　His　suggestions　were　constantly　exciting　an　ambitious　desire　for　temporal　preferment；　and　thus　turning　the　disciples　from　the　important　things　they　should　have　considered。　The　dissension　as　to　which　of　them　should　be　greatest　was　generally　excited　by　Judas。

When　Jesus　presented　to　the　rich　young　ruler　the　condition　of　discipleship；　Judas　was　displeased。　He　thought　that　a　mistake　had　been　made。　If　such　men　as　this　ruler　could　be　connected　with　the　believers；　they　would　help　sustain　Christ's　cause。　If　Judas　were　only　received　as　a　counselor；　he　thought；　he　could　suggest　many　plans　for　the　advantage　of　the　little　church。　His　principles　and　methods　would　differ　somewhat　from　Christ's；　but　in　these　things　he　thought　himself　wiser　than　Christ。

720


In　all　that　Christ　said　to　His　disciples；　there　was　something　with　which；　in　heart；　Judas　disagreed。　Under　his　influence　the　leaven　of　disaffection　was　fast　doing　its　work。　The　disciples　did　not　see　the　real　agency　in　all　this；　but　Jesus　saw　that　Satan　was　communicating　his　attributes　to　Judas；　and　thus　opening　up　a　channel　through　which　to　influence　the　other　disciples。　This；　a　year　before　the　betrayal；　Christ　declared。　〃Have　not　I　chosen　you　twelve；〃　He　said；　〃and　one　of　you　is　a　devil？〃　John　6：70。

Yet　Judas　made　no　open　opposition；　nor　seemed　to　question　the　Saviour's　lessons。　He　made　no　outward　murmur　until　the　time　of　the　feast　in　Simon's　house。　When　Mary　anointed　the　Saviour's　feet；　Judas　manifested　his　covetous　disposition。　At　the　reproof　from　Jesus　his　very　spirit　seemed　turned　to　gall。　Wounded　pride　and　desire　for　revenge　broke　down　the　barriers；　and　the　greed　so　long　indulged　held　him　in　control。　This　will　be　the　experience　of　everyone　who　persists　in　tampering　with　sin。　The　elements　of　depravity　that　are　not　resisted　and　overcome；　respond　to　Satan's　temptation；　and　the　soul　is　led　captive　at　his　will。

But　Judas　was　not　yet　wholly　hardened。　Even　after　he　had　twice　pledged　himself　to　betray　the　Saviour；　there　was　opportunity　for　repentance。　At　the　Passover　supper　Jesus　proved　His　divinity　by　revealing　the　traitor's　purpose。　He　tenderly　included　Judas　in　the　ministry　to　the　disciples。　But　the　last　appeal　of　love　was　unheeded。　Then　the　case　of　Judas　was　decided；　and　the　feet　that　Jesus　had　washed　went　forth　to　the　betrayer's　work。

Judas　reasoned　that　if　Jesus　was　to　be　crucified；　the　event　must　come　to　pass。　His　own　act　in　betraying　the　Saviour　would　not　change　the　result。　If　Jesus　was　not　to　die；　it　would　only　force　Him　to　deliver　Himself。　At　all　events；　Judas　would　gain　something　by　his　treachery。　He　counted　that　he　had　made　a　sharp　bargain　in　betraying　his　Lord。

Judas　did　not；　however；　believe　that　Christ　would　permit　Himself　to　be　arrested。　In　betraying　Him；　it　was　his　purpose　to　teach　Him　a　lesson。　He　intended　to　play　a　part　that　would　make　the　Saviour　careful　thenceforth　to　treat　him　with　due　respect。　But　Judas　knew　not　that　he　was　giving　Christ　up　to　death。　How　often；　as　the　Saviour　taught　in　parables；　the　scribes　and　Pharisees　had　been　carried　away　with　His　striking　illustrations！　How　often　they　had　pronounced　judgment　against　themselves！　Often　when　the　truth　was　brought　home　to　their　hearts；　they　had　been　filled　with　rage；　and　had　taken　up　stones　to　cast　at　Him；

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but　again　and　again　He　had　made　His　escape。　Since　He　had　escaped　so　many　snares；　thought　Judas；　He　certainly　would　not　now　allow　Himself　to　be　taken。

Judas　decided　to　put　the　matter　to　the　test。　If　Jesus　really　was　the　Messiah；　the　people；　for　whom　He　had　done　so　much；　would　rally　about　Him；　and　would　proclaim　Him　king。　This　would　forever　settle　many　minds　that　were　now　in　uncertainty。　Judas　would　have　the　credit　of　having　placed　the　king　on　David's　throne。　And　this　act　would　secure　to　him　the　first　position；　next　to　Christ；　in　the　new　kingdom。

The　false　disciple　acted　his　part　in　betraying　Jesus。　In　the　garden；　when　he　said　to　the　leaders　of　the　mob；　〃Whomsoever　I　shall　kiss；　that　same　is　He：　hold　Him　fast〃　（Matt。　26：48）；　he　fully　believed　that　Christ　would　escape　out　of　their　hands。　Then　if　they　should　blame　him；　he　could　say；　Did　I　not　tell　you　to　hold　Him　fast？

Judas　beheld　the　captors　of　Christ；　acting　upon　his　words；　bind　Him　firmly。　In　amazement　he　saw　that　the　Saviour　suffered　Himself　to　be　led　away。　Anxiously　he　followed　Him　from　the　garden　to　the　trial　before　the　Jewish　rulers。　At　every　movement　he　looked　for　Him　to　surprise　His　enemies；　by　appearing　before　them　as　the　Son　of　God；　and　setting　at　nought　all　their　plots　and　power。　But　as　hour　after　hour　went　by；　and　Jesus　submitted　to　all　the　abuse　heaped　upon　Him；　a　terrible　fear　came　to　the　traitor　that　he　had　sold　his　Master　to　His　death。

As　the　trial　drew　to　a　close；　Judas　could　endure　the　torture　of　his　guilty　conscience　no　longer。　Suddenly　a　hoarse　voice　rang　through　the　hall；　sending　a　thrill　of　terror　to　all　hearts：　He　is　innocent；　spare　Him；　O　Caiaphas！

The　tall　form　of　Judas　was　now　seen　pressing　through　the　startled　throng。　His　face　was　pale　and　haggard；　and　great　drops　of　sweat　st