21 “When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in the spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. 23 There was at the table reclining in Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, and saith unto him, Tell us who it is of whom he speaketh. 25 He leaning back, as he was, on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus therefore answereth, He it is, for whom I shall dip the sop, and give it him. So when he had dipped the sop, he taketh and giveth it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 And after the sop, then entered Satan into him. Jesus therefore saith unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. 28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. 29 For some thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus said unto him, Buy what things we have need of for the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. 30 He then having received the sop went out straightway; and it was night. 31 “When therefore he was gone out, Jesus saith, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him; and God shall glorify him in himself, and straightway shall he glorify him. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me; and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye can not come; so now I say unto you. 34 A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. 36 “Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow afterwards. 37 Peter saith unto him, Lord, why can I not follow thee even now? I will lay down my life for thee. 38 Jesus answereth, Wilt thou lay down thy life for me? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.”
QUESTIONS.
How was Jesus affected by the thought of his betrayal?
What did it lead him to say?
How did the disciples receive his statement?
Who was reclining next to Jesus?
What was he urged to do?
How did he respond to the request?
What answer did Jesus make to his inquiry?
What did Jesus then do?
Who now took possession of Judas?
What instruction did Jesus give to him?
Did the other disciples understand his remark?
How did some of them interpret it?
What did Judas then do? What time was it?
After his withdrawal, what statement did Jesus first make?
How did he refer to his impending death?
What did he say to his disciples with reference to his separation from them?
What instruction did he then give them?
What did he declare to be evidence of discipleship?
What inquiry did Peter make?
What reply was given?
What inquiry and profession of loyalty followed?
What experience did Jesus then foretell?
NOTES.
1. “As the disciples sat at the Passover with their beloved Master, they observed that he still appeared greatly troubled and depressed. A cloud settled over them all, a premonition of some dreadful calamity, the character of which they did not understand. As they ate in silence, Jesus said, ‘Verily, I say unto you that one of you shall betray me.’” “He says, ‘One of you.’ Rather will he frighten all, than that the one should lose this last impulse to repentance.” “There was a touching forbearance manifested in the dealing of Jesus with Judas. It evinced an infinite mercy, giving him one more chance of repentance, by showing him that all his thoughts and purposes were fully known to the Son of God. . . . But Judas, altho surprised and alarmed, was not moved to repentance.”—Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 3, pp. 85, 86.
2. “The fashion of the world is to love the treachery, and to hate the traitor. But Christ reverses this—he abhors the treachery, whilst he seeks to save the traitor’s soul, because it is dear to him.” “Not even John knew who it was of whom Jesus spake, so reticent had been the love of this most faithful Shepherd of souls so long as a single hope of life yet remained on behalf of this son of perdition.” “John had a right to speak of himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved. So have I, so have you.”
3. “According to the rendering of the Revised Version, Peter said to John, ‘Tell us who it is of whom he speaketh;’ and John, not knowing himself, asked Jesus; ‘and he who of old time had not been able to hide from Abraham his secrets, because Abraham was his friend’ (Gen. 18: 17), reveals this matter to his beloved disciple. Judas ‘had been deliberately, step by step, opening his heart to Satan, until now at length he had become wholly of one mind with the arch-enemy of Jesus Christ. . . . This, “Satan entered into him,” is the exact opposite of what the children of God experience when the Father and the Son come and, in the Holy Ghost, take up their abode within them.’”
4. “The Word of God favors the opinion that every heart is potentially deceitful and wicked to this degree, that there are germs of iniquity in every heart, that need only a suitable train and combination of circumstances to fructify into just such marvels of malevolence as we find in Judas.”
5. “When Jesus saw that Judas and Satan could now no longer be separated, he gave him up, and drove him speeding into the darkness: ‘Depart, then, I will no longer detain thee.’ It is like that last word which Moses spake to Pharaoh in Ex. 10: 29.” Compare also Matt. 25: 41.
6. “Had Jesus remained silent, in apparent ignorance of that which was to come upon him, an impression might have been left on the minds of his disciples that their Master had not divine foresight, and had been deceived, surprised, and betrayed into the hands of a murderous mob. A year before, Jesus had told the disciples that he had chosen twelve, but that one was a devil; and now his words to Judas on the occasion of the Passover, showing that his treachery was fully known to his Master, would strengthen the faith of his true followers during his humiliation.”—Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 3, p. 87.
7. “Some thought that he (Judas) should buy something for the feast. Ah, they little knew what a sacrifice that was which, through the hand of Judas, was to be purchased for this feast! Judas, however, had understood; having received the sop, he went immediately out—and it was night; night also in the heart of this son of perdition; for no ray of grace from Jesus’ face could any longer penetrate there. And soon ‘the power of darkness’ rushed in. Luke 22: 53.”
8. “There comes a point in the downward course of the wicked, at which they are given over to a reprobate mind. In other words, Satan, who has been by degrees encroaching upon their souls, at last succeeds in establishing his empire within them, and they become his. Then they separate themselves from the company of the godly. They excommunicate themselves. They go to their own place. Like Judas, they step out of the light of the chamber where Jesus is, into the outside darkness.”
9. “Men still profess to be Christians who are so only in the degree in which Judas was. They expect some good from Christ but not all. . . . They retain command of their own life, and are prepared to go with Christ only so far as they find it agreeable or inviting. . . . They are seeking to use Christ, and are not willing to be used by him. They are not wholly and heartily his, but merely seek to derive some influence from him. The result is they one day find that, through all their religious profession and apparent Christian life, their characteristic sin has actually been gaining strength. . . . They find that the reward of double-mindedness is the most absolute perdition, that both Christ and the world, to be made anything of, require the whole man, and that he who tries to get the good of both gets the good of neither.”
10. “The withdrawal of Judas was a relief to all present. The Saviour’s face lighted immediately, and the oppressive shadow was lifted from the disciples as they saw the peace of heaven return to the pale, worn countenance of their Lord.”
11. “In the command of the New Testament, ‘Love one another, as Christ also hath loved you,’ the command of the Old Testament, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,’ appears again in a new and restored form.” “I have given you the commandment; I will give you the heart to obey it.” Eph. 5: 2; Eze. 36: 26, 27. “Those who cherished a common love to him were drawn to one another more closely than even to blood relations.”13
12. “A picture of self-confidence and its result is presented in the dialog between Jesus and Peter. ‘Satan has a quiver full of poisoned arrows. Knowest thou which of them is the most deadly?—It is trust and confidence towards thyself. See to it that he does not wound thee thereby; for in the wound will grow the proud flesh of security; and that afterwards festers into what?—Presumption.’”
Suggestions for Further Study.
What intimations had Jesus already given that one of his disciples would turn against him?
Our denominational papers and tracts are desired by Mrs. Lulu Wightman, Conewango Valley, N. Y., for free distribution. Send post-paid.
“ORIGIN, PROGRESS, AND PRINCIPLES OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS.”
(Not Ready.)
THIS pamphlet, which was first advertised as No. 145 of the Bible Students’ Library, has been delayed, owing to our inability to secure suitable illustrations, and we can not promise definitely when it will be issued. All the orders we have received for it are booked, and will be filled as soon as it is published. “Will a Man Rob God?” by Elder R. A. Underwood, is now listed as No. 145 of the above-named library, and our standing orders are filled.
Pacific Press Publishing Co., Oakland, Cal. 18 West Fifth St., Kansas City, Mo. 39 Bond St., New York City, N. Y.
Cyclone Washer
Elder G. C. Tenney, editor of the Review and Herald, says: “The Cyclone Washer is sold on its merits. It is not claimed for it that it will do a washing while the operator sits in the parlor, nor that if she will push a button, the machine will do the rest. It asks for a good liberal supply of hot water and soap, and for co-operation. Then it promises to turn out a good job of washing at a large saving of hard labor. It will do it too. My wife was so suspicious of the claims usually made for washing machines that she would none of them. When the Cyclone came along, merely claiming to be a help, she bought one, and now rejoices in the fact. The machine is a good thing. It will save many a weary day’s work. It is a Cyclone that will blow into oblivion the steam, fog, slops, sweat, and steam of ‘blue Monday.’”
Agents wanted everywhere. Address,Coon Bros., 18-20 Hanover St.,Battle Creek, Mich.Chicago Branch for the State of Illinois,1130 Monon Bldg.
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Tickets and sleeping car reservations at No. 1 Montgomery Street, San Francisco
D. W. HITCHCOCK, General Agent, or H. V. BLASDEL, Ticket Agent
NOTE.—Here is an illustration of the way in which God led the workers in the early church, as it is also of what God is willing to do for those who with honest, humble hearts seek for his truth. This is but one of the incidents resulting from the dispersion of the Christians. The place of this incident is the uncultivated region of Judea, southwest of Jerusalem, and the time was the early summer of A.D. 37.
26 “But an angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza; the same is desert. And he arose and went; and behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem for to worship; and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some one shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the place of the scripture which he was reading was this.
He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
And as a lamb before his shearer is dumb,
So he openeth not his mouth;
33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away;
His generation who shall declare?
For his life is taken from the earth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other? And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this scripture, preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus; and passing through he preached the Gospel to all the cities, till he came to Cæsarea.”
Golden Text.—“Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.” Acts 8:35.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) What message came to Philip? Verse 26. (2) Who bore the message? Ib. Note 1. (3) How explicit were the directions? Ib. Note 2. (4) In obeying the command, whom did Philip see? Verse 27. (5) What is said of the position which he held? Ib. Note 3. (6) For what purpose had he come to Jerusalem? Ib. Note 4. (7) What did Philip find him doing? Verse 28. (8) What message came to Philip? Verse 29. (9) What did Philip do? Verse 30. (10) What question did he ask the eunuch? Ib. Note 5. (11) What reply did he receive? Verse 31, first part. (12) What invitation did Philip receive? Ib., last part. (13) What passages of Scripture was he reading? Verses 32 and 33. (14) What question did the eunuch ask? Verse 34. (15) Concerning whom was this prophecy written? Verse 34. Note 6. (16) As they proceeded, what exclamation did the eunuch make? Verse 36, first part. Note 7. (17) What question did the eunuch ask which showed his belief in Philip’s teaching? Verse 36, last clause. (18) How did Philip reply? Verse 37, first part. (19) What profession of faith did the Ethiopian make? Ib., last part. (20) What command did he give? Verse 38, first clause. (21) What did they do? Ib., last part. Note 8. (22) What happened as they came up out of the water? Verse 39, first part. (23) How was the Ethiopian affected by all that had transpired? Ib., last clause. (24) Where was Philip next seen? Verse 40, first clause? (25) What did he continue to do? Ib., last clause.
NOTES.
1. Angel of the Lord.—We have many records of messages delivered by angels to men; and in the work of God in the earth they have occupied no insignificant part. In fact, the occupation of the angels as respects this earth is ministering for those who shall be heirs of salvation. Heb. 1:14. In the following references will be found a few of the many messages with which angels were commissioned. Gen. 21:17; 22:15; Judges 2:4; 2 Kings 1:15; 1 Kings 13:18; Matt. 1:20; 2:13, 19; 28:5; Luke 2:10, 13, 14; Acts 10:22; 12:8; Rev. 14:6, 8, 9. In the result of this angelic message to Philip we see a verification of the saying that “God works in a mysterious way his wonders to perform.” Philip obeyed the command without knowing, or stopping to question, why he should go. In this we are reminded of Abraham’s call and his unquestioning obedience, as recorded in Gen. 12:1-5.
2. Go toward the south.—The directions given by the angel are very explicit. He was to go toward the south; to go till he came to the road leading from Jerusalem to Gaza; and as there were a number of roads between the two places, the particular one meant is designated by the phrase “which is desert.” This road passed through Hebron, and was the only one along which a chariot could be driven.
3. Of great authority.—He was secretary of the treasury, or head of the financial department of the ancient Ethiopian Kingdom. Such an officer in the English Government is called chancellor of the exchequer. This kingdom was governed by queens as late as three hundred years after Christ, and is identified as the ancient kingdom of Meroë, which is identical with the present Abyssinian Kingdom, whose ruler, Menelik, claims direct descent from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. The Abyssinians are descendants of Abraham through Ishmael, and therefore of Semitic extraction. The language is also Semitic. The Abyssinians are Christians, and observe the seventh day as the Sabbath.
4. Had come to Jerusalem for to worship.—The Ethiopian was probably one who had become acquainted with the Jewish worship in Ethiopia through association with one of the Jewish “communities of the dispersion,” who were found in various countries, and who usually had a following of “God-fearing Gentiles.” The light he had seen in Ethiopia had only increased his desire for more light—a characteristic of the true child of God of every color and every clime—and thus he had sought what should have been the fountainhead of light; and God so overruled that he received that for which he had journeyed so far, even tho the Shekinah had left the sanctuary of Israel and her lamp had gone out. The journey undertaken by this truth-seeker was a very long and very expensive one for those days.
5. Understandest thou?—The question implies on the part of Philip a readiness to explain. The scripture the eunuch was reading was the very Gospel the dispersed Christians were bearing to the world. And yet the passage was an exceedingly difficult one for a Jew to understand. It was incompatible with the ideas which they had of their Deliverer; and it was their failure to understand this and other such scriptures that led them to fulfil what is predicted in those passages. Their blindness in regard to Christ’s first coming, and their expectation of a temporal ruler and deliverer, led them to put to death him whom they should have welcomed. Just so a blindness in regard to his second coming, and the attempt to usher in his kingdom through the “gateway of politics,” will bring disaster to those who engage in it, and persecution to those who seek to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, keeping his Father’s commandments, even as he did.
6. Began at the same scripture.—By beginning at this scripture to teach Jesus, Philip tells us to whom the scripture refers. When Christ was explaining to two of his disciples the scriptures relating to himself, he began “at Moses and all the prophets.” Luke 24:27. We also find Apollos “mightily” convincing the Jews, from the Scriptures (Old Testament), “that Jesus was Christ.” The only Scriptures used by the apostles and by our Lord were what we call the Old Testament.
7. See, here is water.—The water here referred to was a river by the name of Wady Surar. The name Marubah was also applied to it locally. One writer speaks of it as being “deep enough in some places even in June to satisfy the utmost wishes of our Baptist friends.”
8. Went down both into the water.—There seems to be no room for doubt in regard to the manner in which Philip performed the ceremony of baptism. The literal meaning of the Greek word baptizein is a sufficient explanation of the manner in which it was done. It means to dip or plunge in or under water; to whelm.
LITERARY NOTICES.
“MODERN SPIRITUALISM. A SUBJECT OF PROPHECY AND A SIGN OF THE TIMES.” By Uriah Smith. Illustrated, 156 pages, cloth, 50 cents; paper, without illustrations, 20 cents. Review and Herald Publishing Co., Battle Creek, Mich.
An unpretentious, but nicely bound and neatly printed volume of 156 pages, is the little book named above, but it deals with a tremendously important subject. An ism that began in its modern development about 1840, with heaven-high assumptions, and has since spread all over the civilized world, is worthy of serious consideration. It is treated in this work in the author’s well-known lucid, interesting style in seven chapters, covering in brief all phases of the subject. It presents the testimony of the Scriptures, and the confirmation of this by evidence from within and without the ranks of Spiritualists. It contains four well-printed half-tone illustrations. It is the latest and best book out on this important theme. Its low price should give it a large circulation.
“SKETCHES OF BIBLE CHILD LIFE. STORIES ABOUT SOME OF THE CHILDREN MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE.” By Mary Alicia Steward. Cloth, 142 pages, profusely illustrated; price, 50 cents. Review and Herald Publishing Co., Battle Creek, Mich.
This is a beautiful little volume, and tells in clear and beautiful language some of the charming, helpful stories of the Bible children and youth. It is nicely illustrated, containing twenty-two full-page pictures, besides illustrated chapter headings. The little book should be welcomed by all godly parents who have children to train.
“SELECTIONS FROM THE BIBLE FOR USE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.” Compiled by James G. Minnear, Kansas City, Mo. Bound in boards.
There are in this book 200 Scripture lessons and 18 hymns and songs, religious and patriotic. Of the Bible selections they are all good, and we do not know as any one could have done better than has Mr. Minnear. And yet we do not believe in the purpose of the book. We should be perfectly willing that our children should read the Word, but we are not willing that they should accept of man’s interpretation of the Word. Neighbor Jones might not be willing that his child should read the Bible at all, and I have no more right to force it upon him than he has upon me or my children the Book of Mormon, the Catholic Catechism, or the Koran. And yet we sympathize with men like the above. They see the need of Bible teaching. They know its lack in home and church, and they wish to supplement it in schools, taught frequently by teachers who do not truly believe in the Bible at all. Let Christians teach the Bible everywhere that men and women can be persuaded to listen; let them live the Word where men will not listen; but never let them blaspheme that word by compelling the mind or soul that God has left free. The Gospel method is win, not coerce. Its power is love, not force.
Good Health comes to our table this month in popular magazine form. While it is an old friend, and we had come to sort o’ like its form because of its matter, we are not at all disappointed in its new appearance. Its first number for the year is a little late, but he who gets such a magazine for one dollar a year can afford to have it late once in a while. And then its new dress and form is a good excuse. It is filled full of good things on health and food questions of interest to all. Good Health Publishing Co., Battle Creek, Mich., 39 Bond Street, New York.
Among the scientific medical journals which we from time to time peruse (and we take much interest in the subject), few, if any, it seems to us, a non-professional, would be of more value to a professional man than the Medical Record, William Wood & Co., publishers, 43, 45, and 47 East Tenth Street, New York. It is a weekly journal, and covers all phases of medicine and surgery. Its departments—Original Articles, Clinical, Progress of Medical Science, News of the Week relative to medical work from all parts of the world, Society Reports, Surgical Suggestions, Therapeutic Hints, Correspondence, etc. In fact, we do not see how a live physician and surgeon could do without it. The current issue before us contains 76 pages. Let the practitioner send stamp for sample copy to the above address. The Record will tell its own story.
The Pacific Health Journal for February contains most valuable matter for practical every-day use. Its departments—General Articles, Mother’s Helper, Editorial, and the Household—are well filled with interesting articles and profitable and helpful suggestions, worth many times, if reduced to practice, the price of the magazine. $1.00 per year, 10 cents a copy. Pacific Press Publishing Co., Oakland, Cal., publishers.
“Business Changes Hands, or the Rich Man and Lazarus. A Narrative, and Not a Parable. A Lesson on Doctrinal Points of the Highest Importance. The Outgoing and the Incoming High Priest. Touching the Resurrection of the Dead and the Glory of the Gospel, by James B. Logan, Washington, D.C.” Thus reads the title-page of a pamphlet, treating on the parable of Luke 16: 19-31, in an original and plausible way.
“First Report of the State Dairy Bureau to the Governor of the State of California,” from May 1, 1895, to Oct. 1, 1896, comes to our table. It is a neatly-printed document of 42 pages,14and the Bureau would, we should judge, be of practical benefit to the dairymen and consumers in the State, if properly and honorably conducted, kept out of politics, and special class control. William Vanderbilt, Secretary State Dairy Bureau, Sacramento, Cal.
“Fourth Annual Report of President Schurman,” 1895-96, of Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, is a pamphlet of 80 pages, with an appendix of 72 pages, giving a large quantity of information concerning this great university, showing its growth, etc.
Also the “Cornell University Register,” a volume of 328 pages, for 1896-97. It shows present attendance 1,763 as against 1,654 last year, and 175 professors as against 165 last year. There are now 22 graduate scholarships and fellowships at Cornell. The library numbers 186,680 volumes and 30,400 pamphlets. Its students come from 43 States and 16 foreign countries. D. F. Hooy, registrar.
It is not exactly a literary production, but it is in that line after all. We have received from the inventor a perpetual aluminum calendar, called the “Nevada Silver Pocket Souvenir Coin.” It is the size of a silver half dollar, with a perpetual calendar on one side with movable gold-plated center. It needs to be set once a year for ordinary years, and twice leap year. On the reverse side is the bust of Columbus, 1492, 1892. The retail price is fifty cents each, or four for one dollar. They are really a novel and useful little calendar. (Any one ordering kindly mention the Signs of the Times.) Address the patentee, W. W. Kitchen, 138 Plymouth Avenue, Rochester, N.Y.
