ye But of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had. And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, 'As Foretelling the signal overthrow for these things which of Jerusalem. behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. 10 Then said he 10 The Roman armies gathered unto them, Nation shall rise round; and their coming was heagainst nation, and kingdom ralded by many prodigies. against kingdom: and great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. 12 But before 12❝In the interval, you, my followers, shall suffer sad persecutions. all these, they shall lay their Those sufferings, however, as fulfilhands on you, and persecute ling my prophetic warnings, shall you, delivering you up to the confirm your faith, and so add testisynagogues, and into prisons, mony to the cause of truth." being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. 16 And ye shall be betrayed both by 16 These sad consequences of persecution literally took place. 18 Warned of God, all the faithful followers of Christ did escape out of Jerusalem, during a truce, before its overthrow. parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. 18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls. And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judæa flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter 24 In God's own time Jerusalen shall again raise her widowed head and her sons again be established in her borders*. thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God 32 Verily I the destruction of Jerusalem, and the 26 These signs applied primarily to coming of the Roman armies as instruments of divine vengeance. But they represented also the final coming of the Son of man to judgment. then 32 Many survived the destruction of Jerusalem: which event took place forty years after the ascension is nigh at hand. Verily I be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 34 A worldly course ill becomes And take heed to your- those who are watching for the comselves, lest at any time your ing of their Lord. You are so watch hearts be overcharged with ing. Watch therefore, and pray. surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and And in the day time he was to stand before the Son of man. * The Jewish historian inform us, that 1,100,000 Jews perished during the siege of Jerusalem; and that 95,000 were carried away captive. teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives. And all 38 38 Thou art now hearkening to his written words. Take heed how thou the people came early in the hearest. morning to him in the temple, for to hear him. CHAPTER XXII. MARCH 11, JULY 10, Nov. 6. 1 Let us rejoice in Christ, our passover; and pray, that when the angel of vengeance seeth our souls sprinkled with his blood, he will pass over. (See Exod. xii. 13.) 1 Now the feast of unlea- Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. 4 10 When the disciples found that these minute circumstances happened exactly as their Lord had said, their faith in his omniscience must have been complete. * And he went his way, and 4 Mark the deliberate, the precommuned with the chief sumptuous sin! Mark, too, the base priests and captains, how he motive; even the love of money. might betray him unto them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude. Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? 10 And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished there make ready. And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. 15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: for I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom approaches, gathers together his fa15 Thus the Christian, when death mily, and partakes again with them of Christ, their passover; that so he may himself be fortified against his trial; and they, strengthened against theirs. HE, for death: THEY for sorrow. 19 And 22 God foresees all things: but the will of man is free, and God is free to use man's agency. Of this blessed truth however we are fully assured, that He finally overrules all things for our good. of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: for I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. 19 What a winning motive for obehe took bread, and gave dience even gratitude to a loved thanks, and brake it, and and dying Benefactor! Shall his gave unto them, saying, This dying request be unheeded by Thee! is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. 22 And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed! And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing. And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; 30 that 30 These promises are to be underye may eat and drink at my stood of spiritual blessings. table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And the Lord said, Simon, 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: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, 31 31 Peter loved his Master; who therefore prayed for him. O blessed Jesus! Master! pray now for us! world *. let him sell his garment, and 37 This was accomplished when He buy one. 37 For I say unto was crucified between two thieves. you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough. And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 How deep the agony! Yet, no "And there appeared an wonder! He bare the sins of the angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. "And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, and said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off 51 Even this proof that He was God, his right ear. 51 And Jesus turned not the hearts of his persecutors. Hatred blinds men to justice. 45 Thus mercifully does a gracious Providence ordain, that exhausted nature should find some respite from its sorrows. answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? When I was daily Then with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. And when they He endured the whole burden of his Father's wrath-He "trod the wine-press alone"-and, bitter addition to his sorrows! He foreknew that some there would be, who would cast from them the salvation He thus dearly purchased for them. |