July 11

Lord, is it £? — MATT. xxvi. 22.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. — JOHN xiii. 21.

FROM the foreknowledge here displayed it results that so shocking an event as the betrayal of Christ by a disciple, which some might allege as grounding at least a suspicion against Christianity, is rescued from even a seeming support of such an objection, and becomes itself a "true yoke-fellow" in the grand array of Christian evidences (v. 19). Judas revolted from the Master; but the Master had foretold it. The shock was broken, his Messiahship was confirmed.

2. Judas heard the prediction, and therein his own characterization at the lips of the Son of God, and also those concurrent words, "It had been good for that man if he had not been born." Thus a rehearsal of the judgment day, an earnest of future punishment. 3. The betrayer, said Jesus, shall be one of you. This emphatic word brings home the question, Am I treacherous to him? Is there no Judas-way in me? 4. Jesus was "troubled in spirit." What compassion toward the traitor, although justice must take its course? How great an evil to his eye is sin! And that trouble of his spirit was but as the twilight to the then fast-coming darkness of Gethsemane and Calvary. Amazing love to sinners!

Wm. R. Nicholson

Blest Jesus, come and rule my heart, And make me wholly thine, That I may never more depart, Nor grieve thy love divine.

BENJAMIN CLEVELAND