“LEST YE ENTER INTO TEMPTATION.”
“Watch ye
and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.”-Mark 14:38.
IT seems peculiar
that there should be greater liability of falling into sin at one season than
at another; but, nevertheless, we have noticed for several years, and have
before called to the attention of others, the peculiar force of
temptations at the time of the Passover, every Spring. Year after year at this
season we have noticed special liability of many or all to stumble, or “be
offended.” Let us, therefore, take earnest heed to our Lord’s words, and
earnestly watch and pray for others and for ourselves; and let each one be on
his guard not to cast a stumbling-block before his brother.-Rom. 14:13; Heb.
2:1.
It was at the Passover season that our Lord said, “I am the living bread
which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread he shall live
forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the
life of the world.” Then many of his friends and followers said, “This is a
hard saying; who can hear it?...and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus
unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?”-John 6:4,51,60,66,67.
It was at the Passover season that Judas bargained for the betrayal of our
Lord,-and a little later on accomplished it.
It was about the Passover season that our Lord said, “My soul is exceeding
sorrowful, even unto death.” (Matt. 26:38.) “I have a baptism [death] to be
baptized with, and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!”-Luke 12:50.
It was about the Passover season that our Lord took the disciples and
began to explain unto them that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands
of the chief priests and scribes and be put to death (Matt. 16:21); and then
Peter was tempted to forget that he was the disciple, and took the Lord and
began to rebuke him, saying, “Be it far from thee, Lord. This shall not be unto
thee.” Thus also he tempted our Lord to repudiate his sacrifice, and brought
upon himself the rebuke-“Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offense unto
me: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those things that be
of men.”-Verses 22,23.
It was while met to eat the Passover that the twelve got into a dispute as
to which of them should be greatest in the Kingdom. They thus brought upon
themselves our Lord’s just rebuke, and induced the illustration of humility on
his part by the washing of their feet.
It was when they had sung a hymn and gone out from the Passover that our
Lord used to them the words at the head of this article, “Watch ye, and pray,
lest ye enter into temptation;” while he himself was in an agonizing battle,
and with bloody sweat submitting his will to the will of God; and, praying
earnestly, was strengthened.-Luke 22:39-46.
It was but a little later that the emissaries of the High Priest came upon
them and the eleven all forsook the Lord and fled (Mark 14:50): the temptation,
the fear they could not resist.
It was but a little later that Peter and John, bolder than the others,
went with the crowd into Pilate’s court to see what would befall the Master;
and Peter, being recognized as one of Christ’s disciples, was tempted to deny
the Lord with cursing.-Mark 14:68,70,71.
It was at the same time that our Lord was tempted before Pilate, but
victoriously “witnessed a good confession.”-1 Tim. 6:13.
The temptations of our Lord followed rapidly. When his foes spat upon him,
and crowned him with thorns, and reviled him, saying, “Let him save himself, if
he be Christ, the chosen of God,” he could have smitten them with disease or
death; but, as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his
mouth. He overcame, and prayed for those who despitefully used him.-Isa. 53:7;
Luke 23:33-37.
He might even have concluded that he would not be the Redeemer of such
thankless beings; but, while realizing that he could even then ask of the
Father and receive the assistance of twelve legions of angels and overcome his
enemies, he resisted the temptation. He gave himself a ransom for all,
to be testified in due time.
The death of our Lord was a great trial of faith to all the disciples, who
straightway were tempted to go again to their old fishing business, and neglect
the fishing for men.-John 21:3-17.
Paul and the other apostles subsequently had special trials at this
special season also. See Acts 20:16; 21:10,11,27-36.
In view of all this in the past, as well as in view of our own experience
since the present harvest began in 1874, we feel specially solicitous for the
Lord’s sheep every Spring; and this Spring is no exception. What may be the character of the temptations, we may not
clearly discern until they are upon us; for if we knew all about them in
advance they would be but slight temptations. Watch, therefore, and pray
always; for the only safe way is to be prepared; because your adversary, the
devil, is seeking whom he may devour. He knows your weak points, and is ready
to take advantage of them. We will each need the graces of the spirit in our
hearts, as well as the Lord’s “grace to help in time of need” if we would
overcome. “Watch ye, and pray, lest ye enter into temptation!”
“My soul, be on thy guard,
Ten thousand foes arise;
The hosts of sin are pressing hard
To draw thee from the prize.”
* * *
“Whosoever will live godly shall suffer persecution.”
“They have called the Master of the house Beelzebub. ...The servant is not
above his Lord.”
Our Lord said to Pilate, “Thou couldst have no power at all over me except
it were given thee from above.” The same is true of every member of his body.
“A man’s foes shall be they of his own household.”
“They shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake....Rejoice
and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven.”
“The god of this world...now worketh in the children of disobedience.”...
“We are not ignorant of his devices.”