characteristic was his enthusiasm. It is
helpful to know that the Spirit of God working with one who was a giant
intellectually and with one who was profane and ignorant accomplished
practically the same results, making them both, Paul and Peter, mighty
men whose ministry has made the world richer and better in every way.
But to think of Judas is always to shudder.

There is a kindred text in this same Gospel of Mark, but the emotions
it stirs are entirely different. The second text is, "And Peter." The
crucifixion is over, the Savior is in the tomb, poor Peter, a
broken-hearted man, is wandering through the streets of the City of the
King. He is at last driven to the company of the disciples, when
suddenly there rushes in upon them the woman who had been at the tomb,
and she exclaims, "He is risen, has gone over into Galilee and wants
his disciples to meet him." This was the angel's message to her. All
the disciples must have hurried to the door that they might hasten to
see their risen Lord--all save Peter. And then came the pathetic and
thrilling text, for the woman gave the message as Jesus gave it to the
angels and they to her, "Go tell his disciples--_and Peter_."

But this text, "And Judas Iscariot," brings to our recollection the
story of a man who lost his opportunity to be good and great; the
picture of one who was heartless in his betrayal, for within sight of
the Garden of Gethsemane he saluted Jesus with a hypocritical kiss; the
recollection of one in whose ears to-day in eternity there must be
heard the clinking sound of the thirty pieces of silver; and the
account of one who died a horrible death, all because sin had its way
with him and the grace of God was rejected.

The scene connected with his calling is significant. Mark tells us in
the third chapter of his Gospel that when Jesus saw the man with the
withered hand and healed him, he went out by the seaside and then upon
the mountain, and there called his Apostles round about him, gave them
their commission and sent them forth to do his bidding.

In Matthew the ninth chapter and the thirty-sixth to the thirty-eighth
verses, we are told that when he saw the multitudes he was moved with
compassion, and he commissioned the twelve and sent them forth that
they might serve as shepherds to the people who appeared to be
shepherdless. "Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is
plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore th