Mark 14:18-19 And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Truly I say to you, One of you which eats with me shall betray me.… There once sailed from the city of New Orleans a large and noble steamer, laden with cotton, and having a great number of passengers on board. While they were taking in the cargo, a portion of it became slightly moistened by a shower of rain that fell. This circumstance, however, was not noticed; the cotton was stowed away in the hold, and the hatches fastened down. During the first part of the voyage all went well; but, far out towards the middle of the Atlantic ocean, all on board were one day alarmed by the fearful cry of "Fire!" and in a few moments the noble ship was completely enveloped in flames. The damp and closely-packed cotton had become heated; it smouldered away, and got into a more dangerous state every day, until at last it burst out into a broad sheet of flame, and nothing could be done to stop it. The passengers and crew were compelled to take to the boats; but some were suffocated and consumed in the fire, and many more were drowned in the sea. Now, the heated cotton, smouldering in the hull of that vessel, is like sin in the heart of a man. All the while it is working away according to its own nature, but no one perceives it or knows anything about it. The man himself may wear a smiling face; he may in appearance be making the voyage of life smoothly; he may seem to be happy. His family and friends may see nothing wrong about him; he may see nothing wrong about himself. But the evil spirit within may be growing stronger and stronger, and spreading wider and wider, until, in an unexpected moment, it breaks out into some awful deed of wickedness, which in former days would have made him start back with horror. Beware, then, of this fatal cheat. "Take heed," as the apostle says in another place, "lest any of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." It may smile bewitchingly before your eyes; it may promise the most grateful sweetness to your taste. But, oh I put no trust in it; at the last it will bite like a serpent and sting like an adder. (Edgar Breeds.) Parallel Verses KJV: And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me. |
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