NO
traces of His recent suffering were to be seen as the Saviour stepped
forth to meet His betrayer. Standing in advance of His disciples, He
asked the mob:
"Whom seek ye?"
They answered, "Jesus of Nazareth."
Jesus replied, "I am He." John 18:4,5.
As Jesus spoke these words, the angel who
had recently ministered to Him moved between Him and the mob. A divine
light illuminated the Saviour's face, and a dovelike form overshadowed
Him.
In the presence of this divine glory the
murderous throng could not stand for a moment. They staggered back. The
priests, elders, and soldiers dropped as dead men to the ground.
The angel withdrew, and the light faded
away. Jesus could have escaped, but He remained, calm and
self-possessed. His disciples were too much amazed to utter a word.
Page 109
The Roman soldiers soon started to their
feet. With the priests and Judas, they gathered about Christ. They
seemed ashamed of their weakness, and fearful that He would escape.
Again the question was asked by the Redeemer: "Whom seek ye?"
Again they answered, "Jesus of Nazareth."
The Saviour then said, "I have told you that I am He: if therefore ye
seek Me, let these [pointing to His disciples] go their way." John
18:7,8.
In this hour of trial, Christ's thoughts
were for His beloved disciples. He did not wish to have them suffer,
even though He must go to prison and to death.
Judas, the betrayer, did not forget the
part he was to act. He came to Jesus, and kissed Him.
Jesus said to him, "Friend, wherefore art
thou come?" Matthew 26:50. His voice trembled as He added, "Betrayest
thou the Son of man with a kiss?" Luke 22:48.
These gentle words should have touched
the heart of Judas; but all tenderness and honor seemed to have left
him. Judas had yielded himself to the control of Satan. He stood boldly
before the Lord, and was not ashamed to give Him up to the cruel mob.
Christ did not refuse the traitor's kiss.
In this He gave us an example of forbearance, love, and pity. If we are
His disciples, we must treat our enemies as He treated Judas.
The murderous throng became bold as they
saw Judas touch the form which had so recently been glorified before
their eyes. They now laid hold of the Saviour, and bound those hands
that had ever been employed in doing good.
The disciples did not think that Christ
would allow Himself to be taken. They knew that the power which could
Page 110
strike down the mob as dead men could keep them helpless till Christ and
His companions should escape.
They were disappointed and indignant as
they saw the cords brought forward to bind the hands of Him whom they
loved. Peter, in his anger, rashly drew his sword, and tried to defend
his Master. But he only cut off an ear of the high priest's servant.
When Jesus saw what was done, He released
His hands, though held firmly by the Roman soldiers, and saying, "Suffer
ye thus far" (Luke 22:51), He touched the wounded ear, and it was
instantly made whole.
He then said to Peter, "Put up again thy
sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with
the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He
shall presently give Me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then
shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" Matthew
26:52-54. "The cup which My Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it?"
John 18:11.
Christ then turned to the chief priests
and the captains of the temple, who were with the mob, and said, "Are ye
come out as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me? I
was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took Me not: but the
Scriptures must be fulfilled." Mark 14:48,49.
The disciples were offended when they saw
that the Saviour made no effort to deliver Himself from His enemies.
They blamed Him for not doing so. They could not understand His
submission to the mob, and, terror-stricken, they forsook Him and fled.
Christ had foretold this desertion.
"Behold," He had
Page 111
said, "the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall
be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave Me alone: and yet I
am not alone, because the Father is with Me." John 16:32.
