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The Story of Redemption
the deepest interest silently watched Jesus. They wished to surround
the Son of God, but the commanding angels suffered them not, lest,
as they should behold His betrayal, they should deliver Him; for the
plan had been laid, and it must be fulfilled.
After Jesus had prayed He came to His disciples, but they were
sleeping. In that dreadful hour He had not the sympathy and prayers
of even His disciples. Peter, who was so zealous a short time before,
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was heavy with sleep. Jesus reminded him of his positive declara-
tions and said to him, “What, could ye not watch with Me one hour?”
Matthew 26:40
. Three times the Son of God prayed in agony.
Judas Betrays Jesus
Then Judas, with his band of armed men, appeared. He ap-
proached His Master as usual, to salute Him. The band surrounded
Jesus; but there He manifested His divine power, as He said. “Whom
seek ye?” “I am He.” They fell backward to the ground. Jesus made
this inquiry that they might witness His power and have evidence
that He could deliver Himself from their hands if He would.
The disciples began to hope as they saw the multitude with
their staves and swords fall so quickly. As they arose and again
surrounded the Son of God, Peter drew his sword and smote a servant
of the high priest and cut off an ear. Jesus bade him to put up
the sword, saying, “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to My
Father, and He shall presently give Me more than twelve legions of
angels?”
Matthew 26:53
. I saw that as these words were spoken, the
countenances of the angels were animated with hope. They wished
then and there to surround their Commander and disperse that angry
mob. But again sadness settled upon them, as Jesus added, “But how
then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?”
Matthew
26:54
. The hearts of the disciples also sank in despair and bitter
disappointment as Jesus suffered Himself to be led away by His
enemies.
The disciples feared for their own lives, and they all forsook Him
and fled. Jesus was left alone in the hands of the murderous mob.
Oh, what a triumph of Satan then! And what sadness and sorrow
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with the angels of God! Many companies of holy angels, each with a
tall commanding angel at their head, were sent to witness the scene.