Betrayal of Christ
35
that dreadful hour. Peter who was so zealous a little before, was heavy
with sleep. Jesus reminded him of his positive declarations, and said
unto him, What! could ye not watch with me one hour? Three times
the Son of God prayed in agony, when Judas, with his band of men,
was at hand. He met Jesus 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
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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 the sword and cut off an ear. Jesus bid
him put up the sword, and said unto him, Thinkest thou that I cannot
now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than
twelve legions of angels? I saw that as these words were spoken, the
countenances of the angels were animated. 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? The hearts of the disciples
sunk again in despair and bitter disappointment, as Jesus suffered them
to lead him away.
The disciples were afraid of their own lives, and fled one this way,
and the other that, and Jesus was left alone. O what triumph of Satan
then! And what sadness and sorrow with the angels of God! Many
companies of holy angels, with each a tall commanding angel at their
head, were sent to witness the scene. They were to record every act,
every insult and cruelty imposed upon the Son of God, and to register
every pang of anguish which Jesus should suffer; for the very men
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should see it all again in living characters.
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