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on this occasion. But he had a purpose in view. He saw that a most
trying ordeal awaited his disciples in his betrayal, his agony in Geth-
semane, and his crucifixion. He knew who among his followers were
unbelieving and who were of weak faith. Had no test been given them,
Jesus would have had many among his followers who were weak in
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character, and undecided. When the great trial came, and their Lord
was betrayed and condemned in the Judgment Hall; when he was
humiliated, and the multitude, who had hailed him as their king, hissed
at him and reviled him; when the cruel, jeering crowd cried, “Crucify
him!”—then these faint-hearted ones would have sunk beneath their
fear and disappointment.
The apostasy of these professed followers of Christ at such a time,
would have been more than the twelve could have endured in addition
to their great grief and the terrible ruin of their fondest hopes. The
example of those who turned from him, might, in that hour of horror,
have carried all the rest with them. But Jesus brought about this
crisis while he was still present to comfort and strengthen his chosen,
and prepare them for what was to follow. When the hooting rabble
scorned Him who was doomed to the cross, the disciples were not
overwhelmed with surprise at this insult to their Master, for they had
seen the fickleness of those who had once followed him. When those
who had professed to love the Master turned from him in the time of
his trouble, the disciples remembered that the same thing had occurred
before, for less reason. They had tested the inconstant favor of the
world, and hung not their faith upon the opinions of others. Jesus
wisely prepared the minds of his faithful few for the great trial of his
betrayal and death.
Peter had great faith in Jesus. From the first he had believed that he
was the Messiah. He had seen and heard John, who was the forerunner
of Christ, proclaim him to be the Lamb of God that taketh away the
sins of the world. He had been closely connected with Jesus, had
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witnessed his miracles, listened to his teachings, and was convinced
that he was the Son of God Many who had been convicted by the
preaching of John, and had accepted Christ, began to doubt as to the
mission of John, when he was imprisoned and to death. They also
doubted if Jesus was really the Messiah, whom they had looked for so
long.