606
The Desire of Ages
an open court in which the soldiers and the multitude had gathered.
Through this court, Jesus was taken to the guardroom, on every side
meeting with mockery of His claim to be the Son of God. His own
words, “sitting on the right hand of power,” and, “coming in the clouds
of heaven,” were jeeringly repeated. While in the guardroom, awaiting
His legal trial, He was not protected. The ignorant rabble had seen the
cruelty with which He was treated before the council, and from this
they took license to manifest all the satanic elements of their nature.
Christ’s very nobility and godlike bearing goaded them to madness.
His meekness, His innocence, His majestic patience, filled them with
hatred born of Satan. Mercy and justice were trampled upon. Never
was criminal treated in so inhuman a manner as was the Son of God.
But a keener anguish rent the heart of Jesus; the blow that inflicted
the deepest pain no enemy’s hand could have dealt. While He was
undergoing the mockery of an examination before Caiaphas, Christ
had been denied by one of His own disciples.
After deserting their Master in the garden, two of the disciples had
ventured to follow, at a distance, the mob that had Jesus in charge.
These disciples were Peter and John. The priests recognized John as
a well-known disciple of Jesus, and admitted him to the hall, hoping
that as he witnessed the humiliation of his Leader, he would scorn the
idea of such a one being the Son of God. John spoke in favor of Peter,
and gained an entrance for him also.
In the court a fire had been kindled; for it was the coldest hour of
the night, being just before the dawn. A company drew about the fire,
and Peter presumptuously took his place with them. He did not wish
to be recognized as a disciple of Jesus. By mingling carelessly with
the crowd, he hoped to be taken for one of those who had brought
Jesus to the hall.
But as the light flashed upon Peter’s face, the woman who kept the
door cast a searching glance upon him. She had noticed that he came
in with John, she marked the look of dejection on his face, and thought
[711]
that he might be a disciple of Jesus. She was one of the servants of
Caiaphas’ household, and was curious to know. She said to Peter,
“Art not thou also one of this Man’s disciples?” Peter was startled and
confused; the eyes of the company instantly fastened upon him. He
pretended not to understand her; but she was persistent, and said to
those around her that this man was with Jesus. Peter felt compelled