Judas
617
about Him, and would proclaim Him king. This would forever settle
many minds that were now in uncertainty. Judas would have the credit
of having placed the king on David’s throne. And this act would secure
to him the first position, next to Christ, in the new kingdom.
The false disciple acted his part in betraying Jesus. In the garden,
when he said to the leaders of the mob, “Whomsoever I shall kiss, that
same is He: hold Him fast” (
Matthew 26:48
), he fully believed that
Christ would escape out of their hands. Then if they should blame
him, he could say, Did I not tell you to hold Him fast?
Judas beheld the captors of Christ, acting upon his words, bind
Him firmly. In amazement he saw that the Saviour suffered Himself to
be led away. Anxiously he followed Him from the garden to the trial
before the Jewish rulers. At every movement he looked for Him to
surprise His enemies, by appearing before them as the Son of God, and
setting at nought all their plots and power. But as hour after hour went
by, and Jesus submitted to all the abuse heaped upon Him, a terrible
fear came to the traitor that he had sold his Master to His death.
As the trial drew to a close, Judas could endure the torture of his
guilty conscience no longer. Suddenly a hoarse voice rang through the
hall, sending a thrill of terror to all hearts: He is innocent; spare Him,
O Caiaphas!
The tall form of Judas was now seen pressing through the startled
throng. His face was pale and haggard, and great drops of sweat stood
on his forehead. Rushing to the throne of judgment, he threw down
[722]
before the high priest the pieces of silver that had been the price of his
Lord’s betrayal. Eagerly grasping the robe of Caiaphas, he implored
him to release Jesus, declaring that He had done nothing worthy of
death. Caiaphas angrily shook him off, but was confused, and knew
not what to say. The perfidy of the priests was revealed. It was evident
that they had bribed the disciple to betray his Master.
“I have sinned,” again cried Judas, “in that I have betrayed the
innocent blood.” But the high priest, regaining his self-possession,
answered with scorn, “What is that to us? see thou to that.”
Matthew
27:4
. The priests had been willing to make Judas their tool; but they
despised his baseness. When he turned to them with confession, they
spurned him.
Judas now cast himself at the feet of Jesus, acknowledging Him
to be the Son of God, and entreating Him to deliver Himself. The