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From Heaven With Love
Judas decided to put the matter to the test. If Jesus really was
the Messiah, the people would proclaim Him king. Judas would
have the credit of having placed the king on David’s throne, and
this would secure to him the first position, next to Christ, in the new
kingdom.
In the garden, Judas said to the leaders of the mob, “Hold Him
fast.”
Matthew 26:48
. He fully believed Christ would escape. Then
if they blamed him, he could say, Did I not tell you to hold Him fast?
In amazement Judas saw the Saviour suffer Himself to be led
away. At every movement he looked for Him to surprise His enemies,
by appearing before them as the Son of God. But as hour after hour
went by, 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 his guilty con-
science no longer. Suddenly a hoarse voice rang through the hall:
He is innocent; spare Him, O Caiaphas! The tall form of Judas was
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seen pressing through the startled throng. His face was pale, and
sweat stood on his forehead. Rushing to the throne of judgment, he
threw down before the high priest the pieces of silver that had been
the price of his Lord’s betrayal. Grasping the robe of Caiaphas, he
implored him to release Jesus. Caiaphas angrily shook him off, but
knew not what to say. The perfidy of the priests was revealed. They
had bribed the disciple to betray his Master.
“I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.” But
the high priest, regaining his self-possession, answered, “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.
Judas’s Agony of Remorse
Judas now cast himself at the feet of Jesus, acknowledging Him
to be the Son of God and entreating Him to deliver Himself. The
Saviour knew that Judas felt no deep, heartbreaking grief that he
had betrayed the spotless Son of God. Yet He spoke no word of
condemnation. He looked pityingly upon Judas, and said, For this
hour came I into the world.