Angels From Christ’s Passion Until His Death
139
It was difficult for the angels to endure the sight. They would have
delivered Jesus ... but the commanding angels forbade them.... Jesus
knew that angels were witnessing the scene of His humiliation.... The
feeblest angel could have caused that multitude to fall powerless, and
deliver Jesus.—
Spiritual Gifts 1:50, 51
.
The angel who had lately ministered to Jesus moved between Him
and the mob. A divine light illuminated the Saviour’s face, and a
dovelike form overshadowed Him. In the presence of this divine glory,
the murderous throng could not stand for a moment. They staggered
back. Priests, elders, soldiers, and even Judas, fell as dead men to the
ground.... But quickly the scene changed.—
The Desire of Ages, 694,
695
.
The angel withdrew, and left Jesus standing calm and self-
possessed, with the bright beams of the moon upon His pale face,
and still surrounded by prostrate, helpless men, while the disciples
were too much amazed to utter a word. As the angel removes, the
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hardened Roman soldiers start to their feet, and, with the priest and
Judas, they gather about Christ as though ashamed of their weakness,
and fearful that He would yet escape out of their hands.—
The Signs
of the Times, August 21, 1879
.
The disciples had thought that their Master would not suffer Him-
self to be taken.... They were disappointed and indignant as they saw
the cords brought forward to bind the hands of Him whom they loved.
Peter in his anger rashly drew his sword and ... cut off an ear of the
high priest’s servant. When Jesus saw what was done, He released His
hands, ... and saying, “Suffer ye thus far,” He touched the wounded
ear, and it was instantly made whole. He then said to Peter, “Put up
again thy sword into his place: ... Thinkest thou that I cannot now
pray to My Father, and He shall presently give Me more than twelve
legions of angels?”—
The Desire of Ages, 696
.
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 [the mob] to lead Him
away.—
Spiritual Gifts 1:48
.