the desire of ages-第148节

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that　spoke　from　the　cloud。　Now　that　same　glory　was　again　revealed；　and　they　had　no　further　fear　for　their　Master。　He　was　under　the　care　of　God；　a　mighty　angel　had　been　sent　to　protect　Him。　Again　the　disciples　in　their　weariness　yield　to　the　strange　stupor　that　overpowers　them。　Again　Jesus　finds　them　sleeping。

Looking　sorrowfully　upon　them　He　says；　〃Sleep　on　now；　and　take　your　rest：　behold；　the　hour　is　at　hand；　and　the　Son　of　man　is　betrayed　into　the　hands　of　sinners。〃

Even　as　He　spoke　these　words；　He　heard　the　footsteps　of　the　mob　in　search　of　Him；　and　said；　〃Rise；　let　us　be　going：　behold；　he　is　at　hand　that　doth　betray　Me。〃

No　traces　of　His　recent　agony　were　visible　as　Jesus　stepped　forth　to　meet　His　betrayer。　Standing　in　advance　of　His　disciples　He　said；　〃Whom　seek　ye？〃　They　answered；　〃Jesus　of　Nazareth。〃　Jesus　replied；　〃I　am　He。〃　As　these　words　were　spoken；　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。

The　angel　withdrew；　and　the　light　faded　away。　Jesus　had　opportunity　to　escape；　but　He　remained；　calm　and　self…possessed。　As　one　glorified　He　stood　in　the　midst　of　that　hardened　band；　now　prostrate　and　helpless　at　His　feet。　The　disciples　looked　on；　silent　with　wonder　and　awe。

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But　quickly　the　scene　changed。　The　mob　started　up。　The　Roman　soldiers；　the　priests　and　Judas；　gathered　about　Christ。　They　seemed　ashamed　of　their　weakness；　and　fearful　that　He　would　yet　escape。　Again　the　question　was　asked　by　the　Redeemer；　〃Whom　seek　ye？〃　They　had　had　evidence　that　He　who　stood　before　them　was　the　Son　of　God；　but　they　would　not　be　convinced。　To　the　question；　〃Whom　seek　ye？〃　again　they　answered；　〃Jesus　of　Nazareth。〃　The　Saviour　then　said；　〃I　have　told　you　that　I　am　He：　if　therefore　ye　seek　Me；　let　these　go　their　way〃pointing　to　the　disciples。　He　knew　how　weak　was　their　faith；　and　He　sought　to　shield　them　from　temptation　and　trial。　For　them　He　was　ready　to　sacrifice　Himself。

Judas　the　betrayer　did　not　forget　the　part　he　was　to　act。　When　the　mob　entered　the　garden；　he　had　led　the　way；　closely　followed　by　the　high　priest。　To　the　pursuers　of　Jesus　he　had　given　a　sign；　saying；　〃Whomsoever　I　shall　kiss；　that　same　is　He：　hold　Him　fast。〃　Matt。　26：48。　Now　he　pretends　to　have　no　part　with　them。　Coming　close　to

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Jesus；　he　takes　His　hand　as　a　familiar　friend。　With　the　words；　〃Hail；　Master；〃　he　kisses　Him　repeatedly；　and　appears　to　weep　as　if　in　sympathy　with　Him　in　His　peril。

Jesus　said　to　him；　〃Friend；　wherefore　art　thou　come？〃　His　voice　trembled　with　sorrow　as　He　added；　〃Judas；　betrayest　thou　the　Son　of　man　with　a　kiss？〃　This　appeal　should　have　aroused　the　conscience　of　the　betrayer；　and　touched　his　stubborn　heart；　but　honor；　fidelity；　and　human　tenderness　had　forsaken　him。　He　stood　bold　and　defiant；　showing　no　disposition　to　relent。　He　had　given　himself　up　to　Satan；　and　he　had　no　power　to　resist　him。　Jesus　did　not　refuse　the　traitor's　kiss。

The　mob　grew　bold　as　they　saw　Judas　touch　the　person　of　Him　who　had　so　recently　been　glorified　before　their　eyes。　They　now　laid　hold　of　Jesus；　and　proceeded　to　bind　those　precious　hands　that　had　ever　been　employed　in　doing　good。

The　disciples　had　thought　that　their　Master　would　not　suffer　Himself　to　be　taken。　For　the　same　power　that　had　caused　the　mob　to　fall　as　dead　men　could　keep　them　helpless；　until　Jesus　and　His　companions　should　escape。　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　tried　to　defend　his　Master；　but　he　only　cut　off　an　ear　of　the　high　priest's　servant。　When　Jesus　saw　what　was　done；　He　released　His　hands；　though　held　firmly　by　the　Roman　soldiers；　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：　for　all　they　that　take　the　sword　shall　perish　with　the　sword。　Thinkest　thou　that　I　cannot　now　pray　to　My　Father；　and　He　shall　presently　give　Me　more　than　twelve　legions　of　angels？〃a　legion　in　place　of　each　one　of　the　disciples。　Oh；　why；　the　disciples　thought；　does　He　not　save　Himself　and　us？　Answering　their　unspoken　thought；　He　added；　〃But　how　then　shall　the　scriptures　be　fulfilled；　that　thus　it　must　be？〃　〃The　cup　which　My　Father　hath　given　Me；　shall　I　not　drink　it？〃

The　official　dignity　of　the　Jewish　leaders　had　not　prevented　them　from　joining　in　the　pursuit　of　Jesus。　His　arrest　was　too　important　a　matter　to　be　trusted　to　subordinates；　the　wily　priests　and　elders　had　joined　the　temple　police　and　the　rabble　in　following　Judas　to　Gethsemane。　What　a　company　for　those　dignitaries　to　unite　witha　mob　that　was　eager　for　excitement；　and　armed　with　all　kinds　of　implements；　as　if　in　pursuit　of　a　wild　beast！

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Turning　to　the　priests　and　elders；　Christ　fixed　upon　them　His　searching　glance。　The　words　He　spoke　they　would　never　forget　as　long　as　life　should　last。　They　were　as　the　sharp　arrows　of　the　Almighty。　With　dignity　He　said：　You　come　out　against　Me　with　swords　and　staves　as　you　would　against　a　thief　or　a　robber。　Day　by　day　I　sat　teaching　in　the　temple。　You　had　every　opportunity　of　laying　hands　upon　Me；　and　you　did　nothing。　The　night　is　better　suited　to　your　work。　〃This　is　your　hour；　and　the　power　of　darkness。〃

The　disciples　were　terrified　as　they　saw　Jesus　permit　Himself　to　be　taken　and　bound。　They　were　offended　that　He　should　suffer　this　humiliation　to　Himself　and　them。　They　could　not　understand　His　conduct；　and　they　blamed　Him　for　submitting　to　the　mob。　In　their　indignation　and　fear；　Peter　proposed　that　they　save　themselves。　Following　this　suggestion；　〃they　all　forsook　Him；　and　fled。〃　But　Christ　had　foretold　this　desertion；　〃Behold；〃　He　had　said；　〃the　hour　cometh；　yea；　is　now　come；　that　ye　shall　be　scattered；　every　man　to　his　own；　and　shall　leave　Me　alone：　and　yet　I　am　not　alone；　because　the　Father　is　with　Me。〃　John　16：32。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　75

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Before　Annas　and　the　Court　of　Caiaphas


Over　the　brook　Kedron；　past　gardens　and　olive　groves；　and　through　the　hushed　streets　of　the　sleeping　city；　they　hurried　Jesus。　It　was　past　midnight；　and　the　cries　of　the　hooting　mob　that　followed　Him　broke　sharply　upon　the　still　air。　The　Saviour　was　bound　and　closely　guarded；　and　He　moved　painfully。　But　in　eager　haste　His　captors　made　their　way　with　Him　to　the　palace　of　Annas；　the　ex…high　priest。

Annas　was　the　head　of　the　officiating　priestly　family；　and　in　deference　to　his　age　he　was　recognized　by　the　people　as　high　priest。　His　counsel　was　sought　and　carried　out　as　the　voice　of　God。　He　must　first　see　Jesus　a　captive　to　priestly　power。　He　must　be　present　at　the　examination　of　the　prisoner；　for　fear　that　the　less…experienced　Caiaphas　might　fail　of　securing　the　object　for　which　they　were　working。　His　artifice；　cunning；　and　subtlety　must　be　used　on　this　occasion；　for；　at　all　events；　Christ's　condemnation　must　be　secured。

Christ　was　to　be　tried　formally　before　the　Sanhedrin；　but　before　Annas　He　was　subjected　to　a　preliminary　trial。　Under　the　Roman　rule　the　Sanhedrin　could　not　execute　the　sentence　of　death。　They　could　only　examine　a　prisoner；　and　pass　judgment；　to　be　ratified　by　the　Roman　authorities。　It　was　therefore　necessary　to　bring　against　Christ　charges

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that　would　be　regarded　as　criminal　by　the　Romans。　An　accusation　must　also　be　found　which　would　condemn　Him　in　the　eyes　of　the　Jews。　Not　a　few　among　the　priests　and　rulers　had　been　convicted　by　Christ's　teaching；　and　only　fear　of　excommunication　prevented　them　from　confessing　Him。　The　priests　well　remembered　the　question　of　Nicodemus；　〃Doth　our　law　judge　any　man；　before　it　hear　him；　and　know　what　he　doeth？〃　John　7：51。　This　question　had　for　the　time　broken　up　the　council；　and　thwarted　their　plans。　Joseph　of　Arimathaea　and　Nicodemus　were　not　now　to　be　summoned；　but　there　were　others　who　might　dare　to　speak　in　favor　of　justice。　The　trial　must　be　so　conducted　as　to　unite　the　members　of　the　Sanhedrin　against　Christ。　There　were　two　charges　which　the　priests　desired　to　maintain。　If　Jesus　could　be　proved　a　blasphemer；　He　would　be　condemned　by　the　Jews。　If　convicted　of　sedition；　it　would　secure　His　condemnation　by　the　Romans。　The　second　charge　Annas　tried　first　to　establish。　He　questioned　Jesus　concerning　His　disciples　and　His　doctrines；　hoping　the　prisoner　would　say　something　that　would　give　him　material　upon　which　to　work。　He　thought　to　draw　out　some　statement　to　prove　that　He　was　seeking　to　establish　a　secret　society；　with　the　purpose　of　setting　up　a　new　kingdom。　Then　the　priests　could　deliver　Him　to　the　Romans　as　a　disturber　of　the　peace　and　a　creator　of　insurrection。

Christ　read　the　priest's　purpose　as　an　open　book。　As　if　read