CHAPTER V.

_THE AGONY AND BETRAYAL――PETER’S DENIAL._ A.D. 30.

THE road, which the Redeemer and His Apostles now traversed, led across the Kidron, and thence to a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives, which from the produce of the adjacent hills was called Gethsemane[498], or _the oil-press_[499], and was a spot to which He often resorted with His disciples (Jn. xviii. 2).

On reaching this garden, the Holy One left the greater number of His Apostles at the outskirts (Mtt. xxvi. 36), while with three chosen witnesses[500], Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He Himself advanced further into the shadow of the overhanging olives. Here He began to be _sore amazed_ (Mk. xiv. 33) and _very heavy_ (Mtt. xxvi. 37; Mk. xiv. 33), and His _soul exceeding sorrowful even unto death_, and as a last request He begged them to watch, while He proceeded about a _stone’s throw further_ (Lk. xxii. 41) and engaged in solitary prayer. And now had come the hour for the last and most terrible assault of the Prince of Darkness (Comp. Lk. iv. 13). Kneeling down (Lk. xxii. 41), and falling forward on the earth (Mk. xiv. 35), He twice prayed that, _if it were possible_, the cup of suffering might pass from Him, and as often with infinite resignation added, _Not as I will, but as Thou wilt_ (Mtt. xxvi. 39). Soon the conflict deepened in intensity, and being in an “agony” He prayed _yet more earnestly_, while drops of bloody sweat fell from Him, and testified to the terrible nature of His sufferings (Lk. xxii. 44). Twice, as if to assure Himself of their sympathy and watchfulness, He came to the three Apostles, who had promised so eagerly even to die with Him, and twice He found them sleeping (Mtt. xxvi. 40, 43). The first time He awoke them, saying to Simon, _Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation_ (Mk. xiv. 37, 38). But on the second occasion He uttered not a word. Alone He retired to renew once more the conflict, and to offer for the third time the prayer of mingled entreaty and resignation to His Father in heaven; and then, having been strengthened by an angelic being, He for the third time revisited the Apostles to find them still sleeping. On this occasion, however, He awoke them, and with words of sorrowful expostulation told them that the golden opportunity for watching and prayer was over: _Rise_, said He, _let us be going; behold he that betrayeth Me is at hand_ (Mtt. xxvi. 46; Mk. xiv. 42).

He had scarcely spoken, when the Garden was filled with armed men, and flashed with the light of numerous lanterns and torches[501]. At the head of a portion of the Roman cohort[502] with its captain (Jn. xviii. 12) in attendance on the procurator (Jn. xviii. 3), and of the Levitical guards of the Temple, attendants and apparitors of the Sanhedrin, the traitor[503] approached. Advancing he saluted his Master with a kiss, the signal which had been agreed upon, and received the reproachful reply, _Friend, wherefore art thou come? betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?_ (Mtt. xxvi. 50; Lk. xxii. 48). Having thus rebuked the traitor, the Lord proceeded towards the entrance of the garden[504] (Jn. xviii. 4), and meeting the soldiers and officers enquired whom they sought. They replied, _Jesus of Nazareth_. _I am He_, answered the Holy One, and immediately, awed by His calm majesty and the sudden appearance of One whose name had so long had for them a mysterious significance, they recoiled backwards and _fell to the ground_ (Jn. xviii. 6)[505]. _Whom seek ye?_ the Redeemer again enquired, and when they answered as before, again declared that He was the object of their search, and covenanting only for the safe dismissal of His followers, freely surrendered Himself into their hands (Jn. xviii. 7–9).

But one of His followers was not minded to yield thus willingly. Drawing his sword the impetuous son of Jonas cut off the ear of Malchus, a servant of the high-priest. The soldiers were just on the point of laying hands on the Holy One, and taking Him into custody, but seeing what His Apostle had done, He said to them, _Suffer ye thus far_, and touching the ear of the wounded man restored it whole as before (Lk.