Walks and Words of Jesus Part 31

And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.

And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. And he cometh the third time to his disciples, and saith unto them,

Sleep on now, and take _your_ rest: it is enough: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

And when he rose up from prayer and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, and said unto them,

Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. Judas then, having received a band _of men_ and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns, and torches and weapons.

And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great mult.i.tude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders of the people.

Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them,

Whom seek ye?

They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them,

I am _he_.

And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am _he_, they went backward, and fell to the ground. Then asked he them again,

Whom seek ye?

And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered,

I have told you that I am _he_: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way.

That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake. Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

CHAPTER LXIX.

BETRAYAL OF JESUS--BROUGHT BEFORE THE HIGH PRIEST.

Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast, and lead _him_ away safely. And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him: and saith, Hail, Master, Master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him,

Friend, wherefore art thou come? Betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?

Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

When they, which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? And one of them that stood by (Simon Peter) with Jesus stretched out _his_ hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and cut off his right ear.

The servant's name was Malchus. And Jesus answered and said,

Suffer ye thus far.

And he touched his ear and healed him. Then said Jesus unto Peter,

Put up thy sword into the sheath: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

In that same hour, Jesus said unto the chief priests and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him,

Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves for to take me? When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about _his_ naked _body_; and the young men laid hold on him: and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.

Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus and bound him, and led him away to Annas first; for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year. Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. And they that had laid hold on Jesus led _him_ away to Caiaphas the high priest, and brought him into the high priest's house.

And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and _so did_ another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.

The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.

Jesus answered him,

I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort: and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.

And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? Jesus answered him,

If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?

Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest. And with him were a.s.sembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes. And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest.

And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among the servants, and warmed himself at the fire, to see the end.

CHAPTER LXX.

JESUS EXAMINED BY THE SANHEDRIM--PETER DENIES HIM.

Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; but found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, _yet_ found they none: their witness agreed not together. At the last came two false witnesses, and bare false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I am able to destroy the temple of G.o.d, that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. But neither so did their witness agree together.

And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what _is it which_ these witness against thee?

But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living G.o.d, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of G.o.d, the Son of the Blessed?

Jesus saith unto him,

Thou hast said: nevertheless say I unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.

And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote _him_. And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and others smote _him_ with the palms of their hands, saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee? And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.

And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest: (the damsel that kept the door;) and when she saw Peter, as he sat by the fire, warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. Art thou not also _one_ of this man's disciples?