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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