Entering the garden
of Gethsemane, Jesus Christ said to His disciples, "Sit here while
I go yonder and pray." Taking with Him Peter, James, and John, He went
deep into the garden, and He began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then, He said
to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here and watch
with Me." And going a little farther, he fell on
His face and prayed, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from
Me; nevertheless, not as I will but as Thou
wilt."
Having prayed thus, Jesus Christ
returned to the three disciples and found them sleeping. He said to them, "So you could not watch with me one
hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation." Again, for
the second time, He went away and prayed. And again He came and found them
sleeping, for their eyes were heavy, and they did not know what to answer Him.
So, leaving them again, He went away and prayed
for the third time saying the same words. And there appeared to Him an angel
from Heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly,
and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling from His brow to the
ground.
And when He rose from prayer, He came to the
disciples and said, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is
enough; the hour has come; the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of
sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand."
While He was still speaking, Judas, the betrayer,
came with a great crowd with lanterns, and torches, and weapons. It was a band
of soldiers and some officers sent by the chief priests and Pharisees to seize
Jesus Christ. Judas spoke with them, "The One I shall kiss is the man;
seize Him."
He came up to Jesus at once and said, "Hail,
Master!" And he kissed Him.
Jesus Christ said to Him, "Friend, why are
you here? Would you betray the Son of man with a kiss?" These words of the
Saviour were for Judas the last appeal to repentance.
Then, Jesus Christ knowing all that was to befall
Him came forward to the throng and said to them, "Whom do you seek?"
From the crowd they answered, "Jesus of
Nazareth."
The Saviour answered, "It is I."
From these words, the soldiers and officers drew
back and fell to the ground. When they had recovered from fear and rose, they
tried in confusion to seize the disciples of Christ.
The Saviour again said, "Whom do you
seek?"
They said, "Jesus of Nazareth."
"I told you that I am He," answered the
Saviour. "So, if you seek Me, let those men
go."
So the band of soldiers and the officers seized
and bound Jesus Christ. The apostles wanted to defend their Teacher. Peter
having a sword drew it, and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his
right ear.
But Jesus Christ said to Peter, "Put your
sword into its sheath, for all who take the sword shall perish by the sword. Do
you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once send me more
than twelve legions of angels? How then should the Scriptures be fulfilled,
that it must be so? Shall I not drink the cup (of suffering) which the Father
has given Me (for the salvation of people)?"
Having said this, Jesus Christ touched the ear of
Malchus, the wounded servant, healed him, and voluntarily gave Himself into the
hands of His enemies.
In the crowd of hired soldiers, there were also
chief priests, and captains of the Temple, and elders of the Jews. Jesus Christ turning to them
said, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When
I was with you day after day in the Temple, you did not lay hands on Me. But
this is your hour and the power of darkness."
The soldiers, who had seized the Saviour, led Him
to the high priest. Then, the apostles forsook the Saviour and fled in fear.
Only two of them, John and Peter, followed Him at a distance.
Note: See
the Gospels of Matthew 26:36-56; Mark 14:32-52; Luke 22:40-53; John 18:1-12.
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