_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.
xxii. 51); then rebuking the disciple for his over-hasty zeal, and
protesting[506] meekly against the mode in which He had been arrested
by His captors, He allowed Himself to be bound and led towards the city;
for it was their _hour and the power of darkness_ (Lk. xxii. 53).
On the part of the Apostles all was now terror and confusion. Though
they had all promised to die with Him, they now forsook their Master
and fled (Mtt. xxvi. 56; Mk. xiv. 50). Their last hope of a temporal
kingdom of the Messiah had crumbled to pieces[507].
Meanwhile the Roman guard and the officers (Jn. xviii. 12) led the
Saviour over the Kidron, and up the road leading into the city, and
either at the suggestion of some of the ruling powers, or in accordance
with previous concert, conducted Him to the palace of Annas[508],
who as the father-in-law of Caiaphas, and as an able and experienced
counsellor, had great influence with the nation.
It is not improbable that both Annas and his son-in-law occupied[509] a
common official residence, and that before it or within the outer porch
was a large square open court, in which public business was transacted.
Into this court[510] or hall the Redeemer was led, and thither two of
the Apostles, John and Peter (Jn. xviii. 15), recovering from their
first alarm, ventured to follow. The former, as being acquainted with
the high-priest[511], easily obtained admittance into the hall, but
Peter appears to have been at first rejected by the porteress. After a
while John missed his companion, and going back spake to the porteress,
who thereupon immediately allowed him to enter (Jn. xviii. 16).
The night was chilly, and the servants having made a fire of charcoal
in the centre of the court, were warming themselves before it (Jn.
xviii. 18; Mk. xiv. 54), and thither Peter pressed forwards, anxious
to _see the end_ (Mtt. xxvi. 58). As he sat there, the porteress,
whose suspicions appear to have been aroused, approached the group, and
fixing her eye steadfastly upon him (Lk. xxii. 56) said, _Surely thou
art one of this Man’s disciples_. Thrown off his guard, and perhaps
disconcerted by the searching glances of the bystanders, the Apostle
replied at first evasively[512], _I know not what thou sayest_ (Mtt.
xxvi. 70; Mk. xiv. 68), and then more strongly, _I know Him not_ (Lk.
xxii. 57; Jn. xviii. 17).
Thus silenced the maid withdrew, and after a brief delay the Apostle,
anxious probably for a favourable opportunity of retiring, went back
towards the porch (Mtt. xxvi. 71; Mk. xiv. 68). But here another maid
approached and said to the bystanders, _This fellow was also with Jesus
of Nazareth_ (Mtt. xxvi. 71). Thus a second time assailed, and not
knowing what might happen, his faith again failed him, and with an oath
he declared _I know not the Man_ (Mtt. xxvi. 72); _and the cock crew_.
While this sad scene of moral cowardice was going on, Annas began to
put several questions to the Saviour respecting His disciples and His
doctrine (Jn. xviii. 19). Thus interrogated, the Redeemer appealed to
the publicity of His teaching, and referred His enquirer to His hearers,
whom he had so often addressed in the wonted places of resort, the
synagogue and the Temple (Jn. xvii. 20, 21): He had no secret doctrines,
and no secret society of dependants[513] for purposes either of tumult
or sedition. This reply was the signal for the first beginning of a
dreadful scene of insult and violence. An officer of the high-priest
struck Him on the mouth, saying, _Answerest thou the high-priest so_?
_If I have spoken ill, bear witness of the ill_, meekly replied the
Holy One, _but if well, why smitest thou me_? (Jn. xviii. 22–24).
The day was now rapidly dawning, and the Sanhedrin, which had been
hastily summoned, had begun to assemble. Annas therefore sent the
Saviour, who was still in bonds, to the official judgment-hall of
Caiaphas (Jn. xviii. 24), and it was not improbably as He was crossing
the court[514], that He _turned and looked upon_ the Apostle, who now
for the third time denied that he had ever known Him. Recognised at
the porch, Peter, it would seem, had returned again to the fire, and
there mingling with the group of soldiers and servants (Jn. xviii. 25),
conversed with them freely in his rough uncouth Galilæan dialect[515].
This excited suspicion, and an hour had scarcely elapsed (Lk. xxii. 59)
before certain of the bystanders began to express their opinions.
_Surely_, said one, _this fellow was one of them. Thou art a Galilæan_,
said another (Mk. xiv. 70). _Thy speech bewrayeth thee_, added a third
(Mtt. xxvi. 73). _Did I not see thee in the garden with Him?_ broke in
a fourth, a kinsman of the servant whose ear the Apostle had cut off
(Jn. xviii. 26). Thus attacked on all sides he fell deeper still. With
oaths and curses (Mtt. xxvi. 74; Mk. xiv. 71) he declared, _I know not
the Man_, and for the second time the cock crew (Mk. xiv. 72). It was
this base denial that the Holy One now overheard. _Turning round He
looked upon Peter_ (Lk. xxii. 61). The remembrance of all that He had
said rushed to the Apostle’s recollection. He could not linger a moment
in that Presence. His faith indeed had not _utterly[516] failed_, but
Satan had _sifted him as wheat_. _He went forth and wept bitterly_
(Mtt. xxvi. 75; Lk. xxii. 62)[517].