ON THE EXTERNAL SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE. The accounts given by the four Evangelists, (Matt. xxvi. 47. 56. Mark xiv. 43, 52. Luke xxii. 47, 53. John xviii. 3, 12.) connected and harmo nised. 'AND while he yet spake, behold, he that was called Judas, one of the Twelve, having received a band, of men and officers from the chief Priests and Pharisees, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, lanterns and torches, from the chief Priests, the Scribes, and the Elders of the people; and he went before them. Now he that betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, the same is he, take him, and lead him away safely. 'As soon as Judas was come, he goeth forthwith to Jesus, and said, 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? 'Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Na zareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, who betrayed him, stood with them. As soon as Jesus 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 those whom thou has given me, have I lost none. 'Then came they and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. When they, who were with him, saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? And behold, one of them who were with Jesus, namely, Simon Peter, having a sword, stretched out his hand, and drew it, and smote a servant of the High Priest, and cut off his right ear: the servant's name was Malchus. But 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 not I 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 sayeth thus it must be. 'Then the band, and the captain, and the officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him. And Jesus said unto the chief Priests and Captains of the temple, and the elders who were come to him, Are ye come out as against a thief, with swords and staves to take me? I was daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye took me not: But this is your hour, and the power of darkness; and 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.' THE PREPARATORY PRAYER. O Saviour and Redeemer of mankind, thou who not only dost plead our cause before the throne of Divine Justice, and for our sins, wert by thy Father afflicted, chastised, and tormented; but also didst suffer thyself to be delivered into the merciless hands of cruel men, to be dragged and bound like a felon, to be buffeted, mocked, and spurned. Enlighten our eyes, that in thy external sufferings also we may so contemplate the wonders of thy love, thy patience and tenderness, that we may acknowledge thee the immaculate Lamb of God, that bearest our iniquities, lay hold of thy merit by faith, and be disposed cheerfully to tread in thy blessed steps in all outward sufferings. Amen. CONSIDERATION I. THE COMING OF THE ENEMIES OF CHRIST TO APPREHEND HIM. ' AND while he yet spake, behold he that was called Judas, one of the Twelve, having received a band of men and officers from the chief Priests and Pharisees, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, lanterns and torches, from the chief Priests and the Scribes, and the Elders of the people; and he went before them. Now he that betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, the same is he, take him, and lead him away safely.' (Matth. xxvi. 47, 48. Mark xiv. 43, 44. Luke xxii. 47. John xviii. 3.) These words describe the coming of Christ's enemies to apprehend him; in which we have an ac count given, First, Of their leader, or guide. Thirdly, The equipage and instruments the multitude made use of for executing their purpose. I. As to the leader of Christ's enemies, it is said, 'While he yet spake, behold, he that was called Judas, one of the Twelve, came.' The coming of the traitor is thus connected with the preceding words, in which Christ had warned his disciples against sleep, and, among other motives to vigilance, had made use of this, Lo! he who betrayeth me is at hand.' Matt. xxvi. 45, 46. As our blessed Lord had foretold, so it fell out. No sooner were the words come from the sacred lips of this great Prophet, than the enemies came on at a distance. How must the drowsy disciples have started out of their sleep, when after so many kind warnings, they were so suddenly surprised. But the ring-leader of them is some-. thing more particularly described, and 1. By the high-office, which he then bore: He was one of the Twelve ;' and consequently no common disciple, but an apostle of Jesus Christ; who had conversed with this his innocent Lord and Master above three years; had heard his gracious salutary words; had seen his surprising miracles; and had even preached the gospel to others. This man had gradually suffered selfishness and avarice to take such an entire possession of him, that he went over to our blessed Lord's enemies, and of an apostle became a base perfidious betrayer of the Son of Man. To denote this dreadful fall St. Matthew and St. Luke introduce the narrative of this circumstance with a note of admiration, frequently used by the holy penmen, Lo! Behold! Thus was fulfilled the prophecy in the Psalms, Mine own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who did eat of my bread, hath lift up his head against me.' (Psalm. xli. 9.) 2. By his name, Judas; or as St. Luke expresses it, he that was called Judas.' But nothing could be more opposite to the signification of his name than His black perfidy; for he was not a confessor, but a denier and betrayer of Jesus Christ. Thus the idols are termed gods, (1 Cor. viii. 5.) who in reality are no gods. 3. By the place which he assumed among the band I of our Saviour's enemies. He went before them;' and consequently had placed himself at the head of the armed multitude: But we may reasonably suppose that he was some paces before the rest, that it might not look as if he came thither in concert with the enemy. Hence he is called 'the guide (Acts i. 16.) to them that took Jesus.' 4. By the sign he makes use of. He that betrayed him [the betrayer] had given them a sign. Here the right appellation is given him; for he was no confessor of Christ, as his name Judas imports, but a traitor, who, in consideration of the pieces of silver he had received of the chief priests, had engaged to deliver into their hands the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Now as the Roman soldiers, who were to seize the blessed Jesus, did not know him personally, proper care was taken that they should not mistake the person they were to apprehend, and instead of the master lay hold of one of the disciples: The traitor had therefore concerted with them, that he would point out the person of Christ by a certain sign; and for this treacherous sign he made choice of a kiss, which is a sign or symbol of love and friendship, and was used among the Orientals as a form of salutation be tween friends when they met. But besides the sign itself, he had also given them the key of it, and toid them whomsoever I shall kiss is he' whom you seek. Lastly, he had given them proper advice, Take him and lead him away safely.' As if he had said, All my business is to deliver him up to you; if you suffer him to escape, the blame must lie at your door: I have done my part, and will not return any of the money, which I have so well deserved. |