Jesus Is Seized By The Mob


When Jesus and his disciples came to a certain place called Gethsemane,

he said to them, "Sit here while I pray"; but he took with him Peter and

James and John. And as he suffered greatly from deep sorrow, he said to

them, "My heart is heavy with sadness. Stay here and watch." Then he

went forward a short distance and threw himself on the ground and prayed

that if possible he might be spared this agony, saying, "Father, with
br /> thee all things are possible. Take away this cup of agony from me. Yet

not my will, but thy will be done."



When he came back, he found his disciples asleep; and he said to Peter,

"Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch for one hour? Watch and pray

that you may overcome temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the

body is weak." Again he went away and prayed the same prayer. And when

he returned, again he found them asleep, for they were very drowsy; and

they did not know what to say to him. Then he came the third time and

said to them, "Sleep on now and take your rest. It is enough; the hour

has come; already the Son of Man has been betrayed into the hands of

wicked men. Rise, let us go; for here is the one who has betrayed me."



While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came up,

followed by a mob with swords and clubs, who had come from the high

priests and the scribes and the elders. Judas had arranged a signal: "He

whom I shall kiss," he said, "is the man. Take him, and lead him away

without letting him escape." As soon as he came, he went up to Jesus,

saying, "Master," and kissed him. Then they seized Jesus and took him;

but one of those who were with him drew his sword, and, striking the

servant of the high priest, cut off his ear. Jesus turned and said,

"Have you come out with swords and clubs to seize me as you would a

robber? Day after day I have been with you teaching in the Temple, yet

you never seized me."



Then Jesus' disciples left him and fled. One young man, however,

followed him with only a linen sheet thrown about him; but when the men

tried to seize him, he left the linen sheet and fled away naked.



The mob led Jesus away and brought him to the house of the high priest.

Peter followed at a distance, and when they had kindled a fire in the

middle of the courtyard and sat down together, he too sat down among

them. A certain maid, seeing him there by the firelight, looked at him

closely and said, "This man also was with him." But he denied it,

saying, "Woman, I do not know him." After a little while another person

who saw Peter said, "You too are one of them"; but he said, "Man, I am

not."



About an hour later another man said, "Certainly this fellow also was

with Jesus, for he is a Galilean." But Peter said, "Man, I do not know

what you are talking about." Immediately while he was still speaking,

the cock crowed. And Jesus turned and looked straight at Peter. Then

Peter remembered how the Lord had said to him, "Before the cock crows

to-day you will deny me three times." And Peter went out and wept

bitterly.



More

;