The disciples could hardly believe their ears.
"One of us--betray you?" asked Peter. They looked at each other.
"One of you at this table will betray me, but woe to him who does this deed!" declared Jesus.
"Is it I?" asked James. He seemed to doubt even himself.
John leaned back to Jesus. "Tell us who it is, Master."
"It is not I, is it, Rabbi?" urged Judas.
Jesus turned to him. "Are you sure it is not you?" He looked accusingly at Judas. Then Jesus said sternly, "Whatever you are planning to do--do it quickly!" Judas left the room immediately.
"He must be going out to pay for the food," remarked Andrew.
"Master, I don"t care what the others may do; I will stay with you!"
declared Peter.
Jesus looked at him sadly: "Peter, you are going to face a terrible test, but I have asked G.o.d to help you. You must help the others."
"Master," repeated Peter, eager to convince himself that he was not afraid, "I swear that I will do anything for you. I am ready even to die for you!"
Jesus shook his head. "You have promised more than you can do. Before the c.o.c.k crows at dawn you will deny three times that you ever knew me!"
When the men had finished eating the meat, Jesus picked up a piece of the unleavened bread and held it in his hands. "I have looked forward to eating this Pa.s.sover meal with you before my suffering begins." He raised his eyes. "Heavenly Father, I thank thee that thou hast shown mercy and love to thy children. I thank thee that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and revealed them to babes."
Then Jesus broke the bread and gave the pieces to the disciples, saying: "Take this bread. It is my body; I am the Bread of Life. If you believe in me, you already have eternal life. Just as I have broken this bread, my body will be broken when I suffer for you. Every time you break bread, therefore, remember what I have done for you."
The men were not sure that they understood all that Jesus meant, but they knew they were somehow sharing the life of their Master as they took the bread and ate it. Then Jesus took the large cup of wine and water in his hand. "This cup of wine stands for a promise of salvation: take it and drink the wine, every one of you. This wine is my lifeblood, which I give that you may have eternal life. Whenever you drink it, remember my promise to you." Jesus handed the cup to John, who was reclining next to him. John sipped from it and pa.s.sed it on. Reverently each man drank from the cup. Jesus put it on the table and arose from his couch. The group stood and chanted together a psalm of thanksgiving:
"I love the Lord, because he heareth My voice and my supplications.
Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, Therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
The cords of death entangled me, And the pains of h.e.l.l laid hold on me: I found trouble and sorrow.
Then called I upon the name of the Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.
Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yea, our G.o.d is merciful.
The Lord saveth the simple; I was discouraged, and he saved me.
Return unto thy rest, O my soul; For the Lord hath blessed thee greatly."
"Come! Follow me!" Abruptly Jesus walked from the room, down the stairs, and into the dark street. The moon had just risen; it hung low over the Hill of Olives, blood-red in a black sky, giving almost no light. Jesus walked swiftly toward the city gate. The disciples glanced up and down each street they crossed, alert for any sign of soldiers.
It did not take them long to reach the foot of the Hill of Olives. Jesus did not go to their usual resting place. Instead, he led the eleven men toward his place of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. They were panting for breath when Jesus entered a narrow gate through the stone wall that Judas had climbed over the night before.
The Garden was dark. Among the dense trees the moon could not be seen at all. During the week, the men had slept under clear skies; but now there was a damp chill that threatened a storm on the morrow. When Jesus stopped, his followers sank wearily on the ground.
"Wait here for me while I pray," said Jesus. A note of distress had crept into his voice. He turned to Peter, James, and John. "Come with me." They groped their way through the woods, their hands before them.
Jesus stopped. "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Wait here and pray for me." The men had never known Jesus to be like this before; he was almost appealing to them for help. A short distance away Jesus knelt on the ground. The hard day, the meal, and the walk up the hill had made the fishermen drowsy, but they heard Jesus praying very earnestly. "O Father, thou canst do all things! If it be possible, spare me this suffering. Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." They heard his voice no more.
Peter did not know how long he had slept when he was awakened by Jesus"
shaking his shoulder. "Simon Peter! Are you sleeping? Couldn"t you stay awake and pray with me even one hour?" James and John roused themselves.
"Stay awake, all of you. Pray that you will not fail me now when I need you most! I know you want to be my true friends--but you have not the strength!"
Hard as the three men tried, they could not stay awake. Twice more Jesus came and aroused them. The last time Peter awoke the moon was high, but was almost hidden behind a cloud. He could make out the faint outline of the figure of Jesus standing beside him. A chilly wind had sprung up and rattled the leaves. The night wind carried a warning Peter could not understand. James and John slept heavily.
"Still resting?" said Jesus. The two men stirred and looked at Jesus, greatly ashamed. "Come! Get up! The hour has come when the Son of Man is to be betrayed into the hands of sinful men!" Through the black woods rang the sound of a sword clanging against a steel shin guard. Peter leaped to his feet. "James! John!"
Through the gnarled trees the men saw a sight that struck terror into their hearts: led by Roman soldiers, a mob carrying torches was advancing toward them. The yellow flames whipped in the wind and cast hideous twisting shadows as they came nearer the Garden.
"They must know we are here!" whispered James. "Come on! Let"s get out of here!" The two fishermen fled into the darkness.
Torchlight glinted on spears and helmets. There was no sign of the other eight disciples. Peter stood rooted to the spot from which he had risen.
Jesus watched calmly. Some in the noisy crowd carried clubs. The light from the flares struck through the trees and fell full on Jesus" face.
"There he is!" The cry echoed in the Garden. A wall of smoking torches and gleaming swords and shields closed around Peter and Jesus. There was no escape now.
A Roman soldier stepped forward. "Hold up that torch!" he commanded his aide. In the wavering light he peered into the faces of Peter and Jesus.
Another figure stepped from the group.
"Judas!" Peter was stunned.
"Hail, Master!" said Judas. Then very deliberately, as though forcing himself, he kissed Jesus.
"Do you betray me with a kiss, Judas?" asked Jesus, sadly. The traitor could not bear the voice of the man he had once called his Master; he turned and rushed out of the circle of Jews and soldiers. Peter never saw him again.
The captain gave a sharp command, and several soldiers stepped toward Jesus. The group of men broke into angry shouts. Jesus" stern voice rang through the clamor. "Why do you come to arrest me with swords and clubs as though I were a robber? Day after day I was in the Temple teaching--you never tried to arrest me there!"
For an instant the torches ceased waving. Then the mob surged all the more angrily upon Peter and Jesus. Peter s.n.a.t.c.hed his short sword from his belt and struck a wild blow. A man cried out sharply. The captain shouted a command: soldiers pushed through the rabble and seized Jesus.
A burly soldier knocked Peter backward; he fell heavily and lay still.
When Peter came to his senses, he was breathing hard. He had no idea how long he had been stretched on the ground half stunned. He lifted himself on one elbow. Torches were moving down the road. The sound of the mob was faint in his ears.
For the first time Peter realized that he was alone. The Master was gone! What would he do without him? Loneliness swept over the fisherman.
He leaped to his feet and dashed headlong through the trees where the soldiers had led Jesus. He tripped over a root and plunged to his knees; branches lashed his face when he arose, but in his panic he did not feel them. He burst out onto the road. In the distance the tiny lights were going out, one by one, as the procession entered the gate of Jerusalem.
With a cry of helpless despair, Peter ran down the hill toward the city.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
17. THE DARKEST HOUR OF ALL
As Peter ran he realized that he did not know where the Roman soldiers were taking Jesus. What if he should lose sight of them? He was gasping for breath by the time he reached the city gate.
The Temple was closed. Would they lead the Master to Pilate? In the darkness, Peter could barely make out the ma.s.sive bulk of the fortress of Antonia, the Roman prison. No sound broke the silence within its walls. Peter ran a few steps and stood panting at the first street crossing. Desperately he glanced one way and the other. If only there were someone to tell him which way they had gone with Jesus! Would they go to the house of the high priest himself? Peter turned and ran toward the south side of Jerusalem, his sandals clattering on the stone paving.
At every turn in the winding street Peter peered into the darkness, hoping to see the wavering light of torches ahead of him. He did not notice a dark figure standing against the wall of a house that closed in the narrow street until he ran into him. Startled but glad to see someone, Peter asked, "Sir, have you seen soldiers and men with clubs pa.s.sing this way?" The question was out before he realized his danger.
What if this stranger were an enemy? He could not even see his face.