AT 26{Verses 31-35. "Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of Me this night; for it is written, I will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee." The smiting and the scattering must be, but He would again be with them when raised from the dead. (John 18:8,9.) Peter knew not his own weakness; means to be faithful, and says, "Though all men shall be offended because of Thee, yet will I never be offended." This natural energy that carried him on made a fall further than the rest, but all forsook Him and fled. All had asserted their faithfulness. "Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice. Peter said unto Him, Though I should die with Thee, yet will I not deny Thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.”
Verses 36-45 present the solemn scene of His interview with His Father about His atoning sufferings on the cross. It was on the cross alone that He was made sin for us. Here He isolates Himself to present to the Father in supplication the sufferings He was about to endure. Peter, James and John go on with Him. He began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith He unto them, Tarry ye here, and watch with Me. And He went a little farther, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I but as Thou wilt." Luke 22:44; Heb. 5:7, show us how great was His agony.
He comes to His disciples and finds them asleep, and says unto Peter, "What, could ye not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." The flesh profiteth nothing. Satan's power is trying to overwhelm the Lord by this trial that is to be endured, and His holy soul desires to be relieved, but it must be the Father's will. Three times He presents His petition; and then comes to His disciples, saving, `Sleep on now, and take your rest; behold, the hour at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hand of sinners." The Lord's submission is perfect. Ile was distressed and full of anguish, but His communion with His Father was not interrupted. It was love to His Father and obedience to His will that brought Him there. He takes it from the Father; the cross must be endured, death must be entered into to put away our sins, and to annul him who had the power of death lie knew what this meant in its sting, as the wages of sin, and the curse of God's judgment. If God was to be glorified in Him who had come to undertake this work, and sinners were to be saved, He must drink this terrible cup. No creature could do it, only He who was Jehovah's fellow, God manifest in the flesh.
“Sleep on now, and take your rest." Now, it is all settled; in the purpose of His heart it is done; He will not draw back, but will yield Himself up to His enemies. Man and Satan are the instruments to nail Him to the cross, hut it is the will of God, and He will not look at second causes. What a lesson for us is here!
Verse 46. "Rise, let us be going; behold, he is at hand that doth betray Me." He is ready to submit Himself to the suffering that awaits Him.
Verses 47-50. Judas comes with the multitude with swords and staves to take Him, the unresisting Lamb, and is betrayed with kisses, the pretense of love. Judas salutes Him, "Hail, Master," and kissed Him caressingly. This son of perdition, slave of Satan, will not be warned. Jesus replies, "Friend, wherefore art thou come?" A polished hypocrite, coming as a friend. The only one to own Jesus now was His betrayer.
Verses 51-68. When the Lord was praying in the garden, Peter was sleeping; he could not watch one hour. Now the Lord is yielding Himself up; Peter is fighting. The Lord rebukes him, "Put up again thy sword into his place; for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." It is not the path of those who belong to a suffering and rejected Christ to fight with carnal weapons, and if they do they will reap what they sow. (Gal. 6:7, 8.)
The Lord could, have twelve legions of angels to succor Him, but then how could the Scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be. And to the multitude He could say, "Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take Me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on Me." It was the hour now for Him to be taken, that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.
They led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, who with the scribes and elders were assembled, waiting for the victim.
But Peter followed Him afar off, and went in and sat with the servants to see the end.
They have Him now without any witness of evil against Him. They seek false witness, and many are willing to witness against Him, but they have nothing to say. At last two false witnesses think they have something against Him. It was but the witness of His power in resurrection (John 2:18-22), and declared Him to be the Son of God with power. (Rom. 1:4.) There is nothing to condemn Him by. The Lord is silent before them as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, till the high priest adjures Him by the living God to tell whether He is the Christ, the Son of God. Then He confesses the glory of His person, and declares that henceforth they shall see Him as Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. He will be Judge then. In pretended sanctity, the high priest declares He has spoken blasphemy, and all agree to put Him to death. Their malice breaks forth in insults, and they spit in His face and buffet Him. Others smite Him with the palms of their hands, saying, "Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote Thee?" There is no justice for Him; they condemn and insult the One who came in grace to be their Savior, their own Messiah. He bore it all in meekness, and without a murmur. What a solemn moment for them!
Verses 69-75. Peter is now to learn his weakness. His failure is seen; the flesh could not stand; he lies and curses and swears that he did not know Jesus. O, how helpless we are, unless kept in dependence on the Lord for strength. The Lord's word is fulfilled, "Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice.”
And Peter remembered the word of Jesus. It began to work in his conscience; the look of Jesus brought it home to him, and he went out and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:61, 62.)
(Continued from page 302.)