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The Eighth Lesson: The End of the Life Work.1037
in so saying He cast behind Him forever His right of choice to stay the awful
course of events which was pressing upon Him. Resigning His mighty occult
power of defense, He laid Himself upon the altar of sacrifice even as the
Paschal Lamb.
Leaving behind Him the Garden in which He had just performed this
greatest miracle of all—the miracle of Renunciation—He stepped out
among His disciples, saying, “The hour has come—the betrayer is here to
do his work.”
Then were heard sounds of clanking arms, and martial tread, and in
a moment the military guard appeared on the scene, accompanied by a
delegation of ecclesiastics, and with them, walking in advance, was Judas
Iscariot. Judas, walking as one in a trance, approached the Master and,
saluting Him with a kiss, cried, “Hail, Master,” which was the signal to the
guard, arranged between Judas and the High Priest. Then cried Jesus, “Ah,
with a kiss—thou, Judas, betrayeth the Son of Man with a kiss! Oh!” And in
that moment it seemed that the Master’s grief had reached its utmost limit.
Then the guard closed around Him and carried Him away.
But He resisted them not. As they approached Him He called out,
“Whom seek ye?” And the leader answered, “We seek him whom men call
Jesus of Nazareth.” Then answered the Master, “I am He whom thou seeketh!”
But the disciples resisted the arrest, and Peter cut off the ear of one of the
party, a servant of the High-priest. But Jesus bade His followers desist,
and, approaching the wounded man, placed his severed ear in place and
healed it instantly. Then He rebuked His disciples, telling them that, had
He so desired, the whole of the legions of heaven would have come to His
assistance. Then He bade the leader conduct Him from the place. But alas!
as He left, He turned to bid farewell to His disciples, and lo! to a man they
had fled and deserted Him, leaving Him alone in His hour of trial—yea!
as every humble soul must be alone in its moments of supreme struggle—
alone with its Creator.