band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and Bald unto them. Whom seek ye ?
5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said unto them, I am lie. And Judas also, which be- trayed him, stood with them.
6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am lie^ they went backward, and fell to the ground.
7 Then asked he them again,
Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
8 Jesus answered, I have told yon that I am lie ; if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way :
9 That the saying might be ful- filled which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.
10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Mal- chus.
11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath : the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it ?
These verses begin St. John's account of Christ's sufferings and crucifixion. We now enter on the closing scene of our Lord's ministry, and pass at once from His intercession to His sacrifice. We shall find that, like the other Gospel-writers, the beloved disciple enters fully into the story of the cross. But we shall also find, if we read carefully, that he mentions several interesting points in the story, which Matthew, Mark, and Luke, for some wise reasons, have passed over.
We should notice, first, in these verses, the exceeding hardness of heart to which a backsUdiiig professor may attain. We are told that Judas, one of the twelve Apostles, became guide to them that took Jesus. We are told that he used his knowledge of the place of our Lord's retirement, in order to bring His deadly enemies upon Him; and we are told that when the band of men and ofiicers approached his Master, in order to make Him prisoner, Judas " stood with them." — Yet this was a man who for three years had been a constant companion of Christ, had seen His miracles, had heard His sermons, had enjoyed the benefit of His private in- struction, had professed himself a believer, had even worked and preached in Christ's name ! — " Lord," we may well say, " what is man ? " From the highest de-
JOHN, CHAP. XVIIl. 209
gree of privilege down to the lowest depth of sin, there is but a succession of steps. Privileges misused seem to paralyze the conscience. The same fire that melts wax, will harden clay.
Let us beware of resting our hopes of salvation on religious knowledge, however great, or religious advan- tages, however many. We may know all doctrinal truth and be able to teach others, and yet prove rotten at heart, and go down to the pit with Judas. We may bask in the full sunshine of spiritual privileges, and hear the best of Christian teaching, and yet bear no fruit to God's glory, and be found withered branches of the vine, only fit to be burned. " Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." (1 Cor. x. 12.) Above all, let us beware of cherishing within our hearts any secret be- setting sin, such as love of money or love of the world. One faulty link in a chain-cable may cause a shipwreck. One little leak may sink a ship. One allowed and un- mortified sin may ruin a professing Christian. Let him that is tempted to be a careless man in his religious life, consider these things, and take care. Let him remember Judas Iscariot. His history is meant to be a lesson.
We should notice, secondly, in these verses, the entire vohintariness of Chrises sufferings. We are told that the first time that our Lord said to the soldiers, " I am He, they went backward, and fell to the ground." A secret invisible power, no doubt, accompanied the words. In no other way can we account for a band of hardy Roman soldiers falling prostrate before a single unarmed man. The same miraculous influence which tied the priests and Pharisees powerless at the triumphant entry into Jerusalem, — which stopped all opposition when the temple was purged of buyers and sellers, — that same mysterious influence was present now. A real miracle was wrought, though few had eyes to see it. At the