VII. ANOTHER SCENE IN THE TRAITOR’S LIFE. We now open another chapter in his history. The bargain is struck, the sum weighed and delivered, and in the paltry sum thus realized we have another proof of the grovelling spirit of this Gnispeakable mean and mercenary man. He has secured the thirty pieces of silver, or thirty shekels—some £3 15s, of British money. Both parties seem satisfied with the bargain. The chief priests are glad of the promised opportunity of arresting in private him whom the dread of popular tumult or probable rescue prevented them arresting in public. Public opinion was still so favourable to the Prophet from Galilee, and had such force, that, hostile as the Jewish authorities were, they dreaded, and with good reason, the risk of a public apprehension, Judas, too, is content with his pieces of silver. We almost fancy we see him, like Milton’s picture of Mammon in the nether world, eyeing with furtive, downcast glance the proceeds of his bargain. But the satisfaction of the wicked seldom lasts long. We scarcely think that Judas at first realized the consequences of his wickedness; we cannot believe that he at all antici- pated the sequel of his crime. Perhaps he thought that he who had wrought so many miracles would work one in self-defence, and not allow himself to be apprehended ; or perhaps he thought that, if arrested, he would escape out of the hands of those whe came to appreherd him; or it may be he thought Jesus would now be forced to set up the expected kingdom. All his calculations are at fault.
VIL. THe AcTUAL BETRAYAL AND APPREHENSION. Some two hours have elapsed from the revelation of the traitor and his departure from that upper room, when a motley multitude of men, armed with swords and staves—some of them Levitical guards from the temple, others Roman soldiers from the tower of Antonia, together with priests and elders—ig marching down the hillside from Jerusalem to the valley of the Kidron. Already they have crossed the brook and reached the garden. But what mean those lanterns, for the Paschal moon is at the full? Perhaps the moon was obscured by clouds, or shining dimly that night; or the deep shadows of the hills and rocks and trees made the light of the lanterns necessary. ‘lhe concerted signal was not really needed, owing to our Lord’s forwardness to meet his fate. Had he pleased, he might have frustrated the attempt, as by a word he felled them to the earth (John xviii. 6); he might have ordered to his help twelve legions of angels, had he been unwilling to suffer. And yet, willing as he was to suffer, he is equally willing to save; his sufferings were in our stead, and for our sake. His ready willinghood to undertake for us and die for us assures us of equal willinghood to have the benefit of those sufferings transferred to us. The traitor’s kiss, which was a fervent one (xareplaneev), was the signal for arrest. From this we learn the terms of familiarity and friendship that existed between Christ and his disciples. Nor is he changed, w become colder in his friendship for his true followers; he is as cordial as ever, and still bends on earth a Brother’s eye. His address to Judas, however, is too strongly expressed in the Common Version. ‘The term “ friends ” (pido) he reserves for his true disciples; the word addressed to Judas is éraipe, which signifies “ companion ” or “acquaintance,” and does not necessarily imply either respect or affection.
[X. Tue cowarRpDice oF sIN. Cowardice is generally associated with sin, so true it is that ‘sinful heart makes feeble hand.” Our first parents, after their sin against God, hid themselves among the trees of the garden. ‘The chief priests and elders, with the captains, are here charged by our Lord with cowardice. “ Be ye conie out,” ne asks, “as against a brigand or bandit (Anor#v), with swords and staves?” Had he
280 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. (on. xrv. 1—72,
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been an evil-doer, why did they not apprehend him publicly in the broad light of day as he taught in the temple? Poor, sinful souls! their cowardly spirits shrank from this; the power of public opinion, or the dread of a rescue, or the danger of a riot, © they could not brave; but now skulkingly, secretly, stealthily, at the dead hour of night, they came upon the Saviour by surprise, with a strong posse of men well armed, Their sin was seen in their cowardice. Our Lord is now in the hands of his enemies. He had healed the servant’s ear—the right ear (St. Luke and St. John)—having asked g@eedom to stretch forth his arm to touch and heal the wounded ear, saying, “ Suffer ye thus far;” if the words do not mean—Excuse resistance to this extent. Judas has betrayed him; all the disciples—even John the beloved and Peter the brave—have forsaken him and fled !—J. J. G.