The Trial and Death of Jesus Christ | Page 3

it. But the respect due to a place
of prayer did not deter him; on the contrary, he took advantage of his
Master's well-known habit.
But the crowning profanation, for which humanity will never forgive
him, was the sign by which he had agreed to make his Master known to
His enemies. It is probable that he came on in front, as if he did not
belong to the band behind; and, hurrying towards Jesus, as if to apprise
Him of His danger and condole with Him on so sad a misfortune as His
apprehension, he flung himself on His neck, sobbing, "Master, Master!"
and not only did he kiss Him, but he did so repeatedly or fervently: so
the word signifies.[2] As long as there is true, pure love in the world,
this act will be hated and despised by everyone who has ever given or
received this token of affection. It was a sin against the human heart
and all its charities. But none can feel its horror as it must have been
felt by Jesus. That night and the next day His face was marred in many
ways: it was furrowed by the bloody sweat; it was bruised with blows;
they spat upon it; it was rent with thorns: but nothing went so close to

His heart as the profanation of this kiss. As another said, who had been
similarly treated: "It was not an enemy that reproached me, then I could
have borne it; neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself
against me, then I would have hid myself from him; but it was thou, a
man mine equal, my guide and mine acquaintance; we took sweet
counsel together, and walked to the house of God in company." [3]
Before the kiss was given, Jesus still received him with the old name of
Friend; but, after being stung with it, He could not keep back the
annihilating question, "Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a
kiss?"
The kiss was the sign of discipleship. In the East, students used to kiss
their rabbis; and in all likelihood this custom prevailed between Christ
and His disciples. When we become His disciples, we may be said to
kiss Him; and every time we renew the pledge of our loyalty we may
be said to repeat this act. We do so especially in the Lord's Supper. In
our baptism He may be said to take us up in His arms and kiss us; in
the other sacrament we obtain the opportunity of returning this mark of
affection.
II.
Probably Judas, being ahead of the band he was leading, went
somewhat into the shadows of the garden to reach Jesus; and no doubt
it was expected that Jesus would try to get away. But, instead of doing
so, He shook Himself free from Judas and, coming forward at once into
the moonlight, demanded, "Whom seek ye?"
At this they were so startled that they reeled back and, stepping one on
another, fell to the ground.
Similar incidents are related of famous men. The Roman Marius, for
instance, was in prison at Minturnae when Sylla sent orders that he
should be put to death. A Gaulish slave was sent to dispatch him; but,
at the sight of the man who had shaken the world, and who cried out,
"Fellow, darest thou to slay Caius Marius?" the soldier threw down his
weapon and fled.[4]

There are many indications scattered through the Gospels that,
especially in moments of high emotion, there was something
extraordinarily subduing in the aspect and voice of Christ.[5] On the
occasion, for example, when He cleared the temple, the hardened
profaners of the place, though numerous and powerful, fled in terror
before Him. And the striking notice of Him as He was going up to
Jerusalem for the last time will be remembered: "Jesus went before
them, and they were amazed; and, as they followed, they were afraid."
On this occasion the emotion of Gethsemane was upon Him--the rapt
sense of victory and of a mind steeled to go through with its
purpose--and perhaps there remained on His face some traces of the
Agony, which scared the onlookers. It is not necessary to suppose that
there was anything preternatural, though part of the terror of His
captors may have been the dread lest He should destroy them by a
miracle. Evidently Judas was afraid of something of this kind when he
said, "Take Him and lead Him away safely."
The truth is, they were caught, instead of catching Him. It was a mean,
treacherous errand they were on. They were employing a traitor as their
guide. They expected to come upon Christ, perhaps when He was
asleep, in silence and by stealth; or, if He were