ed Jesus
as a sign that He was the One whom they sought. Jesus turned to him
saying, "Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss?" And to the
others, "Whom seek ye?"

[Illustration: Jesus betrayed by Judas]

"Jesus of Nazareth," they answered. And when Jesus had said to them,
"I am He," they fell backward at the sight of His face. "When I was
daily with you in the Temple," He said, "ye stretched forth no hands
against me; but this is your hour and the power of darkness." Peter
drew a sword and struck at the high priest's servant in defence of his
Master, but Jesus said gently,

"Suffer ye thus far," and touched his ear and healed him. "Put up thy
sword into the sheath," He added. "The cup which my Father hath given
me, shall I not drink it?"

Then they took Jesus and bound Him to lead Him away, and the disciples
forsook Him and fled, as had been written in the prophets. But John,
the loving and beloved, came back and followed Jesus. So did Peter,
remembering his vow, but he followed Him afar off.

CHAPTER XLI.

DESPISED AND REJECTED OF MEN.

Jesus was first taken to Annas, the old High-Priest, who sent Him bound
to Caiaphas, who was his son-in-law, and High-Priest that year.

John went in with Jesus to the palace of the High-Priest, but Peter
stood outside the door, shivering with the chill of the night, but more
with fear.

A servant girl at the door said, when John came out to bring him in,

"Art not thou also one of this man's disciples?"

And Peter said, "I am not."

Restless and unhappy, he walked about, or warmed himself by the fire,
until three had accused him of being a follower of Jesus, and three
times he had denied his Lord. Then there came a sound that struck him
through--he heard through the open windows the crowing of a cock. It
had crowed once before, but he did not think then of what the Lord had
said, but now his memory and conscience were wide awake, for, as he
looked over the heads of the people towards Jesus standing bound and
alone before the High-Priest, the Lord turned and looked upon Peter.
That look broke Peter's heart, and he rushed out of the place, and wept
bitterly.

[Illustration: The sin of Peter]

There was a mock trial which would pain the heart of a child to dwell
upon, and which we will not describe at length. It is enough to know
that the Lamb of God, who had come to take away the sins of the world,
was willingly in the power of His enemies,