Temple-guard with their staves, and
soldiers with their swords, and members of the Sanhedrin, ready to aid
in carrying out the plot arranged with the betrayer. It was
midnight--fit hour for their deed of darkness. The full moon shone
brightly in the clear atmosphere; yet they bore torches and lamps upon
poles, to light up any dark ravine or shaded nook in which they imagined
Jesus might be hiding. If any cord of love had ever bound Judas to his
Master, it was broken. That very night he had fled from the Upper Room,
which became especially radiant with love after his departure. To that
room we believe he returned with his murdering band. But the closing
hymn had been sung, and the Passover lamps extinguished two or three
hours before. The consecrated place was not to be profaned with
murderous intent. Another place must be sought for the victim of hate
and destruction.

John in his old age recalled precious memories of it, because Jesus
ofttimes resorted thither with His disciples. But he had a remembrance
of another kind. It is when speaking of this midnight hour that he says,
"Judas also which betrayed Him knew the place." Thither he led his
band--to Gethsemane.

"Lo, he that betrayeth Me is at hand," said

Jesus to the three, as He saw the gleams of the torches of the coming
multitude. His captors were many, but His thought was especially on
one--His betrayer. Again John reads for us the mind of Jesus, as he did
when the "Lord and Master washed the disciples' feet." He would have us
understand the calmness of the fixed purpose of Jesus to meet without
shrinking the terrible trial before Him, and to do this voluntarily--not
because of any power of His approaching captors. "Knowing all things
that were coming upon Him," He "went forth" to meet them--especially him
who at that moment was uppermost in His thought. John now understood
that last, mysterious bidding of the Lord to Judas, with which He
dismissed him from the table--"That thou doest, do quickly." He now
"knew for what intent He spake this unto him." It was not to buy things
needed for the feast, nor to give to the poor. It was to betray Him.

What a scene was that--Jesus "going forth," the three following Him; and
Judas in advance, yet in sight of his band, coming to meet Him.

"Hail, Rabbi," was the traitor's salute. And then on this solemn
Passover night, in this consecrated place, just hallowed by angelic
presence, interrupting the Lord's devotions, ru