shing upon holiness and
infinite goodness, with pretended fellowship and reverence, profaning
and repeating--as if with gush of emotion--the symbol of affection,
Judas covered the face of Jesus with kisses.

How deep the sting on this "human face divine," already defaced by the
bloody sweat, and to be yet more by the mocking reed, and smiting hand
and piercing thorn. The vision of the prophet seven hundred years before
becomes a reality--"His visage was so marred more than any man." "But
nothing went so close to His heart as the profanation of this kiss."

According to John's account, Judas' kiss was an unnecessary signal.
Jesus Himself leaving the traitor, advanced toward the band, with a
question which must have startled the Apostles, as well as the traitor
and his company--"Whom seek ye?" The contemptuous reply, "Jesus of
Nazareth," did not disturb His calmness as He said, "I am He," and
repeated His question, "Whom seek ye?" Nor was that infinite calmness
disturbed by the deeper contempt in the repeated answer, "Jesus of
Nazareth." They had come with weapons of defence, but they were as
useless as the betrayal kiss, especially when some of them, awed by His
presence and words, "went backward and fell to the ground."

We have seen Jesus going forward from His company and meeting Judas
going forward from his. We must now think of Judas joining his band, and
the eleven disciples surrounding their Lord. John has preserved the
only request made of the captors by the Master. It was not for Himself,
but for His disciples;--"If therefore ye seek Me, let these go their
way."

Three Evangelists tell that one of the disciples struck a servant of the
high priest and cut off an ear. Luke the physician says it was the right
ear, and that Christ touched it and healed it. John gives the disciple's
name, which it was not prudent for the other Evangelists to do when
Peter, who struck the blow, was still living. He also preserves the name
of the servant, Malchus--the last one on whom he saw the Great Physician
perform a healing act, showing divine power and compassion. John records
the Lord's reproof to Peter, "Put up thy sword into the sheath; the cup
which My Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it?" Can this firm
voice be the same which an hour ago, a stone's cast from these two
disciples, said beseechingly, "O My Father, if it be possible, let this
cup pass from Me." Yea, verily, for He had added to the prayer, "Not as
I wi