l suffer all human sorrow and pain, then Thy will be
done. Accept this sacrifice for all who have provoked Thee. If Thou
desirest it, I will take the sins of the world upon Me, and atone for
them that Thou mayest pardon. But if it may be avoided, Father, My
Father who art in heaven, have mercy on Thy Son, who has proclaimed Thy
mercy." So He prayed, and in His infinite distress He longed for His
disciples. He went to them and found them asleep. They were sleeping
like innocent children, and knew nothing of His terrible struggle. He
woke Peter, and said: "I am wellnigh perishing with sorrow. Surely you
might watch with Me in this hour."

The disciple pulled himself together with some difficulty and shook the
others. But when Jesus looked at the poor fellows. He thought: "What
can they do for Me?" He left them and went away, in order to fight
through it alone. And again He prayed: "Help Me, Lord; Oh, My God,
forsake Me not." But Heaven was silent, the loneliness was
intolerable, and lie once more went back to His disciples. They were
again fast asleep. They rested so peacefully, tired out by the cruel
world, that Jesus thought, Well, let them sleep. Drops, like blood,
ran down His forehead and fell on the ground. A third time He turned
to the Father: "Forsaken of all, on Thee alone I call. There is none
to hear Me in My agony. They are all asleep, and the clash of spears
is on the road. Lord God, send Thine angels to protect Me!"

Not a leaf stirred; there was not a breath of air. Heaven remained
deaf and dumb.

"It is the silent word of God. To His will I submit."

CHAPTER XXXII

When Judas sat in the room among the twelve, he felt so bewildered and
confused that he did not hear all that Jesus said. So he got up, left
the room, and rushed through the empty streets of the city. "One of
those who sit at this table will betray Me!" He knows men's thoughts.
That gives Him power over all. But He does not know how to use that
power; He must be driven to that. Judas could think of nothing else.
The thought with which hitherto he had only played now took violent
possession of his head and heart. He went through the city gate, which
was not closed at this Passover time. He would spend the night among
the bushes; but see--there goes the Master along the road with three of
His disciples. Judas stretched out his head between the branches in
order to look after them. They went towards the val