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SearchForgiveness is Always Given
Jesus made one last effort to save Judas from actually betraying him in that, before the traitor
could reach him, he stepped to one side and, addressing the foremost soldier on the left, the
captain of the Romans, said, "Whom do you seek?" The captain answered, "Jesus of Nazareth."
Then Jesus stepped up immediately in front of the officer and, standing there in the calm majesty
of the God of all this creation, said, "I am he." Many of this armed band had heard Jesus teach in
the temple, others had learned about his mighty works, and when they heard him thus boldly
announce his identity, those in the front ranks fell suddenly backward. They were overcome with
surprise at his calm and majestic announcement of identity. There was, therefore, no need for
Judas to go on with his plan of betrayal. The Master had boldly revealed himself to his enemies,
and they could have taken him without Judas's assistance. But the traitor had to do something to
account for his presence with this armed band, and besides, he wanted to make a show of
carrying out his part of the betrayal bargain with the rulers of the Jews in order to be eligible for
the great reward and honors which he believed would be heaped upon him in compensation for
his promise to deliver Jesus into their hands.
As the guards rallied from their first faltering at the sight of Jesus and at the sound of his unusual
voice, and as the apostles and disciples drew nearer, Judas stepped up to Jesus and, placing a kiss
upon his brow, said, "Hail, Master and Teacher." And as Judas thus embraced his Master, Jesus
said, "Friend, is it not enough to do this! Would you even betray the Son of Man with a kiss?"
The apostles and disciples were literally stunned by what they saw. For a moment no one moved.
Then Jesus, disengaging himself from the traitorous embrace of Judas, stepped up to the guards
and soldiers and again asked, "Whom do you seek?" And again the captain said, "Jesus of
Nazareth." And again answered Jesus: "I have told you that I am he. If, therefore, you seek me,
let these others go their way. I am ready to go with you."
Jesus was ready to go back to Jerusalem with the guards, and the captain of the soldiers was
altogether willing to allow the three apostles and their associates to go their way in peace. But
before they were able to get started, as Jesus stood there awaiting the captain's orders, one
Malchus, the Syrian bodyguard of the high priest, stepped up to Jesus and made ready to bind his
hands behind his back, although the Roman captain had not directed that Jesus should be thus
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bound. When Peter and his associates saw their Master being subjected to this indignity, they
were no longer able to restrain themselves. Peter drew his sword and with the others rushed
forward to smite Malchus. But before the soldiers could come to the defense of the high priest's
servant, Jesus raised a forbidding hand to Peter and, speaking sternly, said: "Peter, put up your
sword. They who take the sword shall perish by the sword. Do you not understand that it is the
Father's will that I drink this cup? And do you not further know that I could even now command
more than twelve legions of angels and their associates, who would deliver me from the hands of
these few men?"
While Jesus thus effectively put a stop to this show of physical resistance by his followers, it was
enough to arouse the fear of the captain of the guards, who now, with the help of his soldiers,
laid heavy hands on Jesus and quickly bound him. And as they tied his hands with heavy cords,
Jesus said to them: "Why do you come out against me with swords and with staves as if to seize
a robber? I was daily with you in the temple, publicly teaching the people, and you made no
effort to take me."
When Jesus had been bound, the captain, fearing that the followers of the Master might attempt
to rescue him, gave orders that they be seized; but the soldiers were not quick enough since,
having overheard the captain's orders to arrest them, Jesus' followers fled in haste back into the
ravine. All this time John Mark had remained secluded in the near-by shed. When the guards
started back to Jerusalem with Jesus, John Mark attempted to steal out of the shed in order to
catch up with the fleeing apostles and disciples; but just as he emerged, one of the last of the
returning soldiers who had pursued the fleeing disciples was passing near and, seeing this young
man in his linen coat, gave chase, almost overtaking him. In fact, the soldier got near enough to
John to lay hold upon his coat, but the young man freed himself from the garment, escaping
naked while the soldier held the empty coat. John Mark made his way in all haste to David
Zebedee on the upper trail. When he had told David what had happened, they both hastened back
to the tents of the sleeping apostles and informed all eight of the Master's betrayal and arrest.
At about the time the eight apostles were being awakened, those who had fled up the ravine were
returning, and they all gathered together near the olive press to debate what should be done. In
the meantime, Simon Peter and John Zebedee, who had hidden among the olive trees, had
already gone on after the mob of soldiers, guards, and servants, who were now leading Jesus
back to Jerusalem as they would have led a desperate criminal. John followed close behind the
mob, but Peter followed afar off. After John Mark's escape from the clutch of the soldier, he
provided himself with a cloak which he found in the tent of Simon Peter and John Zebedee. He
suspected the guards were going to take Jesus to the home of Annas, the high priest emeritus; so
he skirted around through the olive orchards and was there ahead of the mob, hiding near the
entrance to the gate of the high priest's palace.