conducted to
the house in which Judas had left his fellow apostles and the Lord, when
the traitor had been dismissed; and that finding the little company had
gone out, Judas led the multitude to Gethsemane, for he knew the place,
and knew also that "Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples."

While Jesus was yet speaking to the Eleven whom He had roused from
slumber with the announcement that the betrayer was at hand, Judas and
the multitude approached. As a preconcerted sign of identification the
recreant Iscariot, with treacherous duplicity, came up with a
hypocritical show of affection, saying, "Hail, master," and profaned his
Lord's sacred face with a kiss.[1242] That Jesus understood the
treacherous significance of the act appears in His pathetic, yet
piercing and condemning reproach: "Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man
with a kiss?" Then, applying the title with which the other apostles had
been honored, the Lord said: Friend, do that for which thou art
come.[1243] It was a reiteration of the behest given at the supper
table, "That thou doest, do quickly."

The armed band hesitated, though their guide had given the signal agreed
upon. Jesus walked toward the officers, with whom stood Judas, and
asked, "Whom seek ye?" To their reply, "Jesus of Nazareth," the Lord
rejoined: "I am he." Instead of advancing to take Him, the crowd pressed
backward, and many of them fell to the ground in fright. The simple
dignity and gentle yet compelling force of Christ's presence proved more
potent than strong arms and weapons of violence. Again He put the
question, "Whom seek ye?" and again they answered, "Jesus of Nazareth."
Then said Jesus: "I have told you that I am he; if therefore ye seek me,
let these go their way." The last remark had reference to the apostles,
who were in danger of arrest; and in this evidence of Christ's
solicitude for their personal safety, John saw a fulfilment of the
Lord's then recent utterance in prayer, "Of them which thou gavest me
have I lost none."[1244] It is possible that had any of the Eleven been
apprehended with Jesus and made to share the cruel abuse and torturing
humiliation of the next few hours, their faith might have failed them,
relatively immature and untried as it then was; even as in succeeding
years many who took upon themselves the name of Christ yielded to
persecution and went into apostasy.[1245]

When the officers approached and seized Jesus, some of the apostles,