atness of
it, even before the cause of it was known. But that was not long. "Jesus
said, Verily, verily, I say unto you that one of you shall betray Me."
Such is John's record of Christ's declaration. It is in His Gospel alone
that we find the double "Verily" introducing Christ's words, thus
giving a deeper emphasis and solemnity than appears in the other
Evangelists. A comparison of this declaration of Christ as given by the
four, illustrates this fact. John immediately follows this statement of
the betrayal with another, peculiar to himself. Its shows his close
observation at the time, and the permanence of his impression. What he
noticed would furnish a grand subject for the most skilful artist,
beneath whose picture might be written, "The disciples looked one on
another, doubting of whom He spake." As John gazed upon them, raising
themselves on their divans, looking first one way, then another, from
one familiar face to another, exchanging glances of inquiry and doubt,
each distrustful of himself and his fellow, he beheld what angels might
have looked upon with even deeper interest. There has been no other
occasion, nor can there be, for such facial expressions--a blending of
surprise, consternation, fear and sorrow. Was John one of those who
"began to question among themselves which of them it was that should do
this thing"? Did he take his turn as "one by one" they "began to say,
... Is it I, Lord?" If so it must have been in the faintest whisper; and
so the blessed answer, "No." But we must believe that Jesus and John
understood each other too well for any such question and answer. The
definite answer was not yet given to any one by the Master, yet with an
awful warning, He repeated His prediction of the betrayal.

Peter was impatient to ask Jesus another question. At other times he was
bold to speak, but now he was awed into silence. Yet he felt that he
must know. The great secret must be revealed. There was one through whom
it might possibly be done. So while the disciples looked one on another,
Peter gazed on John with an earnest, inquiring look, feeling that the
beloved disciple might relieve the awful suspense. "Peter therefore
beckoneth to him, and saith unto him, Tell us who it is of whom He
speaketh." So "He, leaning back, as he was, on Jesus' breast, saith unto
Him, Lord, who is it? Jesus therefore answereth, He it is for whom I
shall dip the sop and give it him." Did John on one side of Jesus hear
the w