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Iudas's Treason.
Our SAVIOƲR being Sold to the Jews by Judas, is Betrayed and Taken by him with a Kiss.
OUR Saviour being o'erwhelmed with Sadness, when he was in an Agony in the Garden, gave us a great instance of his Hu∣mility; for he came to his Disciples, to try, if peradventure he might find any Consolation in them, or any mitiga∣tion of his Grief. But he found not them in any sort disposed to wise Counsels, for they were fallen into a dead sleep.
He came thrice to awake them, with these important Words, Watch and Pray, the Spi∣rit is willing, but the Flesh is weak.
He had no sooner done speaking to them the third time, but Judas appeared at the Head of a great Company of People bear∣ing Arms. Judas had given them a Sign, whereby they should know, which was the Person they should lay hold on, to the end he might not make his escape from them, and so occasion more trouble in taking him.
He came then boldly up to the Saviour of the World, and treacherously kist him, saying, Hail Master; which our Blessed Lord patiently endured, and with the same kind∣ness as heretofore, to teach us, To bear gently with such Persons as are like him, and not to be sharp and spightful at the ill usages of Friends and Domesticks. Yet he said to him, Wherefore comest thou hither? Dost thou betray the Son of Man with a Kiss? Which Words were rather spoken, to bring him to a thoughtfulness of what he did than to complain of his Ingratitude.
After this Kiss of Judas, our Blessed Savi∣our (who had heretofore fled, when the Peo∣ple would have made him a King) went to meet those who came to take him, asking them, Whom they sought? and that with so powerful a Voice, as made them all to fall flat on the Ground; shewing by this means, That 'twas not want of Power made him suffer Death; but that he underwent it of his own free will. He then surrendred him∣self to these wicked People, having an eye to the Power which GOD had given them.
S. Peter endeavoured to defend Him from them, drew out his Sword, and cut off the Ear of Malchus, who was a Servant to the High Priest: But our Saviour was so far from delighting in this Resistance, and permitting this just Revenge, that immediately he heal∣led the Wound, and reprehended S. Peter for making it; saying, Put up thy Sword into his place; for all they that take the Sword, shall perish by the Sword.
He told him he needed not his Arm to deliver him; for had he not fully determi∣ned to drink of this Cup, He could pray to his Father, and he would presently give him more than 12 Legions of Angels, to assist him; But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
He suffered himself then to be bound on∣ly saying to the Officers, That they needed not to have come out against him, as if he were a Thief, or a Murtherer; seeing he was every day in the Temple, where they might have laid hold on him.
Being then secured in their Hands, all his Disciples fled, and left him alone with them; And when they had laid hold on him, they led him away to Caiaphas the High-Priest, where the Scribes and Elders were assembled, and Peter followed afar off. Our Saviour de∣signed by this, To comfort those who should fall by surprize into the hands of their Ene∣mies.
He knew, that they were to come to take him, and he did not avoid them, because he knew it was his Fathers Will; to the end, that those who should fall into a like condi∣tion, without knowing it, should adore (as he did) the Power of GOD in Men; and not suffer themselves to be carried away by fruitless Complaints and Repinings. For there is nothing comes amiss to him, who consi∣ders, That he suffers nothing, but what a most Divine Person suffered before him; and that the Sufferings of this present Life, are not wor∣thy to be compared to the Glory which shall be revealed.