March 14

And they that laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders were assembled.—Matthew 26:57.

THE agony of Christ was succeeded by his ruffian-like apprehension. A band of officers, with swords and staves, were employed on the occasion, as if they had been about to apprehend a company of thieves and robbers. The sounds of noise and violence had never been heard proceeding from Christ's meek and heavenly lips. His career had been one of unchanging goodness and mercy; yet do they arrest him as though he had been an enemy both to God and man. It behoved Christ, however, to be numbered among the transgressors. The leader of this violent band was Judas, who had covenanted to deliver up his Christ and Master for thirty pieces of silver. He therefore stepped forward, and with the lips of guile said to Jesus "hail! master;" and then, with the symbol of love and friendship, he basely kissed him, and betrayed him into their hands. What a picture of human depravity! What a horrid sin is hypocrisy! What a soul-destroying sin is covetousness! John also informs us, that Christ addressed those who came to arrest him, asking them whom they sought; and that by the majesty and power of his voice, they were overawed, and fell backwards to the ground; a striking proof of his own omnipotence and of their weakness; and also an abiding testimony of his readiness to go to death, no man having power to take away his life from him. Afterwards he allowed them to arrest him, and to bear him away to a human tribunal, although he foreknew the nature of his adversaries, and the mere mock trial that awaited him. We may learn from this subject, that there is no amount of moral excellency that can always shield us from calumny and reproach. We learn too the spirit which we should display even when we suffer wrongfully, and consider Jesus the high priest of our profession, who when he was reviled, reviled not again, and hath left us an example that we should follow his steps.