  ON THE NIGHT OF THE BETRAYAL "The weakest spot in every man, is where he thinks himself the wisest." IN THE UPPER ROOMOn Thursday of the Passion Week, Jesus called Peter and John to Him, and said: "Go, and prepare us the passover, that we may eat."[ The Passover. The Passover, you remember, is the name given to the feast established to commemorate the time when the destroying angel passed over the houses of the Hebrews, which had been marked by the blood of the lamb. At this festsival, a lamb was killed, and called the Paschal Lamb. It was on the day that "the passover must be killed" that Peter and John were requested to make preparation. "Where wilt thou that we prepare?" they asked. An Upper Room Prepared. "When ye have entered into the city," replied Jesus, "there shall a man meet you bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. Ask him, Where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the Passover with my disciples? And he shall show you a large upper room furnished; there make ready."[ The two apostles did as they were directed, found everything just as the Lord had stated, and made the necessary preparations. At the appointed hour Jesus and the Twelve gathered in this upper room. Some think it was in Mark's house, some the house of Joseph of Arimathea, but we do not know, nor does it much matter. We are interested most in what took place there. A Solemn Meeting. Jesus sat at the head of the feast. On one side, close enough to recline on His Master's breast sat John, and on the other side sat Peter. It was, perhaps, the most solemn meeting at which the Twelve had ever gathered; for the Savior said at the beginning: "With desire," that is with longing earnestness, "I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled which is written in the prophets concerning me." Meaning that His hour had come when His enemies should take Him and put Him to death. Near the end of the supper, Jesus rose from where He was reclining, laid aside His outer garments, took a towel and tied it around His waist, thus assuming a servant's dress. He then took a basin of water and proceeded to wash the disciples' feet. Jesus Washeth Disciples' Feet. It may be that the Savior had detected in the minds of some the same thought which had caused a dispute among them once before, as to who was the greatest among them. Perhaps this thought arose when they saw Peter and John occupying the places of honor. At any rate, their Lord, the greatest among them, assumed the attitude of servant, the least and humblest of them all. Peter Objects. When He came to Peter, the latter said: "Lord, dost Thou wash my feet?" Peter would serve his Master, but his Master must never serve him! "What I do thou knowest not now: but thou shalt know hereafter," answered Jesus. "Thou needst not to wash my feet." "If I wash thee not," continued Jesus, "thou hast no part with me." When Peter thought that his refusal to submit to be served by the Lord, was really putting the Savior away from him, he said, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head." An Example. "So after He had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again. He said unto them: Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord; and ye say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." Thus did these twelve men receive in an impressive and practical manner, the divine lesson of service. Thus did they learn that those who were greatest among them were really the servants of all. Indeed, in the Church of Christ, there are no masters and no servants, but all working for every one and each one for all. "One of You Shall Betray Me." Immediately following this impressive and sacred ceremony, the full significance of which very few understand, the Savior said, "One of you shall betray me." This announcement cast a gloom over all. To make it caused "trouble" to come over Christ's "spirit;" and to hear it, made all "exceeding sorrowful."[ They began to inquire among themselves which one of them should be so faithless; and soon each asked the Master, "Lord, is it I?" Judas, last of all answered and said, "Lord, is it I?" Jesus' answer, "Thou hast said," must not have been heard by the others, because Peter beckoned to John to ask the Master "who it should be of whom he spoke." Jesus replied, also in a quiet manner, "He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it." Judas Iscariot. When he had dipped the sop, he handed it to Judas Iscariot. Peter and John, then, knew who the traitor was; but the others probably did not; for they wondered what Jesus meant when He said to Judas: "That thou doest do quickly." LOYALTY AS PETER FELT ITAfter the traitor went out into the night—oh such a night for him! Jesus continued to teach and to comfort the Eleven. Love One Another. "A new commandment I give unto you," He said, "That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." Among other things, He said, referring to His approaching death, "Whither I go ye cannot come." This stirred Peter's love and he inquired, "Lord, why cannot I follow Thee now? I will lay down my life for Thy sake."[ Peter to Be Tried. "Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired you that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, [that is, "brought back afresh as a penitent disciple"] strengthen thy brethren."[ This grieved Peter very deeply. To think that his Master would even suspect that he, Peter, would even weaken in his steadfastness to his Lord! (It is significant that the Lord called him by his old name, Simon). Peter protested, saying, "Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death."[ A Prophecy. "I tell you, Peter," continued the Savior, "that the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me." But, he spake the more vehemently. "Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise so said they all."[ Peter meant every word he said, and he felt deeply the truth of what he spake; but his real strength had not come to him yet, and his Master knew it. It would come but it would be "Born in the deep silence of a long-suffering heart." LOYALTY AS PETER ACTED ITGethsemane. Later in the night, the company left the upper room, crossed the brook Kedron, and went to the Garden of Gethsemane, on the west side of the Mount of Olives. Bidding eight of the Eleven to remain together. He took the other three, Peter, James, and John, apart. His soul "was exceeding sorrowful even unto death." He said, "Tarry ye here, and watch with me." "Not My Will but Thine be Done." Soon He withdrew a little from them, and prayed. The Apostles could see Him, perhaps could hear Him, as He cried, "Father, if it be possible let this cup pass; nevertheless not my will, but thine be done." When he returned, and found the three sleeping, He said, "Simon [Simon again] sleepest thou? Couldst not thou watch one hour?" "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." "The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak."[ Peter and His Brethren Drowsy. A second time He withdrew; a second time returned; a second time found them sleeping; "for their eyes were heavy; neither knew they what to answer Him." When He returned the third time, He said kindly, "Sleep on now and take your rest; it is enough, the hour is come; behold the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners." After a little longer sleep, the three were awakened by Jesus, only to see approaching "a great multitude, with swords and staves, from the chief priests, and the scribes and the elders." At their head was Judas who approached his Lord, and betrayed Him with a kiss. Peter Defends His Lord. As soldiers went to lay hands upon Jesus, Peter, who was now thoroughly aroused, jumped to the rescue of his Master, "drew his sword, and smote a servant of the high priest and cut off his ear." This servant, whose right ear Peter struck off with one blow, was called Malchus. A Lesson. "Put up thy sword into the sheath," commanded the Savior, "the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" What a lesson to Peter! Even though duty led to suffering and death, yet would the Lord not waver in His strength. Then said Jesus, "Suffer ye thus far, and He touched his ear and healed him."[ As the officers led Jesus away, the disciples "all forsook Him, and fled." Peter Follows Jesus. Peter's strength and loyalty were wavering; but he could not bring himself to flee with the others. Neither could he conclude that it was best to go with Jesus; so he did neither, but "followed Him afar off, even unto the palace of the high priest." At first, he remained on the outside, but later ventured in where the servants were sitting. WEAKNESS BRINGS MISERYWhile Peter was standing by the stove warming himself, a girl came in, and recognizing him as one who had been with Jesus, said, "Thou, also wast with Jesus of Galilee." In a Moment of Weakness. "I know not what thou sayest," said Peter before them all. He then stepped out on the porch, perhaps to cool his burning conscience or to try to collect himself to know what best to do. A man seeing him there cried out, "This man was also with Jesus of Nazareth." "I do not know the man," said Simon; and this time he took an oath. One of the servants of the high priest, who was related to Malchus approached Peter a little later, and said, "Did I not see thee in the Garden with Him?"[ Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, "Man, I know not what thou sayest." At that moment, Peter heard the cock crow. Sorrow. Almost immediately, too, the Savior passing near him, "turned and looked upon Peter." Then recalling the words of his Lord, "Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice."[ Footnotes: |
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