knoweth not what his lord doeth:  but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.  These things I command you, that ye love one another."[2] At this last moment there were again evoked rivalries and struggles for precedence.[3] Jesus remarked, that if he, the Master, had been in the midst of his disciples as their servant, how much more ought they to submit themselves to one another.  According to some, in drinking the wine, he said, “I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom."[4] According to others, he promised them soon a celestial feast, where they would be seated on thrones at his side.[5]

[Footnote 1:  John xiii. 1, and following.  The discourses placed by John after the narrative of the Last Supper cannot be taken as historical.  They are full of peculiarities and of expressions which are not in the style of the discourses of Jesus; and which, on the contrary, are very similar to the habitual language of John.  Thus the expression “little children” in the vocative (John xiii. 33) is very frequent in the First Epistle of John.  It does not appear to have been familiar to Jesus.]

[Footnote 2:  John xiii. 33-35, xv. 12-17.]

[Footnote 3:  Luke xxii. 24-27.  Cf.  John xiii. 4, and following.]

[Footnote 4:  Matt. xxvi. 29; Mark xiv. 25; Luke xxii. 18.]

[Footnote 5:  Luke xxii. 29, 30.]

It seems that, toward the end of the evening, the presentiments of Jesus took hold of the disciples.  All felt that a very serious danger threatened the Master, and that they were approaching a crisis.  At one time Jesus thought of precautions, and spoke of swords.  There were two in the company.  “It is enough,” said he.[1] He did not, however, follow out this idea; he saw clearly that timid provincials would not stand before the armed force of the great powers of Jerusalem.  Peter, full of zeal, and feeling sure of himself, swore that he would go with him to prison and to death.  Jesus, with his usual acuteness, expressed doubts about him.  According to a tradition, which probably came from Peter himself, Jesus declared that Peter would deny him before the crowing of the cock.  All, like Peter, swore that they would remain faithful to him.[2]

[Footnote 1:  Luke xxii. 36-38.]

[Footnote 2:  Matt. xxvi. 31, and following; Mark xiv. 29, and following; Luke xxii. 33, and following; John xiii. 36, and following.]

CHAPTER XXIV.

ARREST AND TRIAL OF JESUS.