John in his old age recalled precious memories of it, because Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with His disciples.  But he had a remembrance of another kind.  It is when speaking of this midnight hour that he says, “Judas also which betrayed Him knew the place.”  Thither he led his band—­to Gethsemane.

“Lo, he that betrayeth Me is at hand,” said

Jesus to the three, as He saw the gleams of the torches of the coming multitude.  His captors were many, but His thought was especially on one—­His betrayer.  Again John reads for us the mind of Jesus, as he did when the “Lord and Master washed the disciples’ feet.”  He would have us understand the calmness of the fixed purpose of Jesus to meet without shrinking the terrible trial before Him, and to do this voluntarily—­not because of any power of His approaching captors.  “Knowing all things that were coming upon Him,” He “went forth” to meet them—­especially him who at that moment was uppermost in His thought.  John now understood that last, mysterious bidding of the Lord to Judas, with which He dismissed him from the table—­“That thou doest, do quickly.”  He now “knew for what intent He spake this unto him.”  It was not to buy things needed for the feast, nor to give to the poor.  It was to betray Him.

What a scene was that—­Jesus “going forth,” the three following Him; and Judas in advance, yet in sight of his band, coming to meet Him.

“Hail, Rabbi,” was the traitor’s salute.  And then on this solemn Passover night, in this consecrated place, just hallowed by angelic presence, interrupting the Lord’s devotions, rushing upon holiness and infinite goodness, with pretended fellowship and reverence, profaning and repeating—­as if with gush of emotion—­the symbol of affection, Judas covered the face of Jesus with kisses.

How deep the sting on this “human face divine,” already defaced by the bloody sweat, and to be yet more by the mocking reed, and smiting hand and piercing thorn.  The vision of the prophet seven hundred years before becomes a reality—­“His visage was so marred more than any man.”  “But nothing went so close to His heart as the profanation of this kiss.”

According to John’s account, Judas’ kiss was an unnecessary signal.  Jesus Himself leaving the traitor, advanced toward the band, with a question which must have startled the Apostles, as well as the traitor and his company—­“Whom seek ye?” The contemptuous reply, “Jesus of Nazareth,” did not disturb His calmness as He said, “I am He,” and repeated His question, “Whom seek ye?” Nor was that infinite calmness disturbed by the deeper contempt in the repeated answer, “Jesus of Nazareth.”  They had come with weapons of defence, but they were as useless as the betrayal kiss, especially when some of them, awed by His presence and words, “went backward and fell to the ground.”

We have seen Jesus going forward from His company and meeting Judas going forward from his.  We must now think of Judas joining his band, and the eleven disciples surrounding their Lord.  John has preserved the only request made of the captors by the Master.  It was not for Himself, but for His disciples;—­“If therefore ye seek Me, let these go their way.”