GOOD FRIDAY.

PART II.-THE APPREHENSION.

I. JUDAS BETRAYETH THE LORD WITH A KISS.

Prophecy.

Ir was not an open enemy that hath done Me this dishonour, for then I could have borne it, neither was it My adversary that did magnify himself against Me. But it was even thou, My companion, My guide, and Mine own familiar friend. We took sweet counsel together; and walked in the house of GOD, as friends. Psa. lv. 12-15. See also Psa. xli. 9.

Gospel Harmony.

S. John xviii. 1-8; S. Matt. xxvi. 47-50; S. Mark xiv. 43-45; S. Luke xxii. 47, 48.

And Judas also, which betrayed Him, knew the place; for JESUS ofttimes resorted thither with His disciples. And while He yet spake, Judas, having received a band of men, and officers from the Chief

Priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches, and weapons.

(A great multitude with swords and staves.-S. Matt. and S. Mark.)

Now, he that betrayed Him

gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is He hold Him fast, and lead Him away safely. And as soon as he was come, he forth with came to JESUS, and said, Hail, Master, and kissed Him. And JESUS said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss? JESUS, therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered Him, JESUS of Naza

reth.

JESUS saith unto them, I am He. And Judas also, which betrayed Him, stood with them. As soon, then, as He had said unto them, I am He, they went backward and fell to the ground. Then asked He them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, JESUS of Nazareth. JESUs answered, I have told you that I am He. If, therefore, ye seek Me, let these go their way, that the saying might be fulfilled, which He spake, Of them which Thou hast given Me, have I lost none.

Reflections.

From this we may learn three things. 1st. We must beware lest we prove betrayers of CHRIST. For all betrayers of the truth, professing to love the truth, use the sign of the Kiss; all heretics, likewise, say to JESUS, as Judas did, Hail, Master. He also deceitfully salutes CHRIST who professes to love his friend, or neighbour, and is, at the same time, devising evil against him, as our LORD Himself says, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me." He also craftily salutes, and kisses CHRIST, who makes a promise to his friend, and intends not to perform it; or if he deceitfully praises or flatters him. He, who professes to know GOD and believe in Him, whilst, by his works, he denies Him, is also a betrayer. 2ndly. We must learn

to bear patiently the deceit of wicked men; as CHRIST patiently bore the treacheries of His betrayer. 3rdly, We must not hate our calumniators, or wish them evil; but we should reprove them with love and tenderness.

See also Williams, page 39-58.

Meditation.

Consider now, 0 my soul, the boundless love of thy Saviour. Behold how He thirsts to redeem thee. O Gracious JESU! the only solace of my heart! Where is now the fear, which not long since oppressed thee? Where the anxious trembling? Where the dread of death? When Thine enemies were as yet far from Thee, Thou wert sorrowful even unto death, and didst sweat Blood; but now, when they are in sight, rushing like lions to shed Thy Blood, Thou fearest not, neither tremblest. Thy betrayer comes with a band of sanguinary men, and Thou goest to meet them. O Blessed JESUS! O Gracious Lover of men! how is this? What love fills Thy Heart, that Thou thus goest in the way of Thy enemies, as though they were friends? O most Gracious GOD! what heart is not inflamed by this great love? Who am I, that Thou, the LORD of lords, the King of heaven, the Ruler of the Universe, that Thou shouldst so willingly offer Thyself to death, and into the hands of Thy cruel enemies, for me a vile sinner, and worm of the earth?

The LORD addresses the Traitor with the most gentle words, saying, "Friend, wherefore art thou

come?" As though He had said, "Wherefore do I deserve this of thee, Judas? Wherein have I sinned against thee? In washing thy feet? in bending before thee and showing thee all love and tenderness? Why hast thou esteemed Me of less value than thirty silverlings? Why art thou turned from Me, Who have honoured thee with the office and title of an Apostle, fed thee with delight, and carefully instructed thee as My own son? Wherefore hast thou forsaken Me, the Fountain of living waters, and art joined to the service of the devil? Why hast thou turned aside thy heart to avarice, and relinquished Me, the Chief and eternal Good, selling, for a vile sum, Me, Who have in Myself all the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge, with which I enrich and fill heaven and earth! "Friend," look into thy own heart, I pray thee, and see what thou dost worship, and consider what thou hast done."

Who can observe this great and ineffable benignity of JESUS towards His Betrayer, without tears of compunction for his own sins and ingratitude? Who dare, henceforth, despair of the compassion and mercy of GOD? O Gracious Saviour! if Thou wast so kindly affected to the Traitor, if so amiable to an enemy, so faithful to a wicked and unfaithful servant, as to labour to recall and save him, what, therefore, wilt Thou not do for Thy beloved friends, who desire, seek, and love Thee with all their hearts? O my soul, art thou impatient, angry, and thirsting for revenge or art thou easily moved, with a little word, to anger and reproachful words? O consider that JESUS did not disdain to salute His betrayer, and most wicked

?

enemy, and to call him "Friend:" whereas, thou, indeed, wilt pass by thy neighbours, disdaining to speak to them, and by this thy disdain thou wilt provoke them to hatred and envy, and so destroy the souls of those whom thou mightest have moved to charity by an amiable countenance, and have pleased with kind words.

See Meditation for Wednesday, "on the Betrayal," p. 222.

As if He had

JESUS said unto them, "I AM HE." said, "I am prepared to fulfil the will of My FATHER, and to offer Myself a living Sacrifice to the honour and Glory of My FATHER, and for the Salvation of Men. I am prepared to blot out, with My Blood, the handwriting which is against them, and to redeem them from eternal death. Truly did your High Priest prophesy, "that One Man should die for the people." I am, therefore, that Man. I am that Innocent Lamb to be offered for the sins of the people. "I am He,"

Whom ye seek;-seize Me-take Me-bind Me-and lead Me also unto death itself.

Prayer.

See the prayers, page 268 and 272.