LETTER XXIX.
[figure description] Page 312.[end figure description]
My Dearest Father:—With what emotions of grief and
amazement I commence this letter, you can form
no just conception. Jesus, the Prophet of God, is a
prisoner to the Roman power! He is accused of making
himself a king, and of a conspiracy to re-establish the
throne of David! And who, think you, have accused him
of this noble effort, but the Jews, our own, his own people!
men who should glory in seeing the dominion of the
Cæsars at an end; men who should blush longer to have
Mount Zion commanded by a Roman citadel. These base,
degraded, and wicked scribes and priests, whom I am
ashamed to call my countrymen, have accused the divinelygifted
Jesus, before Pilate, of rebellion and treason! And
at this moment, while I write, he is in the ward-room of
the Procurator's palace, held a close prisoner.
But I fear not the issue! He cannot be holden of his
foes, save by his own free will. He can, with a word,
turn his chains into bands of sand, and by a glance render
his guards dead men! He will therefore, escape their
bonds! They can have no power over him. But will
not the Lord God punish our nation for this sin and enmity
against His Christ? You will ask, my father, why, if
he possesses such mighty power, hath he suffered himself
-- 313 --
[figure description] Page 313.[end figure description]
to be taken prisoner? This question I cannot answer.
It troubles me. I wonder, and am transfixed with amazement.
Every one around me asks the same question.
Our house is thronged with his friends, who, midnight as
it is, have come hither to hear if the rumor is true. Five
of his disciples are with uncle Amos in the court, giving
an account of the manner of his arrest, which I will relate
to you, although it increases the mystery.
It seems that to-day, after eating the Passover with his
twelve chosen friends, he went forth with them towards
Olivet, and there seating himself beneath the shade of
a tree, he talked with them very sadly, saying that his
hour was come, that he had ended his work, and that
he was about to be delivered into the hands of sinful
men.
John, upon being questioned by cousin Mary and myself,
thus told us:—It was evening, and the south side of
Olivet lay in deep shadow. We were all sorrowful. We
felt each one of us, as if some grievous evil was pending
over us. The tones of our beloved Master's voice moved
us to tears, as much as his words, which latter were full
of mystery. We were all present, except Iscariot, who had
remained in the city to discharge the costs, he being our
purse-bearer, of the Passover Supper, and pay for the hire
of the room. At that supper Jesus had said very plainly,
that one of our number would betray him into the hands
of the priests; who, since his triumphant entry into the
Holy City, preceded and followed by the multitude, shouting
hosannas, and proclaiming him Messias, had diligently
sought his life. At hearing our Lord say these strange
words in accents of touching reproach, we were all deeply
moved; and Peter and the rest at once questioned him,
-- 314 --
[figure description] Page 314.[end figure description]
individually, if it were they. I was resting at the moment,
with my cheek on the shoulder of Jesus, and said, softly:
“Lord, who is it that betrayeth thee? I will forthwith
lay hands upon him, and prevent his doing thee harm!”
Jesus shook his head, and smiling gently, said:
“My beloved brother, thou knowest not what thou
wouldest do. The Son of Man must needs be betrayed
by his own friends, but woe unto him who betrayeth me.
See thou who dippeth bread with me into the dish!”
I looked, and saw Judas reach forward, and dip into the
dish at the same instant in which Jesus dipped; but in
his eagerness, or from conscious guilt, his hand trembled,
he spilled the salt on the board, and the sop fell from his
grasp into the bowl; upon which Jesus gave him the
piece he held, saying to him, with a remarkable expression
in his clear, piercing eyes: “Judas, what thou doest
do quickly!”
We were surprised at the tone and manner in which
this was spoken, but supposed the command had reference
to some of Judas's duties, little suspecting what fearful
thing he was to do! Instantly Judas rose from the table,
and without a word, or casting a look at any of us, went
out.
For a few moments, after his footsteps had ceased to be
heard, there prevailed a heavy silence in the chamber; for
a strange fear had fallen upon us; why we could not tell;
and looking into one another's faces, and then into our
dear Master's, we seemed to await some dread event.
His face was placid, and full of affection, as he looked
upon us. The momentary cloud, which shaded the noble
profile when he spoke to Judas, had passed off, and there
was the serenity of a cloudless sky in his face.
-- 315 --
[figure description] Page 315.[end figure description]
“My children,” he said, “I am to be with you but a
little while longer. The hour of my departure is at hand.
Remember my last words,—Love one another! In this
shall all men know that ye are my disciples.”
“Lord,” cried Peter, “we will go with thee! Thou
shalt not leave us! nor go without us!”
“The priests seek to kill thee, and thy footsteps are
watched!” exclaimed Andrew, earnestly.
“Yes, we will not suffer thee, dear Rabbi, to go abroad
alone,” said James, with enthusiasm; “our hearts and
hands will defend thee!”
“Whither wilt thou depart, Lord?” I asked, with emotion.
“Thou wilt not trust thyself to the Jews?”
Thus we all, eagerly and tearfully, gathered around
him, alarmed and grieved at the words he had said. He
regarded us lovingly, and said:
“Little children, I must leave you. Whither I go you
cannot come!”
“Though thou wentest to the uttermost parts of the
sea, I will follow thee, my Master and Lord!” exclaimed
Peter. “Whither goest thou, that we may not follow?
I will lay down my life for thee, and so will all these!”
With one voice we asserted our devotion to our beloved
Master, and secretly, I asked him whither he intended to
go, and why he forbade us to go with him?
“As Abraham bound Isaac his son, and laid him upon
the wood, so shall my Father cause me to be bound and
laid upon the wood; and shall slay me, a sacrifice for the
sins of his people!”
“Not so! not so! Lord,” cried Peter. “I will die for
thee, ere a hair of thy head shall fall.” And the
-- 316 --
[figure description] Page 316.[end figure description]
warmhearted disciple drew his sword, and placed himself by the
side of Jesus, as if to defend him.
“Wilt thou die for me, Peter?” said Jesus, gazing on
him with a sad, sweet look: “Verily, verily, Peter, thou
little knowest thyself. The cock shall not crow twice,
heralding the coming morning, ere thou shalt thrice deny
that thou knowest me!”
“Deny thee, Lord!” repeated Peter, with amazed grief,
and horror in his looks.
“Yes, Peter,” answered Jesus, firmly, but kindly;
“deny that you ever knew me! for the time draweth
near when there will be safety only in confessing ignorance
of Jesus the Nazarene. And all of you,” he added,
while his voice grew tremulous, and tears glistened in his
eyes, “all of you shall be offended because of me, this
night; ye shall be ashamed to confess that you are my
disciples, and ye will think me a deceiver, and will be
displeased at me. Yea, every one of you shall desert me;
for thus it is written: “The Shepherd shall be smitten,
and the sheep shall be scattered!”
At hearing these words, we knew not what to answer;
but I kissed my dear Lord's hand, and said, that if danger
were hanging over him, as it seemed, I would share it
with him!
When he saw that our hearts were troubled, and that
we were sad, and that the faithful Philip sobbed aloud, at
being supposed capable of abandoning his Master, he
added, “Let not your hearts be troubled; I go to prepare
a place for you in my Father's house!”
“Thy father, Lord, liveth at Nazareth, and hath but
two small apartments in his humble house,” said Thomas;
“how sayest thou that we are all to lodge there!”
-- 317 --
[figure description] Page 317.[end figure description]
“Thomas, thou canst understand only what thine eyes
see. I speak of my Father who is in Heaven. In His
house are many mansions.”
Jesus then began plainly to tell us that he was to die,
and that by his death we should be admitted into a
heavenly Paradise, and live forever. We could not understand
all he said, but we knew that he was soon to be
taken from us; and sorrow filled all our hearts. After
discoursing with us in the most touching words, he at
length said:
“Come, let us go over Cedron, to the garden we so
much loved to walk in.”
We went out with him, inclosing him as a guard, to
conceal his person from the Jewish spies, as well as to
defend him. Peter and James went before with drawn
swords. In this way we passed through the gloomy
streets, and forth from the gate, which Pilate suffered to
be open day and night, on account of the crowds at the
Passover, coming in and going out. The moon shining
brightly, and by its light glancing on the face of Jesus,
by whom I walked, I saw that it was sadder than its
wont, while he spoke but little.
We at length crossed the Cedron, and entered the dark
groves of Olivet. Familiar with all the paths, we advanced
to a central group of the venerable Olivet trees,
beneath which Abraham used to sit, and there Jesus, turning
to us, said, in a voice of the deepest woe:
“Friends, the hour of my time of trial is come! My
work is ended. I would be alone! Remain you here,
and watch, for we shall be sought for. Come with me,
Peter, and you, also, James. I am going to pray yonder.”
“Not take me, also, dear Lord?” I said, sorrowfully.
-- 318 --
[figure description] Page 318.[end figure description]
“Yes, thou art always with me, beloved,” he answered;
“I will not leave thee now.”
So leaving the eight friends to keep watch against the
intrusion of his enemies, who were known to be everywhere
seeking him, he walked away to the most secluded
recesses of the garden. He stopped at the place, near the
rock, where Adam is said to have hidden from Jehovah;
and, saying to us, in a sorrowful tone: “Tarry ye here,
while I go apart, and pray to my Father,” he went from
us about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, where a thick
olive branch, hanging low to the ground, concealed him
from our view. I was so solicitous lest he should leave
us, and we should see him no more, that I soon softly advanced
near to the spot, and beheld him prostrate on the
ground, while deep groans broke from his heart. I heard
his voice murmuring, but could not distinguish the words,
broken by grief; only the tones were those of strange
horror and dread.
As he prayed thus, in great agony, I suddenly beheld a
swift light pass by me, as if from the skies, and an angel
stood by the side of Jesus, bending over him, and raising
him up from the ground. A soft bright glory shone around
the spot, so that Peter, seeing it, advanced towards me,
supposing some one had entered the garden, bearing a torch.
I beckoned to Peter to be motionless, and he gazed with
me in speechless astonishment and admiration upon the
form of the angel, from whose glorious face was emitted the
radiance which illumined the place where Jesus was. As
the angel raised Jesus from the ground, we saw that his
countenance was convulsed with anguish; and upon his
brow stood great shining drops of sweat, mingled with
blood, which oozed from his pallid temples, and rolling
-- 319 --
[figure description] Page 319.[end figure description]
down his marble cheeks, dropped to the ground. Never
had we beheld a human visage so marred by sorrow, so
deeply graven with the lines of agony.
The angel seemed to utter soothing words, and pointed,
with his shining hand, towards heaven, as if to encourage
him with hope, and give him strength. The face of Jesus
grew more serene; he raised his eyes with a divine expression
of holy submission, and said, in a strong voice:
“Thy will, not mine, O God, be done!”
The angel then seemed to embrace and kiss him, and
rose and disappeared, like a star returning into the blue
depths of heaven; while Peter and I stood by wondering,
and full of awe, at what we saw.
“How looked the angel?” I asked of my cousin John,
interrupting him in his recital.
“As a young and noble youth, with a countenance so
dazzling I could not look upon him steadily. He seemed
to be clothed in flowing raiment, silvery white; and a
fragrance, more delicate and grateful than the subtlest
attar of roses of India, was diffused by his presence
throughout the garden, while the sound of his voice seemed
to fill all the air with strange musical vibrations, unlike
any thing heard on earth.”
“Had the angel wings?” asked my cousin Mary.
“Nay, I could not well discern,” answered John. “His
robes seemed to shape themselves into wings, as he rose
from the earth; and when he stood they flowed with living
grace about his god-like form. After the departure
of the angel, Jesus seemed calmer, and as we did not
wish longer to intrude upon his sacred privacy, we softly
returned to where James lay asleep. We remained for
some time conversing together upon the wonderful vision
-- 320 --
[figure description] Page 320.[end figure description]
we had seen, which confirmed us in the certainty that
Jesus came from God, and was in truth the Messias, that
should come; but at length, wearied with our day's excitements,
we must have fallen asleep, for we were suddenly
startled by the voice of our dear Master, saying:
“Why sleep ye, children? But the hour is past for
watching. Ye may sleep on now, for though your flesh is
weary, your spirit is willing. I need your aid no longer!”
But we refused to sleep longer. We then advanced to
where the other disciples were, and found them also asleep.
“Arise, let us be going!” cried Jesus, in a tone that
roused them to their feet; “they are at hand who seek
me!”
While he was speaking, we saw many lights gleaming
through the trees, along King David's walk, and the
tramp of feet fell on our ears. We soon saw a large party
advancing into the midst of the garden, who walked rapidly,
and spoke only in under tones. We at once took the
alarm, and said to Jesus:
“Fly, dear Master! Let us ascend the hill, and escape
by the way to Bethany; for these are enemies.”
“Nay,” answered our dear Master; “I must submit to
my Father's will. It must needs be that I deliver myself
into the hands of these men; how else shall the Scriptures
be fulfilled! Seek safety in flight for yourselves; but I
must go whither they will lead me.”
“Not so, Lord,” answered Peter. “There is time for
thee to escape; or if not, we will stand by thee, and defend
thee!”
So said all the disciples. Jesus shook his head, and
said, with a sad smile, “Ye know not now what ye say,
or would do. My hour is come!”
-- 321 --
[figure description] Page 321.[end figure description]
While he yet spake, the multitude drew nearer, and
those who had the lead, raising their torches high above
their heads, discovered us, with Jesus in the midst. To
my surprise I beheld Judas acting as their guide, for he
alone knew where his Master was to be found at that
hour. Upon discovering Jesus, this wicked man ran forward,
with expressions of attachment in his face, and
kissed Jesus on the cheek, saying:
“Hail, Master! I am glad I have found thee!”
“Judas,” said Jesus, “betrayest thou the Son of Man
with a kiss!”
When Judas heard this, he turned to the multitude, at
the head of which I recognized some of the chief priests,
and most learned scribes of the Temple, and cried aloud:
“This is he! seize him, and hold him fast!”
Thereupon the crowd, to the number of tenscore men,
among whom were the vilest sort of people, rushed forward
to lay hands upon Jesus: the moon and torches shedding
almost the bright light of day upon the whole group.
At seeing them advance so furiously, with spears, and
clubs, and swords, Peter and James placed themselves
before Jesus, to defend him, while I, being uncovered,
cast myself across his breast, to shield his heart with my
body. The more bold men in the crowd coming too near,
Peter smote one of them with his sword, as he was reaching
out his arm to grasp Jesus by the shoulder, and clave
off his ear. At seeing this the crowd uttered a fierce
shout, and were pressing upon us, when Jesus raised the
palm of his hand, and said, quietly:
“Whom seek ye?”
Instantly the whole mass rolled backward, like a receding
billow rebounding from the face of an immovable rock,
-- 322 --
[figure description] Page 322.[end figure description]
and every man fell with his forehead to the ground, where
they lay for a minute stunned; and we twelve stood alone,
save Judas, who had not been struck down, and now remained
gazing with amazement and terror upon the prostrate
enemies of Jesus.
“Lord!” cried Peter, astonished, “if thou canst thus
repel thy foes, thou needest not fear them more. Shall I
smite Judas also?”
“Nay—put up thy sword, Peter! Let him remain to
witness my power, that he may see that he nor his have
any power over me, save what I give them.”
While he was thus speaking, the men rose to their feet,
and instead of flying, they seemed to be infuriated at their
discomfiture; and as the chief priests cried out that it was
by sorcery they had been striken down, they rushed madly
forward, and laid their hands upon Jesus, and upon us all.
In vain I contended against numbers to rescue Jesus! in
vain the sword of the valiant Peter flashed in the torchlight,
and fell upon the heads of the captors; overpowered
by numbers, we were defeated, and driven from the field
of contest, leaving Jesus in the hands of his enemies!
When John had gone thus far in his relation, dear father,
our tears and his were mingled. We wondered that Jesus,
who could, as he had shown, destroy his enemies with a
wave of his hand, should suffer them to make him their
prisoner; for in their hands he knew he must die! This
amazes and bewilders us. At one moment we are tempted
to lose our confidence in him, and believe, as many
now begin to say, that we have been following a deceiver,
and in the next to trust fully in him, and that he will yet
overcome his enemies, and be restored to us. Every step
we hear at the door makes our blood bound, for we think
-- 323 --
[figure description] Page 323.[end figure description]
it may be our beloved Lord escaped from the hands of his
captors. We must wait the issue with hope and faith!
To-morrow will, perhaps, reveal all. The mystery that
envelopes this great Prophet is inscrutable. The seeming
contradictions that make up his character, bewilder us.
But we try and comfort ourselves with the word of his
promise:
“Ye know not now; but ye shall know by and by, and
shall believe truly, that I came out from God! What
seems to you mysterious, shall be made clear as light.
Wait, and have faith, and all shall be made known which
now you understand not. Let no trials and degradations
ye see me pass through cause your faith to fail. I am
come into this world to conquer; but it is expedient first
that I humble myself; but if I stoop, it is to raise up the
world with me, when I rise again!”
Ah, it is stooping, indeed, for this Prince of the Prophets
to suffer himself to be led away bound by his foes!
But we hope with trembling, dear father, remembering
his words!
I have omitted to mention to you what more John
related, touching the arrest of the Prophet. As the chief
priests bound and laid their hands on him, there was
heard above in the air the sound of myriads of rushing
wings, and the gathering signal of a trumpet echoing in
the skies, as if a countless host of invisible beings were
marshalling, armies by armies, in the mid-heaven. At
this fearful and sublime sound, all raised their heads, but
saw nothing; and Jesus said, with a majestic and commanding
look, such as I never before beheld upon his
face:
“Ye hear,” he said to us, “that I am not without
-- 324 --
[figure description] Page 324.[end figure description]
heavenly friends! I have only to pray my Father, which
is in heaven, and He will bid twelve legions of his angels,
now hovering, sword-armed, in the air, and yearning to
defend me, descend to my aid! But I may not use my
powers for myself. I came on earth to suffer. As a man,
I must submit to all things that come upon me; nor make
use of more means in my behalf than a man can do! For
this I came into the world. Lead on, I go with you!”
Thus, dear father, was Jesus borne away by a fierce
multitude, and dragged into the city, followed by a shouting
and insulting crowd, who, seeing that, notwithstanding
his miraculous powers, they could secure and hold him,
mocked him only the more, making light of powers which
could not prevent the capture of his person. Some even
reviled him on the way, and asked him to call down the
twelve legions of angels; while others said they were
hungry and thirsty, and would have him turn water into
wine for them, and give them bread by another miracle of
loaves.
John, whose interest in, and affection for Jesus, led him
to follow them, disguised in a Roman soldier's cloak, heard
all this; but Jesus made no answer, only walking quietly
along, patiently enduring all they said and did.
As they entered the Damascus gate, the Roman guard,
seeing the immense crowd and uproar, stopped them to
learn the cause of the commotion.
“We have here a traitor and conspirator, O Captain of
the guard,” answered Eli, the chief priest; “a pestilent
fellow, who calls himself Christ, a king. We have, therefore,
with this band of hired soldiers, taken him, as he was
met secretly, with twelve of his fellow conspirators,
-- 325 --
[figure description] Page 325.[end figure description]
plotting to overthrow the government of Cæsar, and make
himself king of Judea.”
“Long live Cæsar! Long live the emperor!” shouted
the Roman soldiers. “We have no king but Augustus
Imperator!”
Upon this, many of the soldiers cried, “Take him
before the Procurator! He will give him his deserts, who
would take his Procuratorship from him! To Pilate! To
Pilate!”
“To Annas!” shouted the Jews. “First, to Annas!”
Then, with some shouting one thing, and others another
thing, and with vast numbers of those who had come up
to the Passover pressing to get sight of the Prophet, he
was hurried towards the house of Annas, who is the most
popular man among our people, and whose influence over
them is unbounded. On reaching, with great uproar of
voices, and by the light of torches, the dwelling of the
High Priest's son-in-law, they called him to the roof of
the house, to which he came in his night apparel; for it
was by this time near the hour of midnight.
When Annas knew that the prisoner was Jesus, he
uttered a fearful oath of joy and wicked satisfaction, and
coming down into the court, bade them bring the prisoner
in. The calm majesty of Jesus abashed him, and checked
the course of insulting questions he began to put to him.
At length, finding that the Prophet would make him no
reply, he caused him to be bound still more closely, and
sent him to Caiaphas the High Priest, saying to him:
“Caiaphas will find voice for thy tongue, O Prophet!
So, thou wouldst destroy the Temple, and callest thyself
the Lord Jehovah! Out, blasphemer! Away with him,
or the house will be swallowed up with the presence of
-- 326 --
[figure description] Page 326.[end figure description]
one so impious. Away with the blasphemer! Pilate will
make thee king in truth, and give thee a Roman throne,
to which, so that thou mayest not presently fall from it,
he will nail thee, foot and hand!”
At this the crowd shouted their approbation, and many
cried:
“To the cross! to the cross with him!”
But others said: “Nay, but to Caiaphas!” While the
Roman soldiers asserted that he should be taken before
Pilate.
With renewed uproar, they tumultuously pressed forward,
their way lighted by the red glare of a hundred
torches. John followed, but being recognized as one of
his disciples, by a soldier in Æmilius's legion, he was
seized, and only escaped by leaving his cloak in the hands
of the rude Roman; for such was the prevalent hatred to
Jesus, that they called for his followers, and would have
taken them also had it been in their power. Five of the
disciples, who have escaped arrest, are now in this house,
whither John fled on eluding the grasp of the soldier. We
are all sad and anxious. To move in favor of Jesus is
only to share his fate, and do him no service; besides, I
am pained to say, two or three of his disciples begin to
doubt whether he is Messias, since, instead of establishing
his promised kingdom, he is now a prisoner, and menaced
with death.
Yet, through all, dear father, I trust in him, and hope.
I cannot doubt his truth and power. I have seen him
bring Lazarus from the grave, and I will not believe but
that He can save himself, and will save himself, from their
hands. It is only when I shall behold him really no more—
see him really dead, that my faith in his divine mission
-- 327 --
[figure description] Page 327.[end figure description]
will waver. If he should be slain, then, alas! not only
will perish forever all my hopes, and those of his trembling,
weeping disciples, but the hopes of the restoration and
glory of Judah; for verily we have believed that it is He
which should have redeemed Israel! With eyes blinded
with tears, I can scarcely subscribe myself,
Your sad, but loving daughter,
Adina.
-- 328 -- p612-363
Ingraham, J. H. (Joseph Holt), 1809-1860 [1855], The Prince of the house of David, or, Three years in the Holy City. Being a series of the letters of Adina... and relating, as by an eye witness, all the scenes and wonderful incidents in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, from his baptism in Jordan to his crucifixion on Calvary. (Pudney & Russell, New York) [word count] [eaf612T].
