They took it.  Then He took the beaker of wine, lifted it to heaven that it might be blessed, passed it round, and said:  “Take it and drink.  It is My blood that will be shed for you.”

And when they had all drunk.  He added:  “Do this in remembrance of Me.”

CHAPTER XXXI

When the disciples separated after the meal, notwithstanding their fears, they did not realise that it was a farewell.  They sought their lodgings.  Only John, Peter, and James accompanied the Master when He left the town in the dark night and descended the valley to the foot of the Mount of Olives.  There was a garden there.  White stones lay between the savin trees and the weeping cypresses, fresh spring grass covered the ground.  Jesus said to His companions:  “Stay here a little.”  He Himself went farther into the garden.  The sky was covered by a thin veil of cloud, so that the moon shed a pale light over the earth.  The town on the mountain rose up dark and still; no sound was to be heard except the rippling of the brook Kedron in the valley.  Jesus stood and looked up through the trees towards heaven.  He breathed heavily, and drops of perspiration stood on His brow.  He felt a great agony, an agony He had never before known.  Had He not often thought of death, and in His mind felt quite reconciled to it?  Did He not know that the Heavenly Father would receive Him?  Only He still belonged to this sweet life below, and still the way was open to Him to escape death.  Is His soul so weak now that it is troubled by the prospect of the enemy at hand, ready to seize Him?  Can He not go over the mountain to Jericho, into the wilderness, to the sea?  No, not flight.  Of His own free will He is to appear before the judges in order to stand by what He said.  Ah! but this surrender to the powers He had offended means death.  He sank down on the ground so that His head touched the grass, as if He would draw the earth to Him with eager arms.  “Must it be, O Father?  Fain would I stay with men in order to bring them nearer to Me.  Who will guide My disciples, still so weak?  Guard them from evil, but do not take them from the world.  Let them live and spread Thy name.  If it is possible, let Me stay with them.  But if it must be, take this agony of soul from Me and stand by Me.  But I must not demand aught, My God, only humbly entreat.  If it is Thy will that I shall suffer all human sorrow and pain, then Thy will be done.  Accept this sacrifice for all who have provoked Thee.  If Thou desirest it, I will take the sins of the world upon Me, and atone for them that Thou mayest pardon.  But if it may be avoided, Father, My Father who art in heaven, have mercy on Thy Son, who has proclaimed Thy mercy.”  So He prayed, and in His infinite distress He longed for His disciples.  He went to them and found them asleep.  They were sleeping like innocent children, and knew nothing of His terrible struggle.  He woke Peter, and said:  “I am wellnigh perishing with sorrow.  Surely you might watch with Me in this hour.”