Chapter 16—Angels From Christ’s Passion Until His Death
Jesus and His Disciples Go to Gethsemane
In company with His disciples, the Saviour slowly made His way to the garden of Gethsemane. The Passover moon, broad and full, shone from a cloudless sky.... As they approached the garden, the disciples had marked the change that came over their Master. Never before had they seen Him so utterly sad and silent. As He proceeded, this strange sadness deepened. {TA 192.1}
Near the entrance to the garden, Jesus left all but three of the disciples, bidding them pray for themselves and for Him. With Peter, James, and John, He entered its secluded recesses. {TA 192.2}
“Tarry ye here,” He said, “and watch with Me.” {TA 192.3}
He went a little distance from them and fell prostrate upon the ground. He felt that by sin He was being separated from His Father. The gulf was so broad, so black, so deep, that His spirit shuddered before it. {TA 192.4}
As Christ felt His unity with the Father broken up, He feared that in His human nature He would be unable to endure the coming conflict with the powers of darkness. In the wilderness of temptation the destiny of the human race had been at stake. Christ was then conqueror. Now the tempter had come for the last fearful struggle. For this he had been preparing during the three years of Christ’s ministry. Everything was at stake with him. If he failed here, his hope of mastery was lost; the kingdoms of the world would finally become Christ’s; he himself would be overthrown and cast out. But if Christ could be overcome, the earth would become Satan’s kingdom, and the human race would be forever in his power. With the issues of the conflict before Him, Christ’s soul was filled with dread of separation from God. Satan told Him that if He became the surety for a sinful world, the separation would be eternal. {TA 192.5}
In its hardest features Satan pressed the situation upon the Redeemer: The people who claim to be above all others in temporal and spiritual advantages have rejected You. One of Your own disciples will betray You. One of Your most zealous followers will deny You. All will forsake You. {TA 193.1}
In His agony He clings to the cold ground, as if to prevent Himself from being drawn farther from God. From His pale lips comes the bitter cry, “O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me.” Yet even now He adds, “Nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”—The Desire of Ages, 685-687. {TA 193.2}
Angels in Gethsemane
The heavenly universe had watched with intense interest the entire life of Christ—every step from the manger to the present awful scene. And what a scene was this for ten thousand times ten thousands of angels, of cherubim and seraphim, to look upon.—The Signs of the Times, December 9, 1897. {TA 193.3}
Angels were hovering over the place [Gethsemane], witnessing the scene.—Spiritual Gifts 1:47. {TA 194.1}
They beheld the Son of God, their loved Commander, in His superhuman agony apparently dying on the field of battle to save a lost and perishing world. All heaven had listened to that prayer of Christ. {TA 194.2}
His soul agony, which three times forced from His pale and quivering lips the cry, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt,” convulsed all heaven. They saw their Lord inclosed by legions of Satanic forces, His human nature weighed down with a shuddering, mysterious dread.—The Signs of the Times, December 9, 1897. {TA 194.3}
The angels who had done Christ’s will in heaven were anxious to comfort Him; but it was beyond their power to alleviate His sorrow. They had never felt the sins of a ruined world, and they beheld with astonishment the object of their adoration subject to a grief beyond all expression. Though the disciples had failed to sympathize with their Lord in the trying hour of His conflict, all heaven was full of sympathy and waiting the result with painful interest.— The Present Truth, December 3, 1885 par. 9. {TA 194.4}
Thrice the prayer for deliverance had been wrung from His [Christ’s] lips. Heaven had been unable to longer endure the sight, and had sent a messenger of consolation to the prostrate Son of God, fainting and dying under the accumulated guilt of the world.—The Present Truth, February 18, 1886. {TA 194.5}
In the supreme crisis, when heart and soul are breaking under the load of sin, Gabriel is sent to strengthen the divine Sufferer, and brace Him to tread His bloodstained path.—The Signs of the Times, December 9, 1897. {TA 195.1}
In this awful crisis, when everything was at stake, when the mysterious cup trembled in the hand of the Sufferer, the heavens opened, a light shone forth amid the stormy darkness of the crisis hour, and the mighty angel who stands in God’s presence, occupying the position from which Satan fell, came to the side of Christ. The angel came not to take the cup from Christ’s hand, but to strengthen Him to drink it, with the assurance of the Father’s love. {TA 195.2}
The sleeping disciples had been suddenly awakened by the light surrounding the Saviour. They saw the angel bending over their prostrate Master. They saw him lift the Saviour’s head upon his bosom, and point toward heaven. They heard his voice, like sweetest music, speaking words of comfort and hope.... Again the disciples in their weariness yield to the strange stupor that overpowers them. Again Jesus finds them sleeping. {TA 195.3}
Looking sorrowfully upon them He says, “Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” {TA 195.4}
Even as He spoke these words, He heard the footsteps of the mob in search of Him, and said, “Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.” {TA 195.5}
No traces of His recent agony were visible as Jesus stepped forth to meet His betrayer. Standing in advance of His disciples He said, “Whom seek ye?” They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus replied, “I am He.”—The Desire of Ages, 693, 694. {TA 196.1}
It was in the power of Christ to deliver Himself. When He spoke the words, “I am He,” immediately angels surrounded Him, and that throng had all the evidence they could or would have that Christ was the power of God.—This Day With God, 267. {TA 196.2}
It was difficult for the angels to endure the sight. They would have delivered Jesus ... but the commanding angels forbade them.... Jesus knew that angels were witnessing the scene of His humiliation.... The feeblest angel could have caused that multitude to fall powerless, and deliver Jesus.—Spiritual Gifts 1:50, 51. {TA 196.3}
The angel who had lately ministered to Jesus moved between Him and the mob. A divine light illuminated the Saviour’s face, and a dovelike form overshadowed Him. In the presence of this divine glory, the murderous throng could not stand for a moment. They staggered back. Priests, elders, soldiers, and even Judas, fell as dead men to the ground.... But quickly the scene changed.—The Desire of Ages, 694, 695. {TA 196.4}
The angel withdrew, and left Jesus standing calm and self-possessed, with the bright beams of the moon upon His pale face, and still surrounded by prostrate, helpless men, while the disciples were too much amazed to utter a word. As the angel removes, the hardened Roman soldiers start to their feet, and, with the priest and Judas, they gather about Christ as though ashamed of their weakness, and fearful that He would yet escape out of their hands.—The Signs of the Times, August 21, 1879. {TA 196.5}
The disciples had thought that their Master would not suffer Himself to be taken. They were disappointed and indignant as they saw the cords brought forward to bind the hands of Him whom they loved. Peter in his anger rashly drew his sword and cut off an ear of the high priest’s servant. When Jesus saw what was done, He released His hands, and saying, “Suffer ye thus far,” He touched the wounded ear, and it was instantly made whole. He then said to Peter, “Put up again thy sword into his place: Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He shall presently give Me more than twelve legions of angels?”—The Desire of Ages, 696. {TA 197.1}
As these words were spoken, the countenances of the angels were animated. They wished then, and there, to surround their Commander, and disperse that angry mob. But again sadness settled upon them as Jesus added, But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? The hearts of the disciples sunk again in despair and bitter disappointment, as Jesus suffered them [the mob] to lead Him away.—Spiritual Gifts 1:48. {TA 197.2}
Before the Court of Annas and Caiaphas
Christ was to be tried formally before the Sanhedrin; but before Annas He was subjected to a preliminary trial. {TA 197.3}
When the council had assembled in the judgment hall, Caiaphas took his seat as presiding officer.... As Caiaphas looked upon the prisoner, he was struck with admiration for His noble and dignified bearing. A conviction came over him that this Man was akin to God. The next instant he scornfully banished the thought.—The Desire of Ages, 698, 703, 704. {TA 198.1}
All heaven saw the cruel work done to Christ. In the dreadful scenes transacted in the judgment hall, God showed to the heavenly universe the spirit that would be manifested by those that are unwilling to yield obedience to His law.—Manuscript Releases 12:412. {TA 198.2}
It was difficult for the angels to endure the sight. They would have delivered Jesus out of [the] hands [of His inquisitors]; but the commanding angels forbade them. Jesus knew that angels were witnessing the scene of His humiliation. {TA 198.3}
There stood Jesus, meek and humble before the infuriated multitude, while they offered Him the meanest abuse. They spit in His face—that face which they will one day desire to be hid from, which will give light to the city of God, and shine brighter than the sun—but not an angry look did He cast upon the offenders. He meekly raised His hand, and wiped it off. They covered His head with an old garment; blindfolded Him, and then struck Him in the face, and cried out, Prophesy unto us who it was that smote thee. There was commotion among the angels. They would have rescued Him instantly; but their commanding angel restrained them.—Spiritual Gifts 1:50, 51. {TA 198.4}
Before Pilate
Men were imbued with a satanic spirit at the time when they decided that they would have Barabbas, a thief and murderer, in preference to the Son of God. The demoniac power triumphed over humanity; legions of evil angels took entire control of men, and in answer to Pilate’s question as to whom he should release unto them, they shrieked out, “Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas.” When Pilate spoke again to them concerning Jesus, the hoarse cry was raised, “Crucify him, crucify him.” Through yielding to demoniac agencies, men were led to take their stand on the side of the great apostate. {TA 199.1}
Unfallen worlds looked upon the scene with amazement, unable to comprehend the degradation that sin had wrought. Legions of evil angels controlled the priests and rulers, and gave voice to the suggestions of Satan in persuading and tempting the people by falsehoods and bribes to reject the Son of God, and to choose a robber and murderer in His stead. What a scene was this for God to look upon, for seraphim and cherubim to behold! The only begotten Son of God, the Majesty of heaven, the King of glory, was mocked, insulted, taunted, rejected, and crucified by those whom He came to save, who had given themselves to the control of Satan.—The Review and Herald, April 14, 1896. {TA 199.2}
The angels who were witnessing the whole scene noticed the convictions of Pilate, and marked his sympathy for Jesus. {TA 199.3}
Satan and his angels were tempting Pilate, and trying to lead him on to his own ruin. They suggested to him that if he did not take any part in condemning Jesus, others would.— Spiritual Gifts 1:54, 56. {TA 200.1}
Even now Pilate was not left to act blindly. A message from God warned him from the deed he was about to commit. In answer to Christ’s prayer, the wife of Pilate had been visited by an angel from heaven, and in a dream she had beheld the Saviour and conversed with Him. She saw Him on trial in the judgment hall. She saw the hands tightly bound as the hands of a criminal. She saw Herod and his soldiers doing their dreadful work. She heard the priests and rulers, filled with envy and malice, madly accusing. She heard the words, “We have a law, and by our law He ought to die.” {TA 200.2}
She saw Pilate give Jesus to the scourging, after he had declared, “I find no fault in Him.” She heard the condemnation pronounced by Pilate, and saw him give Christ up to His murderers. She saw the cross uplifted on Calvary. She saw the earth wrapped in darkness, and heard the mysterious cry, “It is finished.” Still another scene met her gaze. She saw Christ seated upon the great white cloud, while the earth reeled in space, and His murderers fled from the presence of His glory. With a cry of horror she awoke, and at once wrote to Pilate words of warning. {TA 200.3}
While Pilate was hesitating as to what he should do, a messenger pressed through the crowd, and handed him the letter from his wife, which read: {TA 200.4}
“Have thou nothing to do with that just Man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him.” {TA 201.1}
Pilate’s face grew pale. He was confused by his own conflicting emotions. But while he had been delaying to act, the priests and rulers were still further inflaming the minds of the people. {TA 201.2}
Pilate longed to deliver Jesus. But he saw that he could not do this, and yet retain his own position and honor. Rather than lose his worldly power, he chose to sacrifice an innocent life. {TA 201.3}
Pilate yielded to the demands of the mob. Rather than risk losing his position, he delivered Jesus up to be crucified.—The Desire of Ages, 732, 733, 738. {TA 201.4}
Christ’s Crucifixion
The Son of God was delivered to the people to be crucified.... They laid on Him the heavy cross ... but Jesus fainted beneath the burden. They then seized ... a man who had not openly professed faith in Christ, yet believed on Him. They laid on him the cross and he bore it to the fatal spot. Companies of angels were marshaled in the air above the place.—Spiritual Gifts 1:57. {TA 201.5}
Who witnessed these scenes? The heavenly universe, God the Father, Satan and his angels.—The Bible Echo, May 29, 1899. {TA 201.6}
Heavenly angels ... heard the mocking taunts and saw the wagging of heads. Gladly would they have broken their ranks and gone to the Son of God in His humiliation and bodily anguish, but this they were not permitted to do.—Manuscript Releases 18:71. {TA 201.7}
“He saved others; himself he cannot save,” was the mocking taunt hurled at Christ during the agony of His death on the cross. At any moment He could have saved Himself, and come down from the cross; but had He done this, the world would have been given over to the control of the great apostate. It was a marvel to the angels that Christ did not seal with death the lips of th