Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/705

 of angels? How then  shall  the  Scriptures  be  fulfilled  that  so  it must  be  done?”  So  saying,  He  touched  the  ear  of Malchus  and healed him. He then  held  out  His  Hands,  and  they  bound  Him and led  Him  away. Then the  disciples  all  fled,  leaving  Him  alone in the  hands  of  His  enemies.

The Divinity  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. Before our  Blessed  Lord gave Himself  up  into  the  hands  of  His  enemies,  He  manifested  His Godhead in  several  ways:  i.  By  casting  His  enemies  to  the  ground  by His  words:  “ I am  Hel”  The  power  of  these  simple  words  sufficed  to fell  to  the  ground  a whole  troop  of  rough  soldiers  and  servants  who were thirsting  to  capture  Him. Jesus required  no  help  from  outside,  no legions  of  the  heavenly  host;  His  word  alone  sufficed  to  render  his enemies powerless,  and  their  weapons  harmless; for  it  was  the  word  of Him  who  “shall  strike  the  earth  with  the  rod  of  His  mouth,  and  with the breath  of  His  lips  shall  slay  the  wicked’’  (Is.  11,  4). By thus  overthrowing the  troop  and  bidding  them  rise  again,  our  Lord  proved  that no human  force,  but  only  the  excess  of  His  love  could  chain  Him. He manifested  His  Divinity  2. in the  effect  produced  by  His  command that His  disciples  should  be  left  untouched. Although He  was  Himself a captive in  the  hands  of  the  ruffians  who  had  seized  Him,  He  spoke to them  as  a Master  to  his  slaves,  as  a conqueror  to  those  he  had vanquished; and  they,  full  of  hatred  as  they  were  both  towards  Himself and  His  doctrine,  obeyed  Him  without  demur,  and  did  not  dare