Day 24: Tuesday, March 31

Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and smote the servant of the chief priest and cut off his right ear; and the name of the servant was Malchus. Then Jesus said to Peter, Thrust thy sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it? Then the band, and the commander of a thousand, and the attendants of the Jews took Jesus and bound Him, and they led Him away to Annas first; for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was the chief priest that year. And it was Caiaphas who gave counsel to the Jews that it was expedient that one man should perish for the people.

And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple; and that disciple was known to the chief priest and went in with Jesus into the courtyard of the chief priest. But Peter stood at the door outside; then the other disciple came out, who was known to the chief priest, and told her who kept the door, and led Peter in. Then the maid who kept the door says to Peter, Art not thou also of this Man’s disciples? He says, I am not. And the servants and the attendants stood and warmed themselves, having made a fire of coals, because it was cold; and Peter was standing with them and warming himself.

The chief priest then asked Jesus concerning His disciples and concerning His teaching. Jesus answered him, I spoke openly to the world; I always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, where the Jews always come together, and in secret I have spoken nothing. Why dost thou question Me? Question those who heard what I spoke to them; see, they know what I have said. And when He had said these things, one of the attendants standing by gave Jesus a blow with a staff, saying, Answerest Thou the chief priest so? Jesus answered him, If I have spoken with evil, bear witness of the evil, but if well, why dost thou beat Me? Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas, the chief priest.

And Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. Then they said to him, Art not thou also one of His disciples? He denied, and said, I am not. One of the servants of the chief priest, being a kinsman of him whose ear Peter had cut off, says, Did I not see thee in the garden with Him? Then Peter denied again; and straightway the cock crowed. John 18:10-27

In all temptation there is somewhat of doubt concerning the Lord’s presence and mercy, and concerning salvation and the like things, for those who are in temptation are in interior anxiety, even to despair. And they are for the most part kept in despair to the end that they may be at length confirmed in the fact that all things are of the Lord’s mercy; that they are saved by Him alone; and that with themselves there is nothing but evil. In respect to these things they are confirmed by means of conflicts in which they overcome. After the temptation there remain from it many states of truth and good to which their thoughts may afterwards be bent by the Lord, which would otherwise rush into insane things and draw away the mind into opposition to what is true and good. Arcana Coelestia 2334

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