Christ the Greatest Hero in Battle

of its own ugliness, and makes him appear no less abominable to outward eyes than the vice itself. Jesus, moreover, was the one who had been offended. He was the one whom the disciple, greedy for 30 pieces of silver original: Silberlinge, intended to betray. Nevertheless, in His mind, Jesus separated the vice from the person; He pitied the latter as an unfortunate victim and honored the human dignity Menschenwürde: the inherent worth belonging to every human being, a central concept in Enlightenment ethics within him with heartfelt forbearance. In this way, the wretched man was meant to feel that he was making not the object of his betrayal, but himself, most miserable. And Jesus remained so full of gentleness Sanftmuth: a mildness of temper and spirit, often associated with Christ-like patience even in the final moment when the betrayer stood before Him and, in a revolting manner, transformed the sacred sign of friendship into a sign of treachery original: Verrätherey. *) — “Greetings to you, dear Teacher!” said the unfeeling man, robbed of every human sentiment, with a kiss, while behind him the armed henchmen Häscher: catchpolls or guards sent to make an arrest already lurked to bind the one who had been kissed and lead Him in chains before the blood court Blutgericht: a high court with the power to impose the death penalty. — But Jesus answered the disciple: “My friend, why have you come? Do you be-

*) — Matthew 26:49. The biblical passage describing Judas identifying Jesus to the guards with a kiss.