Jesus Is Betrayed and Arrested Matt 26:47-56 // Mark 14:43-52 // Luke 22:47-53 // John 18:1-12
47And even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people.48The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.”49So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, eRabbi!” he exclaimed and gave him the kiss.
50Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.”
Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.51But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear.
52“Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword.53Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of fangels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? 54But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”
55Then Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day.56But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures.” At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.
Jesus call Judas “my friend”, even after he betrayed him. I think this reveals so much about our Lord. He does not abandon us when we sin. He love is not dependent upon our good actions. He does not repay evil for evil. No, Jesus chooses to love us when we are not loveable and he refuses to stop loving us. Can I become like that that? Can I love so unconditionally? Not without Jesus!
And then Jesus marches on to fulfill his destiny. He makes it clear to his disciples that he can bring this all to an end. No one is making him do anything here. He wants to do his Father’s will at all cost. He had a choice, and submission to his Father is what he chose. Can we make that choice? We all do have a choice also. We can choose our way or God’s way, but we all must choose just as Jesus did.
Lastly, Jesus says more than once that this is all the fulfillment of scripture. I read in this a call to his disciples, which means us, to study the Word and find those prophecies. At least today, it is like I’m being beaten over the head with the Old Testament as I hear Jesus saying “Study, learn, and have your faith increased!”
Lord Jesus, fill me with Your love so I can love as You love. Change my heart so I can submit to Your will for my life. And open my mind and heart to Your Word so I may have the faith and the wisdom to know and do Your will. Change me Lord, change me. *obbs*