The Betrayal
Jesus was still speaking to His disciples when the Judas led a large group of men who were carrying both swords and clubs arrived on the scene. The Pharisees, who had issued a warrant for Jesus’ arrest, sent this mob of soldiers with Judas. They were there for one reason alone, to seize Jesus and bring Him before the religious leaders. One must wonder exactly what the religious leaders thought of Jesus that they would commission a group of soldiers to arrest one man. Apparently they weren’t sure how His followers would respond to such actions. As it turns out His disciples ran away in fear of being caught.
Matthew & Mark only report that an unidentified disciple sliced off the ear of a servant of a Pharisee. No mention of Jesus healing the ear. Luke, the physician, is the disciple who reports the slicing of the ear AND the fact that Jesus totally restored the ear of the servant by simply touching where the ear had been severed. The doctor added that key detail. Now John’s gospel is interesting, in that while he didn’t report the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus agonized over impending future events, he DID report the betrayal and arrest. John is the one who identifies the unknown disciple (the impetuous Peter) who cut off the ear of the Pharisee’s servant and he even reveals the servants name. He does NOT however tells us Jesus healed the servants ear. Only Luke does that. It is interesting to me that there was no recorded reaction by anyone who was there regarding the miraculous healing of the ear.
Jesus knew exactly why the mob was there. He knew Judas was His betrayer. In the gospel of Matthew (26:50-56) Jesus speaks to those who came to arrest Him. But first He speaks to Peter, who sliced off the servants ear ... Jesus tells Peter to put away his sword, then asks the following question: v.53 – “Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and He would send them instantly?” Then the Lord explains why that doesn’t happen with another question: v.54 – “But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?” You see it was all pre-arranged from the beginning of time. God’s knew His creation would have a propensity to sin against Him, therefore, He provided a solution prior to the existence of the problem. Jesus had at this point accepted what He must do. So He willingly allowed this final scenario to play out as prophesied.
Jesus pointed out to the group of men that they could have arrested Him at any time, but they came at night. Why was that? The religious leaders were concerned that if arrested during the day while Jesus was teaching a crowd of people, His followers may have caused trouble, perhaps even riot. Evil deeds are many times done in darkness as if the lack of light could hide their actions. God sees all, there is nothing that could ever surprise Him.
The gospel of John adds some interesting details to the event. “Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked. “Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) As Jesus said, “I am he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground! Once more he asked them, “Who are you looking for? And again they replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.” “I told you that I am he,” Jesus said. “And since I am the one you want, let these others go.” He did this to fulfill his own statement: “I did not lose a single one of those you have given me.” This is something that didn’t appear in the other three gospels. The mob falling to the ground and the words Jesus spoke were slightly different. Luke’s mention of Jesus healing the servants ear and what John shared reveals His divinity, yet those there to arrest Him were blinded by their mission and didn’t react in any way that was noticeable to the disciples.
Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.
In His Name & for His Glory,
RL Keller
Bread of Life Ministries
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