Vs.
47
And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of
the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief
priests and elders of the people.
Now while Jesus is still speaking with the
disciples, Judas Iscariot the disciple who agreed to betray Him to the chief
priests, arrives with a great multitude of armed men (troops and officers, John
18:3), from the chief priests, Pharisees, and the elders of the people. These armed
men then have been sent with Judas so as to make sure Jesus does not escape
their plan to arrest and ultimately kill Him.
Vs. 48-50 48 Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying,
“Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” 49 Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings,
Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 50 But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you
come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.
Now Judas in preparing to make sure they
seized Jesus had already told them that the One whom he kissed would be the One
they should arrest (vs. 48). Thus, the sign by which he would reveal and betray
the Lord Jesus Christ to them, a sign of love, would be used to betray God’s
Loving Son. Judas then when He arrived where the Lord Jesus Christ was,
immediately went up to Him, greeted Him, and kissed Him. Jesus then in a
saddened tone, of being betrayed by one whom who has loved, only says to him, “Friend, why have you come?” With Judas gesture complete they now move in like
wolves and lay their hands-on (i.e. seize with force) Jesus and take Him.
Vs.
51-54
51 And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus
stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the
high priest, and cut off his ear. 52 But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its
place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My
Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled,
that it must happen thus?”
Now with their seizing Jesus, Matthews
Gospel states that one of the disciples with Jesus stretched out his hand and
struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear (vs. 51). Now Johns
Gospel states that this was Simon Peter (John 18:10). Thus, Peter in his impetuous
and zeal, in trying and protect the Lord Jesus from them, was not intending to
cut of the servant’s ear, but rather this was intended as a killing blow,
something which the Lord Jesus Christ did not want to occur. Therefore, Jesus immediately
rebukes Peter by saying to him, “Put
your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” vs. 52 Now Jesus’ Words to Peter must not be overlooked by us, because one
thing that distinguishes true Christianity from every false way is that true
Christian faith is not about conquering the world “by the sword,” but by
redeeming and saving those in it through the Gospel. Luke’s Gospel makes this
clear then when the Lord Jesus immediately heals the servants severed ear
before rebuking the multitudes (Luke 22:51), which must have completely
astonished him before the multitudes led Jesus away. Therefore, any Christian
who bears the sword in defense of our Lord and Saviors Person or Name, or His
Gospel, or His Word, is only acting contrary to the Lord’s Will for us all. Now
in rebuking Peter for his striking the high priest’s servant who must have
reached out his hand first to take Jesus, also says to him, “Or do
you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more
than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it
must happen thus?” vs. 53-54 Therefore the Lord Jesus Christ being taken by men is
not that they were ever capable of overpowering Him, but that He was fully willing
to let them do so, that the Scripture (the Word of God) might be fulfilled.
Vs.
55-56
55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a
robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the
temple, and you did not seize Me. 56 But all
this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.
Having then allowed the multitudes to
seize Him, the Lord Jesus Christ now says to them that they’re excess use of
force and arms to come and take Him is totally unjustified and uncalled for.
Since He never stole anything, nor did Jesus threaten anyone. Indeed, Jesus
daily sat with them teaching in the Temple the Kingdom of Heaven to them, and
no one suffered any harm from Him. And now here they are an assembled mob of
thugs armed and ready for a violent confrontation. And yet as Jesus also says
to them they could’ve very easily seized Him when He was in Temple and amongst
them, and yet they did because as the Lord Jesus points out to them, “But all
this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Therefore, the
very people that once observed Jesus teaching and preaching in the Temple, and
yet did not seize Him, did not do so because God did not permit them to do so. This
then is their hour, the power of darkness (Luke 22:53). Having then seen the
Lord Jesus Christ is in no way going to resist this evil mob, fearing for
themselves, the disciples forsook Jesus and fled.
Scripture Quotations:
The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson
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