Jesus’ Arrest

By Shirley Mitchell

“Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near and the the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Matthew 25:45-46

The silvery moon shone into the darkness of night. A shepherd’s whistle from far away could be heard. A slight breeze made the leaves of the trees rustle. Even though Jesus had tried to waken the disciples three times, they did not respond in obedience nor in compassion to His grief. Their heavy eye lids shut again and plunged our Lord into the greatest depth of loneliness that He experienced as the Son of Man. He was alone with His Father pouring out His agonized heart as the hours of crisis were approaching. As a man, He submitted to His Father’s plan.

Through the olive trees, Jesus saw the lanterns and the torches. He heard the clank of the shields and the low voices. He told His disciples, “The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” Finally, James, John and Peter rose quickly to their feet. The other disciples were jolted awake, too. Some trembled. Some showed fear in their eyes. Chaos had entered their peaceful garden hideaway. Evil had snaked through the garden pathways.

Jesus may not have stood down His captors as He did the crowd intent on stoning the adulterous woman (John 8). He may not have slipped through the mob who carried swords and clubs as He slipped through the crowd that tried to stone Him (John 10). However, He addressed their cowardly actions, limited power, and evil plans.

Jesus reminded them that He had taught in the temple courts every day. The religious leaders did not arrest Him in the temple because they were afraid of the people. They feared they would riot against them. So the cowards came under the cover of the darkness under the influence of the prince of darkness. They came with lanterns and torches to light their way. They came with swords and clubs in case the eleven remaining followers decided to be loyal, stand with Him, and fight the arrest.

The crowd’s worldly power was no match for Jesus’ divine power. They didn’t intimidate or make Jesus cower one bit. Jesus said Peter’s sword should be put back in its place because “those who draw by the sword die by the sword”. He could call on His Father who would dispose twelve legions of angels to defend Him. A legion in the Roman army was 6,000 men. One mortal man with a sword was nothing to a man who could command thousands of heavenly hosts to His defense. He didn’t need the help of His sleepy disciples who earlier had promised to defend Him. Jesus made it clear that He was in control and that He was going willingly in obedience to God. This angry mob had only authority that He gave them. His hours of prayer had settled the matter. His heart was in anguish. His sweat was like drops of blood. His soul was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Yet, He submitted to His Father’s plan because of His love for the Father and for you and me.

Pray with me: Oh, Thank YOU, Jesus! I am so overwhelmed with the realization of what You endured for us. You agonized in the garden about being separated from Your Father and the sin of the world heaped upon you. Yet, You did it. You submitted to the plan to redeem man because Your love surpasses all knowledge. It is Your love that enables me to endure the hardships of this life. I place my faith and my hope in You. It’s in the Name above all names and the Name that one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name, I pray. Amen.

Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study, Copyright ©2008 Christ Compels