Today we are looking at Jesus’ arrest. Matthew 26:36-75 If you will read in verses 36-45 your will find first that Jesus told his disciples to sit and stay, then took Peter and the sons of Zebedee (James and John) further with him to Gethsemane. Jesus told them, ” My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.” Then Jesus went forth, fell on his face and prayed – O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
He came back down and found the 3 asleep and said to Peter can’t you stay awake just 1 hour and watch with me? Jesus went away a second time after telling them: 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Now when we see plays, youtubes or movies of Christ’s arrest HE only goes up once and comes down. Actually HE goes up to Gethsemane 3 times.
The second times Jesus went up and spoke to the Father in Heaven HE said: O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. This is the phrase we all hear and quote ‘not my will but thy will be done. One again Jesus comes back to the disciples and guess what? Yep, you guessed it – they were asleep again. The KJV says their eyes were heavy and HE found them asleep.
Well, a third time Jesus goes back up and prays saying the same words. Then HE returns to his disciples, who were asleep, and asks are you still sleeping; then he says these words: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
Notice, Jesus’ last words – speaking of the one that would betray him. So, here comes Judas withhim was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.
Now over in John 18, we get the same story, but from John’s perspective, who was with Jesus. Jesus asked who they were looking for. They said Jesus of Nazareth. Now watch what happens: John 18:
6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
Now here is where Matthew and John see differently. Matthew portrays Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss whereas John does not write this, but the above passage. In Luke 22 we see where Judas comes with a big crowd and betrays Jesus with a kiss and Jesus responds with: “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” At this point the disciples were ready to fight for Jesus. John reports that Peter drew his sword and cut a man’s ear off. This man was a servant of the high priest.
When this happened, Jesus said no more of this, reached out and healed the man’s ear. Then Jesus said to them:(Luke22)
Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?
53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
We could talk about the ‘power of darkness’ but that is for a later discussion. All of this needed to happen that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled and at this point the disciples fled. If you wish to read this in full here is Luke 22; Matthew 26; John 18.
46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
Notice, Jesus’ last words – speaking of the one that would betray him. So, here comes Judas withhim was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.
Now over in John 18, we get the same story, but from John’s perspective, who was with Jesus. Jesus asked who they were looking for. They said Jesus of Nazareth. Now watch what happens: John 18:
6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
Now here is where Matthew and John see differently. Matthew portrays Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss whereas John does not write this, but the above passage. In Luke 22 we see where Judas comes with a big crowd and betrays Jesus with a kiss and Jesus responds with: “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” At this point the disciples were ready to fight for Jesus. John reports that Peter drew his sword and cut a man’s ear off. This man was a servant of the high priest.
When this happened, Jesus said no more of this, reached out and healed the man’s ear. Then Jesus said to them:(Luke22)
Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?
53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
We could talk about the ‘power of darkness’ but that is for a later discussion. All of this needed to happen that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled and at this point the disciples fled. If you wish to read this in full here is Luke 22; Matthew 26; John 18.
The arrest of Jesus is very interesting and, in my opinion, important to me in understanding completely the trials of my saviour. Thank you for reading. Tomorrow Jesus is put on trial.