It is the night before Passover.
Jesus had spent the last few hours in agonizing prayer (see here). He was consumed with horror and despair as He considered what He was about to face.
Slowly and painfully, He came to terms with the Father’s will. “Not my will, but yours be done”.
Meanwhile, the disciples slept.
As Jesus woke the sleepy disciples, the lanterns and torches were visible through the trees. Nearly a thousand men were converging on their small garden!
The Chief Priests and their servants were there. They had wanted to kill Jesus Christ ever since He had raised Lazarus from the dead (see here).
The Temple Guard was there. This group of men was responsible for maintaining order in the temple. They were especially busy during Passover time. These guards were not allowed to use lethal force, but were nevertheless armed with clubs.
There were six hundred highly trained Roman soldiers. These men were fully armed and stood ready to put down any kind of revolt.
Finally, they were led by one man. Jesus’ close friend, who had followed Him for over three years, now led the enemy to this very spot!
Judas!
Judas walks up to Jesus, throws his arms around Him, and kisses Him. Repeatedly.
But this is no kiss of love or affection. Judas holds on to Jesus until the soldiers come to arrest him. Jesus responds to Judas, “Would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss? Do what you came to do.”
The time in the garden was terror for Jesus, but now He is calm. He confronts the crowd, asking, “Whom do you seek?” They answer Him, “Jesus of Nazareth”, to which He replies, “I AM”.
He calls upon the name of God and the entire crowd falls to the ground!
But Jesus does not fight nor does He run away. They pick themselves up and Jesus repeats the question. They reply again that they are looking for Him, and He commands them to let His disciples go.
Peter is far from calm. In a rush of bravado, he charges into the crowd swinging a sword. He tries to act like a Roman soldier, crashing his sword down on the head of the High Priest, but misses terribly. Instead, he cuts off the ear of the priest’s servant.
Instead of being the hero, Peter gets yelled at by Jesus, “Stop it!” Peter would be the guilty one if he killed someone that night.
Peter’s action was also futile. Jesus could call on an army of angels if He wanted, but this arrest is necessary. The Old Testament scriptures predicted this event must happen.
“Why did Peter fail so miserably? For one thing, he had argued with the Lord when Jesus warned him that he would deny his Master that very night. Peter had slept when he should have been praying, and he talked when he should have been listening.” – Warren Wiersbe [3]
Even during His arrest, Jesus shows compassion to His enemies. He touches the injured servant and heals his ear.
Jesus had commanded the officers to let his disciples go, and now they all run away. Jesus is left alone, but the Father is with Him (John 16:32).
The soldiers seize Him and take Him away.
Remember!
Prayer is critical! Jesus struggled through prayer, yet was able to meet His attackers with calmness and compassion. Peter slept through prayer, responded with foolish bravado, and then ran away in terror.
God is not hidden, even through the worst of times! The disciples were overwhelmed, but God was still in total control. Trust in God’s sovereignty.
Don’t fight for God! Don’t be like Peter, and run off on foolish bravado when we should be still.
Friends may fail, but God is always with you! Judas betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter failed Him. All of the other disciples deserted Him. But the Father was with Him!
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