Thursday, November 1, 2012

Harmony of the Gospels


162. Arrest of Jesus- Matt. 26:50-56, Mark 14:46-52, Luke 22:49-53, John 18:10-12

 

-The band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews lead the crowd that arrested Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane near the base of the Mount of Olives, just to the east across the Kidron Valley from Jerusalem. It was in the dark of night, and Jesus commented concerning this power of darkness and the underhanded way that these had come to Him undercover rather than openly (Matthew 26:55, Mark 14:48-49, Luke 22:53). This was in fulfillment of the prophets in the Scriptures (Isaiah 53:1-12, Daniel 9:25-26). The Lamb must go to the slaughter without a fight sacrificially and carrying the load. No one took Jesus into custody. He could have called down twelve legions of angels (72,000) to deliver Him if He had appealed to the Father (Matthew 26:53), but He didn’t. He suffered, the just for the unjust for the purpose of our salvation if we turn to Him in faith (1 Peter 3:18). Again, He refrained from violence and denounced it commenting that, “…all who take up the sword will perish by the sword (Matthew 26:52).” This was not the way of the Kingdom of God. It would be won through love, faith, and sacrifice, not by force (Luke 16:15-16, John 3:16, 1 John 5:4-5). The Christ will drink from the cup that the LORD had given Him (John 18:11) *Application* Christ’s teaching here seems to our natural minds so antithetical to the normal manner of operation. In other words, He goes against the flow of this marred, diluted, and depraved world and radically alters our perception of how things should be. We would never think naturally that to give up would gain the greatest victory, but in the end it is God’s power that conquers through sacrificial obedience. This is the revolutionary message of the cross and it is still transforming lives today! For an excellent example see the movie To End All Wars.

 

Verse to Memorize- Matthew 26:52

 

163. A disciple lashes out and cuts guard’s ear- Matt. 26:50-53, Mark 14:46-47, Luke 22:49-51, John 18:10-11

 

-Peter, still living in the worldly mentally of force, unsheathes his sword and cuts off the servant of the high priest’s, Malchus, ear. Luke, who was the physician (Colossians 4:14), is the only one to record the healing which Jesus performed on this wounded soldier (Luke 22:51). It is interesting that under all the stress and duress that the Lord was under He cared enough to touch this man’s ear and heal him. This demonstrates the love of our Savior and His care even when He was in agony. We can easily see Jesus’ calming effect on the situation that could have easily turned chaotic and violent, which would have undermined the will and plan of God. *Application* Let the Spirit of the Lord control your life in the same way that Christ demonstrated here. Be the calming influence in the storms that swirl around your life. This is self-control demonstrated at the highest level and should be indicative of our walk in Christ every day. Stay cool, calm, and collected. Bring peace and reconciliation to the situation.

 

Verse to Memorize- John 18:10

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