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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