134. The Arrest of Jesus
Matthew 26:47–56 (Mark 14:43–52; Luke 22:47–53; John 18:3–11)
While Jesus was still speaking with his disciples, Judas appeared at the entrance to the garden, and with him a great crowd of people. Judas had with him a band of Roman soldiers, part of the Roman garrison of Jerusalem, with a captain whom the chief priests, scribes and elders, the members of the high council, had requested from the governor Pontius Pilate, and servants of the chief priests and Pharisees. The former were armed with swords, the latter with clubs. They also carried torches and lamps in their hands, despite the full moon shining in the sky, in case Jesus should hide behind the bushes in the garden. Some of the high priests and captains or overseers of the temple were also there. It was therefore a well-armed band that had set out against Jesus. The attack was evidently also intended for Jesus’ disciples. The intention was to “destroy the whole nest.” At the same time, there was a fear of a popular uprising in support of Jesus. At midnight, the doors of the temple were opened, and thousands streamed in from the area surrounding Jerusalem and spent the night under the open sky. We see in this hostile crowd a picture of the world that is opposed to Christ. It has always tried to eradicate Christ and his religion from the earth with fire and sword, or at least to suppress and suppress Christianity with violent measures. And for the most part it was the false church, the spiritual authorities, that called on the secular authorities to fight against the true church of Christ. The Jewish leaders were so fiercely hostile to Christ because of the Word, the Word of truth, that they had heard from his mouth. The world hates Christians because of the truth that they confess. And so it is a sign of impotence, a harbinger of the final defeat, when the world knows no other way to confront the truth than with brute force.
Jesus knew everything that was to happen to him. God’s counsel was once again clear and distinct before him. And so he willingly accepted the cup that his father had intended for him. He went out from the interior of the garden to the entrance, towards the mob of murderers, to hand himself over into the hands of his enemies. It was precisely this willingness to suffer that gave his suffering such great value. Through his will we are sanctified, redeemed (Heb 10:10). He asked his pursuers whom they were looking for. They answered: “Jesus of Nazareth.” And then when he said to them: “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground in terror. In the tone of his voice and in his whole demeanor he had revealed something of the divine nobility and majesty that he concealed within himself. It would have been easy for him to crush and destroy the armed band with a word of his omnipotence. But he did not want to do that. He only wanted to make it clear and obvious to his enemies how incapable they would be of capturing him unless he gave himself up to them. So he immediately withdrew his majesty and spoke to them and encouraged them to carry out their plan, repeatedly assuring them that it was he they were looking for. We see that it is the all-knowing, all-powerful God who gives himself into the hands of men. Thus we understand correctly what is further reported to us: it is the martyrdom of God, the death of God, the blood of God. And truly, this ransom is enough. Thus sinners are truly redeemed. The Lord added: “If you seek me, let these go,” so that the word of his high priestly prayer would be fulfilled: “I have not lost any of those you gave me.” This one word of Jesus gave his disciples a free way out. At that time they were not yet strong enough to suffer and die with Christ. Thus the Lord protected their weak faith. So the Lord protects his own and does not allow them to be tempted beyond their ability. He is the stronger one. Without his will the hostile world cannot harm a hair on their head.
Jesus had made himself known to the Roman soldiers and the servants of the high priests, most of whom did not yet know him. Now Judas, who had been a silent witness to this affair until then, appeared on the scene and made it absolutely certain to the henchmen that Jesus of Nazareth was the man they had before them. He had arranged with them: “Whoever I kiss is the one; seize him and lead him away.” Now he kept his promise, approached Jesus, said to him: “Hail, Rabbi” and kissed him. The Lord showed his disgust at this shameful act with the words: “My friend, why have you come?” What are you doing? “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” That one of the Twelve betrayed his former master to his sworn enemies was bad enough, but the most troubling thing was that Judas still acted like a disciple and kissed Jesus. Judas Iscariot, the traitor, is a serious warning example in the Passion history. That is how far it can go with those who once were disciples of Jesus but then denied their faith and good conscience. The history of the Church shows many such Judases who handed over their former fellow believers into the hands of their persecutors and surrendered the most sacred goods and rights of the Church to the enemies of the Church. But the most disgusting thing is when these apostates still greet and kiss Jesus, still act pious and use religious language. Such hypocrisy is the greatest abomination before God.
When the armed men laid hands on Jesus and seized him, the disciples said to Jesus: “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And immediately Simon Peter, without waiting for Jesus’ answer, drew his sword and cut off the right ear of a servant of the high priest, named Malchus. This was carnal zeal. Jesus actually restrained his disciples’ activity: “Let them go!” Actually: “Lay off!" Stop! “That’s it!” He commanded Peter to put his sword in its scabbard. The Jesus’ cause cannot and should not be helped with the sword. Anyone who takes up the sword without being called shall perish by the sword. If the Lord wanted to defend himself against his enemies, he would only have to ask his Father, who would send him more than twelve legions of angels to help him. But no, he wants to drink the cup that his Father has given him. He wants to fulfill the Scripture. So it must happen. The Lord touched the ear of the wounded Malchus and healed him. He repaired the damage that the folly of his disciples had caused. Until the end, Jesus proved himself to be the kind doctor and Savior of mankind.
Then Jesus turned to the enemy horde, and in particular to the members of the High Council and the temple overseers who were present, and reproached them for having gone out with swords and clubs to capture him as if he were a murderer. This was a foolish undertaking. They would never have gotten Jesus under their control if God had not allowed them to. He had sat with them in the temple every day and taught them, but they had not laid hands on him. All their previous attempts to catch him had been unsuccessful. For his hour—God’s hour—had not yet come. “But this is your hour and the power of darkness.” The leaders of the Jews were subject to a higher power, the power of darkness and the prince of darkness, who through them was putting his murderous thoughts into action. And God now gave free rein to the wickedness of men and the devil in this hour, but only for the purpose, as the Lord again emphasizes, that the Scripture would be fulfilled, so that the eternal counsel of God concerning the redemption of the human race would be carried out. All enemies of Christ who attack Christ and his Church are in the service of Satan. And if they ever succeed in causing external harm to the Church of Christ, it is only because God allows evil will and desire. But God always has a salutary intention in doing so; what is evil must serve for the good of his people.
It is also reported of the disciples that they all abandoned Jesus and fled. Oh, and so many disciples, many Christians, have abandoned the cause of Jesus in the hour of danger. There was also a young man, also a follower of Jesus, who, when he followed the Lord and his disciples to Gethsemane, had put on a large linen cloth instead of an outer garment. He immediately let this go when he was caught and fled in just his underwear. This young man was probably none other than the evangelist who reports this incident, John Mark. Even in his later years he confessed with shame and remorse that he was also one of the deserters on the night when his Lord and Master was taken prisoner.