GETHSEMANE-BETRAYAL AND ARREST OF the SON OF GOD. Matt 26

The motley mob accompanying the traitor Judas interrupted the Son of God while He was still speaking to His disciples. And what a squalid group they were, armed with swords and clubs to take the Prince of peace. Matthew wrote about a ’great multitude’ of rabble, which contrasted vividly with the ‘multitude of angels’ who witnessed the birth of Mary’s SON. While the angels came from the realms of glory this gang ’came from the intimidating chief priests and elders of the people. (v47)

Judas had campaigned to effect the arrest of His Master and Lord. Every generation condemns this character. The strategy was simple, ‘Whoever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.’ Using the mark of deepest affection, he sold his Lord for a miserable handful of silver. Deplorable; isn’t it? We must never do so.

His deception intensified, ‘ Then immediately he went up to Jesus, and said,

‘Greetings! ( good health, best wishes ) Rabbi ( once my teacher - now I’m insolent’) . And he kissed Him.’ Satan had blinded the mind of him ,who believed not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine to Him. ‘Gloom and shadows wrapped itself around this benighted figure.

Graciously our Lord responded, ‘ Friend, why are you come? He did not scold or squabble with Judas. Truly, an excellent example for us when facing such a situation. The unruly mob had taken their cue from Judas, ‘For they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.’ Devilish plans unfolded; while the calm Son of God surrendered to the Father’s will. (v50)

One of the disciples lost control for ’Suddenly, he stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.’ (v51) This contradicted what their Lord had taught, ’That if any one strikes on the cheek they are to turn the other also.’ Christ, the Surgeon, healed the ear dangling from the side of the face, healing with minimal scar, perpetually amazing the owner.

‘Put up your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword‘; remonstrated the Son of God. A compelling reminder when nations are embroiled as in the Iraqi conflict 2003, in Rwanda 1994, Kosovo 2000 and Selawesi 2002 .

Despite the unlikely circumstances, the Lord reminded them He was omnipotent; ‘Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and he will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels.’ 85,000 angels available, when one only was needed to roll away the immense stone after His resurrection from the dead. What a colossal army of heavenly support immediately at the ready; hence the word ‘now’.

And the power of the Savior’s prayer as the Son of man. Do you show such confidence in prayer to your Father in heaven? He was our perfect Example.

Our Lord’s love of the scriptures shone in this mixed-up hour, ‘ How then could the scriptures be fulfilled , that it must happen thus?’ (v54 ) The Saviour calmly faced the shame of public arrest in His innocence and righteousness, knowing that God’s Word would be realised in perfect detail.

Our Lord spoke freely to the rabble, contrasting with His dignified silence with the religious crowds who interrogated Hm. ‘ In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, ‘Have you come out , s against a robber, with swords and clubs to take me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me.’ God’s Spirit would have convicted those who heard His gracious teaching in the temple; and are now part of the prosecuting gang.

Again the Lord spoke of the scriptures, showing how it dominated the mind of our dear Lord. ’ But all this was done that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.’ In this phrase, ’the Scriptures of the prophets’ our Lord gathered all the minor and major prophets of the old Testament with the amazing claim that they would be realised in His approaching death - and glorious resurrection. We fully understand why these major truths were preached at Pentecost: and in the epistles.

Caiaphas the high priest had summoned the scribes from their copying of the Scriptures and the elders to his palace. It would be no fellowship or bible study but an assault on the sinless Son of God. These men knew better for all the prophets spoke of the coming of the Messiah-while they schemed His downfall-and death.

Peter warily followed Him - but at a distance, which is always a hazardous procedure. Peter went into the high priest’s courtyard. Now he made friends of the servants to see the end.’ Peter broke some of the basic rules as a disciple of the Lord, refusing to ’abide in Christ’ and ’ seeking fellowship with the world’. We must uphold these key instructions of our dear Lord.

The only witnesses the high priest could assemble were false or bogus ones. And they ghastly purposed to slay the altogether-lovely One. Confusion baffled the high priest and his advisers. The Scripture tells the obvious, that ‘They found none.’

Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none.’ (v60) Christ was ‘Holy, harmless an undefiled, separate from sinners’. Charges could only be fabricated, as ‘At last two false witnesses came forward, and said, ‘This fellow said, ‘ I am able to destroy the temple of God and build it in three days.’ (v61)

A scheming priesthood accepted lies. Our Lord never spoke such; for He said, ‘Destroy this temple ( that is My body ) and in three days I shall raise it again‘ Our Lord foretold His resurrection, following His death by their hands at Calvary.

Leaving his priestly throne ’The high priest arose and said to Him, ’ Do you answer nothing.? What is it ( such momentous claims ) that these testify against you?’

This study will be continued .