We often forget the human element that still rested in Jesus. As He and His men entered the garden at the Mount of Olives, Jesus knew the betrayal and all that followed was about to begin. He went deep into the garden and asked the Father of there would be another way, knowing of course there was not. His men fell asleep; worn from the emotional impact of what had come before.
Then as Jesus approached and scolded them, the crowd of religious leaders and thugs (led by Judas) approached to take Him. Peter reacted by cutting off Malchus, the High Priest’s servant’s, ear. One can only imagine the irony as Jesus stopped the action and reattached the ear right before everyone’s eyes. It was a sad and ridiculous moment as the mob with torches and swords came to arrest a man of peace and restoration. Jesus took control of the situation and allowed the arrest to happen without further fighting. But He called the religious leaders out. “I have been in the temple courtyard every day, why not arrest me in broad daylight??? No, you arrest me in the cover of dark during this week of remembrance.
Reading the story reminds us that no one took Jesus Life, He gave it willingly. The old hymn says, He could have called 10000 angels. That is all true. But he did not–we were much too important to quit so close to the prize. He was about to complete a plan in the making since the dawn of time. He was not about to let the enemy, or a bunch of foolish men screw it up. Thank You, my sweet Lord Jesus!
God Bless You
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Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.[c]
45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
Jesus Arrested
47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49 When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.
52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”
Walking With God 