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Day 74 Matthew 26:47-56 Matthew 26:47 And while he yet spoke, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. 49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. 51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear. 52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. 53 Think thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? 55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. 56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. How many of you have been betrayed by someone you thought was your friend? Not only did they betray you, but they looked you in the eyes when they did so. Judas betrayed Jesus to the chief priests and elders with a kiss. Before he kissed him, Jesus called him ‘friend’. Judas had an out, if he wanted to take it, but he didn’t. His sole purpose was to betray Jesus. Jesus called Judas the son of perdition. He is the only person born, who was not guaranteed a place in Heaven, but Hell. John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gave me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. God’s sole purpose was for Jesus to die for the sins of the whole world and for everyone to accept the finished work Jesus did and join him in heaven. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (KJV) John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Judas led people from the chief priests and elders to Gethsemane where he knew Jesus would be and betrayed him with a kiss. He looked Jesus in the eyes when he did so. Did he feel remorse for his actions? Not in that moment. However, Peter was not going to allow anyone to mess with Jesus and took his sword and cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest. It would be the last miracle Jesus did, by healing the servant’s ear, as he rebuked Peter for his actions. John 18:10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. (KJV) Jesus was willing to go with them. He was ready. He had spent three hours praying for God’s will to be done. The time had come for him to fulfill his purpose and bring salvation to the world. As Christians, you know this was the greatest moment in history. Jesus did not question the reason they were there. He knew the reason. He only questioned why they came against him with swords and staves. Jesus was not guilty of any crime. A guilty person would flee from arrest. Jesus had done nothing wrong, but it was for this purpose he was come into the world, to give his life a ransom for you. Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (KJV) Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (KJV) By going peacefully with the people, he declared his purpose, to bring salvation to all those who would accept the finished work of the cross. However, the disciples didn’t see Jesus’ purpose. They feared they would also be arrested and fled from the garden. They wouldn’t be seen again until after the resurrection. What about you? Where do you stand? Are you ready to defend Jesus as Peter did, or are you ready to stand against, and betray as Judas did? Let’s pray: Father, give me strength to stand alongside you, defending you and the gospel. Help me not to run in fear of what is to come but see my purpose in bringing the gospel to the world. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 2 July 2018 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay