Read
Jesus Is Betrayed
(Matthew 26.47-56; Mark 14.43-50; Luke 22.47-53)
1When Jesus had finished praying, he and his disciples crossed the Kidron Valley and went into a garden. 2Jesus had often met there with his disciples, and Judas knew where the place was.
3-5Judas had promised to betray Jesus. So he went to the garden with some Roman soldiers and temple police, who had been sent by the chief priests and the Pharisees. They carried torches, lanterns, and weapons. Jesus already knew everything that was going to happen, but he asked, “Who are you looking for?”
They answered, “We are looking for Jesus from Nazareth!”
Jesus told them, “I am Jesus!” 6At once they all backed away and fell to the ground.
7Jesus again asked, “Who are you looking for?”
“We are looking for Jesus from Nazareth,” they answered.
8This time Jesus replied, “I have already told you that I am Jesus. If I am the one you are looking for, let these others go. 9Then everything will happen, just as I said, ‘I did not lose anyone you gave me.’ ”
10Simon Peter had brought along a sword. He pulled it out and struck at Malchus, the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. 11 Jesus told Peter, “Put your sword away. I must drink from the cup that the Father has given me.”
Jesus Is Brought to Annas
(Matthew 26.57,58; Mark 14.53,54; Luke 22.54)
12The Roman officer and his men, together with the temple police, arrested Jesus and tied him up. 13They took him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 This was the same Caiaphas who had told the Jewish leaders, “It is better if one person dies for the people.”
Reflect
When Jesus is arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter tries to stop the mob that has surrounded his master with torches and lanterns and weapons in their fists. He draws his sword – it was not unusual for men to carry swords or knives on their belts in those days – and he strikes, shearing away the right ear of the high priest’s servant.
We know from another gospel account (Luke’s) that Jesus heals the servant’s ear. We also know that he warns Peter to stop resisting because those who live by the sword die by the sword (Matthew). He tells his disciples – Matthew also records this – that he could call on the Father to send more than twelve legions of angels to rescue him (a legion numbered about 6000 soldiers). But he would not cry out for angels to intervene because the Scriptures had to be fulfilled, and they said Jesus must suffer (Matthew 26:54). And because he was committed to going through with the will of God the Father no matter what: “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” (John 18:11)
Jesus knew that the Father’s plan was the best plan. In our right minds, we know it too. When the task is pleasant, when it tastes and looks like “streams of living water”, it is easy enough to pray, “Your will be done.” But when the task is difficult, when what is in the cup God offers us is bitter and hard to swallow, it is not so easy to go through with the will of God. After all, even Jesus agonized for hours in Gethsemane, asking the Father to take away the cup and not make him drink it. If our Lord had to wrestle with going through a hard thing that was the right thing we shouldn’t be surprised if we also have to wrestle with the hard things God sets before us. It is part of Christ’s life and so it becomes part of our life when we follow him.
Yet when Jesus committed himself to going through the hard thing because it was the right thing, and the will of God, his obedience saved the world. Our commitment to going through the hard things that are God’s will may not save the world but it may save many souls and change our churches and our neighborhoods and our families and our worlds.
Many today teach that God does not set difficult and painful things before us and expect us to push on through. The Bible says otherwise. Yet going into the hard places with Jesus may be the very thing that brings light and love and salvation into situations that are as dark as night and as grim as hell itself.
Respond
Jesus, help us to go into the hard places with you and take up the difficult tasks you ask us to take up for the love of God. Help us not to hang back from following your will when your will looks as cold and impenetrable as a winter’s night. We often have no idea how the darkness will fade in the light of a new dawn if we push through in faith. Nor do we always know the good that will result once we obey your will for our lives. But help us to trust in you. Help us to go where you call us to go and expect breakthroughs and blessings to follow that we cannot imagine. In your name we pray and ask for your encouragement. Amen.
Murray Pura
Murray Pura, a native of Manitoba, is an ordained minister with Masters degrees from Acadia University and Regent College in Vancouver BC. At Regent he studied under JI Packer and also produced a thesis on William Wilberforce which was subsequently published under the title "Vital Christianity". Murray has served churches in Canada and the US. A writer in Christian theology and Christian fiction both, he currently writes full time and is represented by Steve Laube Agency in Phoenix, AZ. Murray has published with HarperCollins, Zondervan, HarperOne San Francisco, Baker, Barbour and Harvest House, to name a few. He has won the Word Guild Award for Best Historical Novel and has also been shortlisted for the Kobzar Literary Award of Toronto. His devotional writings include the books "Rooted" (Zondervan), "Streams" (Zondervan), and "Majestic & Wild" (Baker). He also wrote the study notes for Exodus and Luke in The Life With God Bible (Harper Collins).