The thought of the God Who created the heavens and the earth being arrested by His creation is mind-boggling. While the chief priests thought that they had gained the upper hand on Jesus, they were terribly wrong. Although the scribes believed that they had outsmarted Jesus, they were dreadfully misinformed. The elders played their part, too, in the arresting of Jesus, but little did they know that Jesus had said His time had finally come. The mob showed up with swords and clubs; nonetheless, Jesus was not there to fight but to give Himself over and maintain the peace.
In that moment, it would have appeared to everyone but Jesus that the people had finally won. Jesus may have won some battles, but they eventually won the war. However, the voluntary nature and willingness of the Savior to be cuffed by the hands of lawless men is evident. Jesus came to die. Scripture says, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Jesus came for the sake of others. His ministry was always meant to culminate in His death.
Judas kisses the Savior
The events of Jesus’ arrest took place immediately after His anguish in Gethsemane. Directly on the back end of His pouring out His soul and even blood, He encountered an angry mob. This mob is said to have been hired by the chief priests, scribes, and elders. The relentless nature of the religious elders is prevalent in the Gospels. They saw their little legalistic kingdom being taken out from underneath them. Their sinful acts found a place in the night, as it could be hidden from the onlookers.
Jerusalem was packed to the brim as the events of the Jewish Passover were underway. Those who would celebrate Passover were made to stay in Jerusalem or what was known as “Greater Jerusalem.” Gethsemane would have been on the outskirts of Jerusalem on the eastern side and right beyond the Kidron Valley. This valley marked the border of Jerusalem on the eastern side.
As it was night, it would have been very difficult to identify a face. There would not have been street lights or stop lights. There would not have been lights from a shopping center or local business. There would not have been passing cars with headlights. The world would have been much different. As a result, Judas informed the mob that he would reveal Who Jesus was by giving Him a kiss.
Scripture says, “And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, ‘Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely.’ And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him” (Mark 14:44-45). The word that is used in this portion of Scripture when Judas calls Jesus “Master” is, in the Greek, Rhabbi. It literally means what it says in the Greek. Judas called Jesus his Rabbi. This was a distinguished title and one that came with much honor. In the Hebrew, this word means “great one.”
It also would not have appeared odd for Judas to kiss Jesus. The customs and practices of that day consisted of disciples kissing their rabbis. This would have been a kiss on the hand or cheek, and it would have been done to express great affection or reverence toward one’s teacher.
It was with an honorable kiss and a reverential claim of Rabbi that Judas betrayed the Savior of the world.
Jesus willingly gives Himself over
It is clear that the people could not have done anything to Jesus apart from its being allowed by Jesus. Jesus asked them a simple question concerning whom they were seeking. They told Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” He spoke three words to them: “I am He.” At this declaration, they fell to the ground. This was miraculous. The people did not just lose their footing or slip on a patch of wet dirt.
Jesus was making it clear that He was giving Himself over and that they were not arresting Him by force. As the people raised their clubs and their swords, Peter believed He needed to protect the Christ. He cut off the ear of Malchus, but Jesus told him to put his sword away.
Yet again, Jesus pointed to the way that He was giving Himself over and not being taken unwillingly. He told Peter that if He wanted to, He could ask the Father to send out more than twelve legions of angels to fight for Him. Twelve legions would have been the equivalent of 72,000 angels. This would have drastically outnumbered the mob.
Jesus had the power to call down angels. Jesus had the power to cast the mob to the ground and make them stay down. But Jesus pointed to another reason for why He was being arrested. He told them it was to fulfill prophecy. It was all a part of God’s plan.
It is impossible to comprehend the way that this can take place, but somehow, someway, God is able to use the sin of man to fulfill His purposes without being responsible for the sin Himself. In Acts 2:22-24, Peter was preaching a sermon, and he told of the way that Jesus was crucified by sinners. Therefore, what that means is that sin was committed in the crucifying of the Savior. But then Peter went on to say that Jesus’ being crucified was a part of the predetermined and definite plan of God.
While this may not be easy to understand, it is important not to explain it away. Sinners crucified Jesus, yet it was all a part of God’s plan.
Application
As one looks at the arresting of Jesus, he can see a way in which God’s plan was fulfilled through the sin of mankind. It is important to recognize that God can use sin to bring about an ultimate good. He is not responsible for it, nor does He like sin. Nevertheless, God is greater than sin, the devil, the world, and mankind. Nothing can thwart God’s plan.
Know that God is at work in each and every situation in life. No matter how bleak things may seem sometimes, God is at work. Trust in Him.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You that You are above all. When things look dark in my life, help me to trust in You. Thank You for Your Sovereign care. In Jesus’ name, Amen.