The Betrayal… vs. 47-50

• 1^st – Angry Mob… vs. 47
  • One of the Twelve…
    • While He was still speaking – behold Judas – one of the twelve!
    • Jesus had just FINISHED His THIRD and final prayer to the Father [Abba]
    • The DISCIPLES had just woken up – as Jesus saw a CROWD coming…
    • While He was still saying: let us go [imperative] and meet the BETRAYER…
    • JUDAS came to the Lord – one of the TWELVE!
    • This phrase is used EIGHT times in the Gospels – SEVEN of them about JUDAS…
    • The emphasis is on the RELATIONSHIP – He was counted as ONE of the TWELVE…
    • He should have been alongside the others as the GOSPEL went out into the world – Acts 2
    • But his FOOLISH choice [money over God] – was about the END that HOPE!
    • God does NOT force anyone to follow Him – He gives us a CHOICE…
    • If we live for this life – chase after MONEY – then we will MISS out on the plan of God…
    • But who would we rather be – a JUDAS – or a PETER…
    • God has AMAZING plans for our life – if we will only CHOSE Him!
    • I Corinthians 2:9 – “[We cannot imagine] what God has prepared for those who love him.” [NLT]
  • Great multitude…
    • A great multitude with swords and clubs came from the chief priests and elders of the people!
    • Judas was NOT alone – he came with an ARMY…
    • There were SIX hundred Roman SOLDIERS [σπεῖρα] – John 18:3
    • The chief priest and elders – sent their temple POLICE – Luke 22:52
    • A great multitude armed with swords – clubs – and lanterns…
    • All this for ONE carpenter and ELEVEN simple fishermen!
    • This was NOT the first time they had tried to grab Jesus…
    • He had the uncanny ability to slip right through the crowds!
    • Luke 4:29–30 – “Jesus… passing through the midst of them… went His way.”
      
    • We live in a world where a VOTE [majority] can change LAWS…
    • People think that if they have LARGE numbers – then they will WIN…
    • But it does NOT matter what people say – or how many agree…
    • The TRUTH is not up for debate – and popular option does NOT make something RIGHT…
    • In the end all that matters is what God has SAID – He is the TRUTH!
    • Romans 3:4 – “Let God be true but every man a liar.”
  • 2^nd – The Sign… vs. 48-50
    • Unfamiliar… vs. 48
      • Now His betrayer had given them a sign saying: Whomever I kiss – He is the One – seize Him!
      • Judas would give a SIGN so the soldiers knew WHO to arrest – because:
      • We have NO idea what Jesus looked like – there is NO description of Him in the Gospels…
      • Every picture we have ever seen of Him – is just a guess [and probably wrong]
      • He had NO outstanding features – NOTHING to make Him stick out…
      • There was NO halo – He did NOT glow – He was NOT even good looking!
      • Isaiah 53:2 – “Nothing beautiful … about His appearance. Nothing to attract us to him.” [NLT]
    • The kiss… vs. 49
      • Immediately he went up to Jesus and said: Greetings Rabbi! and kissed Him!
      • IMMEDIATELY [εὐθέως] Judas came up to Jesus and said: Greetings Rabbi…
      • GREETINGS [χαίρω] – the verb form of the word GRACE [χάρις]
      • Ironic that Judas came proclaiming GRACE – to the one who was about to DIE for our sins…
      • RABBI [ῥαββί] – as at the Last Supper – he could not bring himself to say Lord [κύριος]
      • Then Judas gave the soldiers the SIGN – he KISSED Jesus…
      • KISSED [καταφιλέω] – 6x in NT – the word means to smother with kisses!
      • Luke 22:48 – “You are betraying [indicative] the Son of Man with a kiss!”
      • Everything about Judas words and actions were meant to LOOK like friendship…
      • Yet their true dark purpose was MARK Jesus as the one to ARREST…
      • But Jesus was NOT fooled – He could see through the ACT!
    • Friend… vs. 50
      • Jesus said to him: Friend. Why have you come?
      • Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him!
      • Jesus answered Judas – calling him FRIEND…
      • FRIEND [ἑταῖρος] – only used FOUR times in the NT [never in a good way]
      • Keep in mind that Judas is currently possessed by satan – John 13:27
      • I have to wonder if Jesus is still trying to reach out to His FRIEND…
      • A man who he loved – who made BAD choices – and was now controlled by the ENEMY!
      • When people HURT us – BETRAY us – it is easy to get ANGRY at them…
      • But do NOT get caught up looking at the person – and miss who the real ENEMY is…
      • People are PUPPETS – being told what to say and do by the God of this world…
      • And we are called to reach out to our FRIEND – hoping they might come back the Lord!
      • Ephesians 6:12 – “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood.”
  • 3^rd – The Word…
    • Knowing all things…
      • John 18:4 – “Jesus therefore knowing all things that would come upon Him.
      • Went forward and said to them: Whom are you seeking?”
      • We are given a KEY addition about Jesus arrest from the book of John…
      • Jesus KNOWING [perfect] what was going to happen – asked a question…
      • WHO were the SOLDIERS and POLICE seeking…
      • They responded they were looking for Jesus of Nazareth – John 18:5
      • One might wonder since Jesus KNEW everything – why did He ASK them…
      • The reason is because He was about to give them the TRUTH!
    • I AM…
      • John 18:6 – “He said to them: I AM. They drew back and fell to the ground.”
      • This was NOT an answer – it was a TITLE…
      • When Moses met with God at the Burning Bush by Mount Horeb [Sinai]
      • And he asked the LORD what was His name – the answer was I AM – Exodus 3:14 
      • Jesus was telling these SOLDIERS they were coming to arrest GOD…
      • At which point I have to think – they realized they did NOT have enough TROOPS!
      • In the TRIBULATION – the whole world will gather with the Antichrist…
      • They will come with all their weapons [tanks – guns] to Armageddon – Revelation 16:16
      • But even the WHOLE world is NO match for the creator of all heaven and earth…
      • With ONE word Jesus will defeat them – and the war will be over – II Thessalonians 2:8
      • It is easy to forget sometimes whom we have on our side…
      • When the world comes against us – we can think we are at a disadvantage…
      • But the truth is with Jesus – no matter who is against us – we will be VICTORIOUS!

• 2^nd – The Sword… vs. 51-54
  • 1^st – Angry fisherman… vs. 51
    • The Sword… vs. 51
      • Suddenly one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword!
      • LOOK [ἰδού] – one of the DISCIPLES had a SWORD…
      • We are told in a parallel account that it was Peter [no surprise] – John 18:10
      • There were TWO swords in all they had picked up after the Last Supper – Luke 22:38
      • SWORD [μάχαιρα] – 29x in the NT – a Roman sword used for slashing [not thrusting]
      • The Bible uses the word SWORD [μάχαιρα] to describe the WORD of God!
      • Ephesians 6:17 – “The sword [μάχαιρα] of the Spirit – which is the word of God.”
    • Cutting off ears… vs. 51
      • Struck the servant of the high priest – and cut off his ear!
      • Peter likely trying to kill the man – cut off the right ear of the servant of the high priest…
      • His name was MALCHUS – meaning the KING [מֶלֶךְ] – John 18:10
      • Peter was a fisherman – NOT a soldier – and apparently NOT very good with a sword!
      • We learn at a young age that KNIVES are dangerous [sharp]
      • They can be used to do GOOD – but they can also do HARM!
      • We need to be careful with the Bible [sword] – it is EXTREME LYLY sharp – Hebrews 4:12
      • If we are NOT careful how we use it – we can cut off ears!
    • Last Miracle…
      • Luke 22:51 – “[Jesus] touched his ear and healed him!”
      • The last MIRACLE of Jesus – was to put the ear back on MALCHUS…
      • Jesus put the ear back on the man who came to crucify him…
      • To the very end Jesus loved even those who hated and wanted to kill Him!
      • The message of the BIBLE is NOT one that is meant to CONDEMN…
      • It is a message of GRACE – it is meant to give HOPE…
      • We give people the WORD desiring them to know God LOVES them…
      • And when we do – we get to HEAL the ears of those who have been HURT…
      • The good news – is Jesus is in the business of reattaching ears!
        
  • 2^nd – Twelve Legions… vs. 52-54
    • No anger… vs. 52
      • Jesus said to [Peter]: Put your sword in its place.
      • For all who take the sword will perish by the sword!
      • Jesus commanded [imperative] Peter to put his SWORD [μάχαιρα] away…
      • He was trying to fight with the WRONG weapon…
      • ANYONE [πᾶς] who takes [aorist] the SWORD – will [future] DIE by the sword…
      • Because ELEVEN fishermen with TWO swords did not stand a chance against an ARMY…
      • Peter was reacting in EMOTION – anger – rather than in WISDOM!
      • If we react with our emotions – we only do more damage…
      • We escalate the problem rather than solving it – ANGER causes more ANGER!
      • Proverbs 15:1 – “A soft answer turns away wrath – a harsh word stirs up anger.”
    • Heavenly Army… vs. 53
      • Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father.
      • And He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels!
      • Peter thought he needed to defend Jesus as if He had NO power [οὐ δύναμαι]
      • Jesus gave him some perspective – He could call on His Father…
      • And He would send Him TWELVE legions of Angels!
      • The statement of Jesus sound profound – but we need to do some Sunday MATH…
      • LEGION [λεγιών] – is SIX thousand soldiers…
      • Therefore – if Jesus had TWELVE legions – that is 72 THOUSAND Angels…
      • When the Assyrian army surrounded the city of Jerusalem in the day of Hezekiah…
      • One ANGEL was able to kill 185 THOUSAND soldiers in ONE night – II Kings 19:35
      • So – 72 THOUSAND times 185 THOUSAND equals – 13.3 BILLON people…
      • The population of the world in Jesus day was only THREE hundred million…
      • Therefore – Jesus is saying with a word He could wipe out the world FORTY times over!
    • Plan of God… vs. 54
      • How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must happen thus?
      • If Jesus called on those ANGELS – if He was saved from the CROSS…
      • Then how could the SCRIPTURE [Bible] be fulfilled…
      • Jesus knew what He had to do – and NO one had to make Him go!
      • John 10:18– “No one takes it from Me – but I lay it down of Myself.”
      • NO one was taking Jesus by force – He was CHOOSING to go…
      • Because it was NOT men who put Jesus on the cross there – it was NOT nails that held Him…
      • It was our SIN that put Jesus on the cross…
      • It was His great LOVE for you us that held Him there!

• 3^rd – The Hour… vs. 55-56
  • 1^st – Hypocrites… vs. 55
    • Why the Army…
      • In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes:
      • Have you come out as against a robber – with swords and clubs to take Me?
      • Jesus noted the HYPOCRISY of the scene in front of Him…
      • They came at Him with an ARMY – hundreds of armed men…
      • As if Jesus was a dangerous thief – with his own band of rebels at His side!
    • Daily in the Temple…
      • I sat daily with you teaching in the temple – and you did not seize Me!
        
      • Except they were NOT robbers hiding out – they had NOT committed any crimes…
      • They were in the open – Jesus sat DAILY teaching in the Temple…
      • Therefore why did these men NOT arrest Him then!
      • Because this was NOT an act of justice against a criminal – this was the CRIME…
      • They came at NIGHT when NO one was watching – to do what they knew was WRONG…
      • They came to accuse an innocent man – and put Him to His death!
  • 2^nd – Dark Hour… vs. 56
    • Prophecy…
      • All this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled!
      • This was DONE – so the SCRIPTURES might [subjuntive] be fulfilled [πληρόω]
      • With His life and death Jesus fulfilled over THREE hundred prophecies…
      • All He did – He did according to the WORD of God!
      • Isaiah 53:5-6 – “He was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped and we were healed!  All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left Gods paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the guilt and sins of us all.” [NLT]
      • Jesus did what no one else could– He lived a perfect life…
      • Then Jesus – paid the price for our sin – Death – Romans 6:23
      • Then came one of the great mysteries of the ages – God gave us His righteousness!
      • II Corinthians 5:21 – “For God made Christ who never sinned – to be the offering for our sin – so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”
    • All Alone…
      • Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled!
      • Jesus was left ALONE – to face SIX trials – a scourging – and crucifixion…
      • For those looking at what was happening it would appear the ENEMY has won!
      • Luke 22:53 – “This is your hour – and the power of darkness.”
      • But what the ENEMY did NOT know – was this was all part of the PLAN of God…
      • This was NOT the end – it was just the beginning…
      • Because the death of Jesus was the ONLY way for us to have LIFE!