HOST: Ron House
SPONSOR: Start2Finish
While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.
From this point forward, we will look at every account of every event. As the mob comes to arrest Jesus, Peter draws his sword in defense of His Master. In Matthew’s account of these events, He is alone in highlighting a statement made by Jesus to Peter as He commanded him to put away his sword. Jesus reveals that, despite the armed men who have come to take Him, He is in complete control of all things. Just a word and His Father will send an army of angels to His rescue. There is no man and no mob that can forcibly take Jesus’ life from Him. His death is to be completely voluntary. If it is not, then He is not truly a sacrifice. What a sobering thought to understand that, at any point, it was within Jesus’ power to stop the suffering and demonstrate His power and glory. But He did not say that word. He willingly endured all the suffering and allowed Himself to be made a sacrifice for us. What a wonderful Savior!
Why is it important that Jesus’ death was voluntary?
Don’t forget to pray and have a great day!
