Betrayed and Arrested

Matthew 26:47-56

Immanuel – 6/15/25

          Do you know who you are; who you really are? At the deepest part of your being, the very core of your essence, who are you?

Take the next minute to write down two or three characteristics that you think are true about yourself, at your core. I’m not asking about your personality – meaning traits and behaviors. I mean character, the fundamental parts of yourself that drive everything else. Your motivations lie in your character.

          (PAUSE)

More than anyone else, you have observed yourself. You know who you are. You know how you act in public. You know how you are when no one is watching. You know you. And yet, is it possible that you might not know yourself at all? That you might even be wrong about some of those things you’ve written down just now?

          I want you to hold on to these questions as we progress through today’s passage. Hopefully, by the end, you’ll see why.

          Read vs 47

          While he was still speaking. Let’s recall what is going on. Jesus had taken the disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane, just outside of Jerusalem, on the slope of the Mount of Olives. In an hour when Jesus was nearly crushed by the weight of things to come, he sought the quiet Garden to pray. He wanted his disciples to watch and to pray. He took Peter, James, and John deeper into the Garden, to be nearest him, his most fervent pray-ers, in this darkest hour of need.

          Jesus went deeper still into the Graden. Yet three times he returned to Peter, James, and John; three times he found them sleeping. It was late after all, and the bountiful Passover Feast was bound to have its drowsy effect.

          There have been plenty of times where I was praying late in the night, only to suddenly wake up a few minutes, or even hours later. As Jesus said to the disciples, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”     Only the strongest character overcomes the flesh, as we see in Christ.

          Read vs 45-46

          Onslaught of the Treacherous

          When Jesus says they must be going, he does not mean, “We need to get out of here.” Surely, he had seen the torches advancing in the night. How unflinching is Jesus: knowing full well the enemies that come, he marches his sleepy disciples to meet them. The moment of dread had come.

          This great crowd had come armed to the teeth, ready for a battle. A great crowd, an enormous crowd. Matthew tells us they came from the chief priests and elders of the people. That’s Matthew’s way of talking about the Sanhedrin. The highest Jewish authority sent this multitude of temple officials and temple guards.

John indicates, in his gospel, Roman soldiers accompanied the torch-lit throng. I think it’s also very likely that regular citizens and pilgrims in Jerusalem saw the menacing group leaving the city, and followed curiously behind, wondering what might be unfolding in the night.

Together they came with torches and lanterns in search of the Light of the World. They came with swords and clubs to subdue the Prince of Peace.

          And at the head of this great motley crowd was Judas. Matthew reminds us once again, that Judas was one of the twelve. He was one of Jesus’ most trusted allies, a dear companion for the past 3.5 years, a disciple who gave up his life to follow Jesus. Jesus knew him deeply and cared for him.

And Judas knew Jesus. At least he knew Jesus as a friend, as a teacher, perhaps even as the Messiah. But he did not know Jesus as the Light of the World. He did not know Jesus as the Prince of Peace.

Read vs 48

The betrayer: Judas. In verse 4 we learned of the religious leaders’ murderous desire to arrest Jesus by stealth. They feared public opinion, but they hated Jesus and wanted him gone. Having some understanding of this, Judas sought them out, looking to sell Jesus.

We see in this a fulfillment of Psalm 41.

My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die, and his name perish?” And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words, while his heart gathers iniquity; when he goes out, he tells it abroad. All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me.                                                   -Psalm 41:5-7

In exchange for money, Judas would find some secret way for them to arrest Jesus. For greed, for financial gain, for a few fleeting pleasures, Judas traded Jesus away for 30 pieces of silver – no more than $500.

As Jesus’ last supper with the disciples was winding down, after his feet had been washed, Judas slipped out of the upper room and slinked into the night. Evidently, he went right to the Sanhedrin officials.

In John 18:2, we learn Jesus often took the disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas, one of the 12 disciples, knew this all too well. He knew Jesus would be heading there following the meal that night. He knew where to send the Sanhedrin’s goons.

But in that furtive meeting, they knew the dark could make it difficult to identify Jesus. So Judas offered a solution: a kiss.

A kiss on the cheek was a common greeting in those days. For my wealthy New England relatives, a kiss on the cheek is the normal greeting. In the Middle East, it is still very common for men to greet each other with a series of kisses on the cheek. Such a kiss is a sign of honor, of respect, of friendship. In this case, Judas’ was a kiss of death.

And then Judas tells the officials, “After I kiss Jesus, seize him.” As if Jesus needed restraining. As if he would try to run. As if Judas couldn’t stand to see Jesus be free any longer. Judas may well have said, “Restrain him, and remove his presence from my life!”

          Read vs 49

          According to Jewish custom, it was disrespectful for a disciple to greet the teacher first. The teacher was to greet, the disciples were to respond. Before he even plants his kiss, Judas disrespects Jesus with a presompuous greeting.

And he calls Jesus, “Rabbi/Teacher.” We already saw this during the Last Supper. All the other disciples call Jesus, “Lord.” But Judas will not. Instead of the exalted title, Judas calls Jesus, “Rabbi.”

Then Judas leans in, probably with an embrace, and kisses Jesus. It is the kiss of death.

          Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.       

-Proverbs 27:6

          A storm of suffering is breaking upon Jesus, but he is calm, resolute.

Read vs 50

Though there is irony in Jesus’ words, I don’t think there is a shred of sarcasm. Jesus truly regards Judas as his friend. Again, for 3.5 years he poured himself into man, caring for him and patiently teaching him.

I also detect in Jesus’ reply – when he calls Judas friend – one final and gentle warning. “You are my friend. Remember. Remember my love for you. What wrong have I done to you?”

And yet Jesus knows Judas has chosen his path. “Do what you came to do.”

Consider with me how Jesus’ demeanor has entirely shifted from the last scene. In the last scene, as he prayed in Gethsemane, Jesus was in agony. In verse 38 he said, “My soul is very sorrowful, even unto death.” Three times he prayed, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Luke tells us the stress of the moment was so intense, Jesus sweat drops of blood. Medically it is called hematidrosis, when the body responds to the “fight or flight” instinct so intensely capillaries rupture and blood oozes through sweat glands.

But all of that anxiety, all of that inner turmoil has evaporated. Jesus is now resolute. “Do what you came to do.” He is resolute and in control. Jesus is the one who will dictate how things go. We’ll see this even more as we continue.

Read vs 51

Defeat of the Defenders

In the gospel of John we learn that it was Peter who cut off the right ear of Malchus, servant of the high priest, likely leading the Sanhedrin party. And in another miracle, Jesus immediately restores Malchus’ ear.

Doesn’t this just fit so much of what we have learned about Peter in Matthew’s gospel: impulsive, hasty, misreading the situation.

Clearly Peter is not a skilled swordsman. He was not surgically swinging, looking to sunder ear from head. He missed the head (thank God!) and probably in an accidental glancing blow, cut off the ear. Peter’s attempt at defending Jesus is an unskilled and pathetic misfire.

Yet I feel a certain admiration for Peter. How outnumbered is he? If he is really fixin’ to get into a sword fight, what could his chances possibly be? Peter did say, only a few hours ago, that he would be willing to die for Jesus. The moment he draws that sword, it seems like a real possibility. Peter certainly has a courageous heart, even if a bit reckless.

Yes, Peter deserves a certain admiration. Even still, his courage is misplaced, and his character a bit wild and misguided.

Read vs 52

As quickly as Peter flashed his sword, Jesus delivered a stern rebuke. “Put your sword away! If you live by the sword, you will die by the sword.”

Had Jesus allowed the situation to play out, Peter may have died by the sword. But Jesus was in complete control, and this was about his death, and not the death of his disciples. So he healed the man Peter wounded, and deescalated Peter’s situation.

Physical violence, and especially retaliatory violence, is incompatible with Jesus’ character. Remember his words from the Sermon on the Mount (a sermon which Peter listened to):

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”                                                -Matthew 5:38-39

In the moment of crisis, Peter was courageous. But he drew his courage from his own strength and looked to his own power for deliverance. Had Jesus not intervened, Peter’s feeble power would have led to a swift and early death.

Jesus repudiates force. No deliverance can be found in human strength. It is so natural for us to impose our will upon others, but we will never find salvation in it. Rather, Jesus calls his followers to take the way of the cross, the way of self-denial. “Father, not my will, but yours be done!”

Violence. Force. Compulsion. Self-imposition. These are totally out of character for Jesus. And we have been called to follow him!

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”                                                 -Matthew 16:24-25

Peter’s action was impulsive, feeble, and uncharacteristic of Jesus. And then Jesus points out, Peter’s action was entirely unnecessary.

Read vs 53-54

In a Roman legion there were about 6,000 soldiers. If Jesus called down twelve legions of angels, that’s 72,000 angels. But Jesus says the Father will send even more. And at that first Passover in Egypt, how terrible was only one angel?!

How much the Father loves his Son! How much the Son understands the love of his Father! Is not Christ strengthened in this moment with sheer confidence in his Father’s love and power, even if the physical signs of that love and power are momentarily obscured by the darkness?

The Father’s love for the Son is so ferocious and vast that it would overwhelm and consume any foe, if only the Son were to ask. Peter’s sword would be as a blade of grass carried in the wild breath of a hurricane. His weapon was utterly unnecessary. All Peter had to do was trust Jesus, his Lord and his Savior.

Despite full access to heaven’s fury, Jesus does not beseech the Father. He does not call down the angelic horde. He stands mighty in his purpose: to do the will of the Father in fulfillment of Scripture. Jesus’ resolute calm, his unflinching courage, comes from profoundly deep roots Scripture and understanding the Father’s sovereignty. More on this in a moment.

Triumph of the Captive

          Jesus turns from healing Malchus’ ear and rebuking his disciple, and he addresses the menacing crowd, with their swords glinting in the torch light.

Read vs 55-56a

          I love what Jesus does here. I love the mastery he has over the whole situation.

First, Jesus chides the crowd for being cowards. The word for robber in verse 55 could also be translated as terrorist. Did they think Jesus was a terrorist? What violence had he incited? Why would they need to fear him? But they come to this unarmed and peaceful man with swords and clubs. They’re a band of bullies – cowards.

Next, Jesus shames them for coming in the dark, in secret. In the daylight, as Jesus daily taught in the temple, the religious leaders could have taken him. He was like a fish in a barrel. But these religious leaders, these leaders of the Jews, feared the people – for many admired Jesus. The arresting crowd was not bold enough to seize him in public, and they should be ashamed of their underhanded tactics.

Finally, Jesus explains what is happening. The crowd came with their plans. They have their schemes. But theirs is only a surface comprehension; they have no idea what is truly unfolding. So in verse 56, Jesus tells them: “All this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.”

          As the Jewish leaders despise Jesus, and Judas treasonously rejects him, all of them treating the Innocent One as if he were a sinner, and the words of Isaiah are being fulfilled.

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

He poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.      -Isaiah 53:3,12

          They treat Jesus as a sinner, though he is without sin. But he goes to make intercession for sinners. As Isaiah also says,

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.               -Isaiah 53:5-6

          Though they did not know it, the crowd had come to arrest Jesus, for the Jews to condemn him to death, for the Romans to crucify him – that Christ would be pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities, that his pain would be our peace and by his wounds we would be healed.

          They thought they had come to take Jesus into captivity, but they had become captive to the sovereign plan of God. Their club and swords and hard hearts were but instruments in the hands of the Master. Though Jesus faces down the worst suffering any human has experienced, he revels in the sovereignty of God and boldly proclaims it to his captors.

See this with crystal clarity: Jesus willing embraces his betrayal and arrest. He walks towards the torch carrying crowd. He receives Judas’ kiss and invites him to proceed. He rejects any attempt to forcefully resist, and refrains from calling down angelic armies. And he stands before his enemies willingly giving himself to the plans of the Father, as those plans sweep them all like some history altering tidal wave.

And as the tidal wave crashes upon Jesus, our passage ends: Then all the disciples left him and fled. Every pledge of loyalty has dissolved. Jesus is now utterly alone. Alone to face the shame. Alone to face the pain. Alone to bear the weight of a world’s sin. Alone to be forsaken.

The disciples, the betrayer, the crowd, the Christ; they’re all caught up in sovereign waters, but only Jesus understands it, and only Jesus willingly accepts it. Jesus is not some passive victim. He is the prime actor. Against the backdrop of moral corruption and betrayal, Jesus’ character shines forth.

His trust is in the Father, so he remains calm though torment roils. His resolve is unshakable, for his steps are guided by Scripture. And though he could wield heaven’s power, he is meek, peacefully accepting the injustice of wicked men. He is selfless, going to the cross in obedience to the Father and in love for the lost.

The character of Christ: firm trust in the Father, grounded in Scripture, strong but meek, selflessly loving. Oh, how we can learn from Jesus!

But when the night envelopes, and the trial comes, how many of us go running in the dark, afraid, frantic for some security? How many, like Peter, try to take things into our own hands, only to make a mess of it?

Earlier I asked you who you are. But the real questions is: Who are you when the trial comes? Pledges of loyalty and strong character are easy when you’re comfortable and safe, when your sitting in church. Who are you when the trial comes?

The failure of the disciples reminds us that we often don’t know the weakness of our own heart until we are tried and tested. Surely you can relate when you’ve had a moment in your life when you’ve felt the presence of God, been filled with passion, resolving to live a life surrendered unto Christ, and then within 48 hours you’ve found yourself rolling in the mud again, back to your old sinful self.

Brothers and sisters, we are much like the disciples: Our character is weak, cowardly, impulsive, misguided, broken. So if the failures of the disciples teach us anything, they teach us not to trust in ourselves.

Trust in the One whose character shines with heaven’s brilliance, even while the darkness of evil breaks upon him. Is there anything better we can do but to watch and pray, pray that we would be upheld by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When you look at him, seeing his character, when you pray for his sustaining grace, then trust. Trust is an activity. Trust, and let not fear grip your heart. Trust, and let not worry cloud your mind. Trust and release the grip of your sword.

 Jesus loves you and he gave himself for you. The Father has a plan and is working all things together for the good of those that love him. The Spirit dwells within you, and you shall live forevermore. Defeat your fears by trusting in these promises from Scripture.

Trust Jesus and follow him – where he will lead you to a cross, where you are to die to yourself. And there you will see, just as brilliantly as in that dark garden, truly Jesus is the Light of the World! Surely, he is our Prince of Peace! So willing to suffer for fearful disciples and hate-filled enemies; Jesus is an eager Savior. Which means he is eager to save anyone who would call upon his name.