Scripture Reading(s)
Matthew 26:47-68
26:47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people.
26:48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.”
26:49 At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
26:50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.
26:51 Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
26:52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.
26:53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?
26:54 But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?”
26:55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me.
26:56 But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
26:57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, in whose house the scribes and the elders had gathered.
26:58 But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and going inside, he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end.
26:59 Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death,
26:60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward
26: 61 and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.'”
26:62 The high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?”
26:63 But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
26:64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
26:65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy.
26:66 What is your verdict?” They answered, “He deserves death.”
26:67 Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him,
26:68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who is it that struck you?
Reflections
This is the ultimate betrayal that has ever taken place in human history. However, beyond that God’s sovereign control is being put on display and there is not one event that takes place without His controlling hand.
There are 3 main ways in which see God’s ultimate control over everything that went throughout the course of Jesus’s sacrifice for mankind:
- His perfect timing (vs 47, 55): Christ knew precisely when Judas was about to come and betray Him. He was not taken by surprise or thrown off course. Moments before He had woken up His disciples not when Judas got there, but before Judas even arrived. Furthermore, Christ even pointed out to them that they had ample opportunity to arrest Him before this point. Yet it did not happen until now. I truly believe it was because Christ was’t finished His mission and God had not yet appointed the time in which He would die for mankind’s sin. He was in full control.
- His Ultimate Power and Authority (vs 51-53): The disciple who drew his sword in attempt to stop Jesus’s arrest from taking place, may have had all the right intentions. However, Jesus fully makes it known that His power and Authority is still in place. If he wanted to He could summon “12 legions of angels” to come and rescue Him. One word and it would all be over. However, God’s plan was so that Jesus would go to the cross and take our punishment instead.
- His Control Over the Outcome (vs 59-60): Notice how the text says that they high priests waited for false witnesses to come forward. I love how the text says “as last two came forward”. It could have been a mob or a dozen of false witnesses that could have testified against Him. Yet there were only two and there was no telling whether these two were reliable or not. They were just two feeble witnesses who gave false testimony and that was all it took to sentence Him to death. You would have thought with the level of anger that the priests had that there would have been a much larger crowd fighting to give their false statements. It is amazing to see how God controls the outcome of all situations. He allowed for the two to come forward and He allowed for their testimony to sentence Him to death.