By Timothy W. Burnett
After Jesus' prayer, Judas arrived with a large number of people with weapons to arrest him. The record of this arrest can be seen in John 18:2-12, Mark 14:43-52, Luke 22:47-53 and Matthew 26:47-56. Judas had instructed the Jewish leaders to arrest the one that he would kiss. He approached Jesus Christ and kissed him. But God had already prepared Jesus' heart to say in advance, "Judas, you betray the son of man with a kiss?" (Luke 22:48). After Judas kissed him, Jesus said, "Friend, wherefore art thou come?" (Matthew 26:50). According to E.W. Bullinger's notes in The Companion Bible, this was not a question but an "elliptical expression" meaning, "Do that for which thou are here." Jesus Christ was on top of things throughout his sufferings. Remember, as God's son, he had authority over the whole situation.
After Judas' kiss, Jesus directly approached the arresting group and asked "Whom do you seek? They answered, 'Jesus of Nazareth.' Jesus said unto them, 'I am he' And Judas also, who betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he said unto them, 'I am he,' they went backward, and fell to the ground. Then he asked them again, 'Whom do you seek?' And they said, 'Jesus of Nazareth.' Jesus answered, 'I have told you that I am he, if therefore you seek me, let these go their way.'" (John 18:2-8). Notice how Jesus commanded the situation. Even they who walked by the power of Satan could do nothing until it was time. They fell to the ground under Jesus Christ's authority.
Next, Jesus' desciples asked if they should strike with their weapons (Luke 22:49). All four Gospels reveal the account of Peter cutting off the ear of the high priest's servant. Jesus told Peter to put his sword back where it belonged and said, "all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." According to Bullinger, this may have been based on the words found in Genesis 9:6, "Who ever sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." Jesus then said an amazing thing, "Don't you think that I cannot now pray to my Father, and He shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? but how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" (Matthew 26:52-54). Based on Bullinger's notes, twelve legions referred to 72,000. This reveals something very important. If Jesus had cried out for deliverance, his Father would have easily sent over 72,000 angels to his rescue. Bless his heart, good ole Peter thought he could jump in there and save God's beloved son.
After he spoke to Peter, Jesus touched the servant's ear and healed him. Jesus showed God's love even while being arrested! The Gospels of Luke and Matthew show that he continued to command the moment by saying, "You came out as against a thief, with swords and staves? When I was daily with you in the temple, you stretched forth no hands against me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness." (Matthew 26:55-56 and Luke 22:52-53). The only reason they could take him was because he allowed them to do so. The power of darkness refers to the devil. Jesus had authority over the power of the devil, and freely allowed the devil's servants to capture and kill him.
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