Knowing all that would happen to him
Wed, 28 December, 2005: Today’s Bible readings.
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.”
The time has come for Jesus’ arrest and trial, and so He heads to the garden of Gesthsemane, knowing this is where Judas will lead the party to capture Him. None of this took Jesus by surprise. Even in this moment of His arrest, He is completely in control of the situation. Judas and the arrest party think that they are in control of the situation, but Jesus makes it clear they are not.
What do we learn from this?
Jesus knew what was going to happen. Had it not been His intention to be arrested, He could have avoided going where Judas would lead them. Or He could have walked through the crowd and no one would lay a hand on Him, as He had done numerous times before. It was Jesus’ choice to allow them to arrest Him. He was in control.
And even in this moment of His arrest, He acts to protect His disciples. Peter attempts to protect Jesus by attacking, and he cuts off the high priest’s servant’s ear. But Jesus restrains Peter, and heals the servant’s ear. As John tells us, Jesus arranges it so that none of the disciples are arrested with Him. He protects them from the punishment that is about to come. He will bear it alone, and He spares His disciples from suffering at this time.
All of this is in fulfillment of prophecy: Jesus is in control at the moment of His arrest.
Once again, we have great comfort in this. At the moment of the greatest crime of all time: the only innocent Man is arrested and executed, Jesus is in control and is working everything for God’s glory and our good. If He is in control of that situation and makes it to work for good, He is also in control of the difficult times we face, and He works them for good also.
Where is Christ in this passage?
Jesus is God incarnate, and here at His arrest, He gives just a tiny glimpse of His divinity. When He says that He is Jesus of Nazareth, He uses the name of God (Greek: εγω ειμι — Literally: “I am”), and the party that came with their weapons to overpower Jesus and His disciples are thrown to the ground. The people cannot stand in His presence when He reveals the smallest amount of His glory.
