Week 5
The Arrest
Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.
The drowsy disciples snapped out of their sleepiness when the mob showed up. The threat of the crowd brought greater concern to them than the threat of temptation. The protection they failed to seek through prayer, they would now try to accomplish with their swords. When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” (22:49). This question takes us back to the exchange just prior to going to the garden, when Jesus told them that if they didn’t have a sword they should “sell your cloak and buy one.” Jesus was not encouraging combat and the use of weapons, but He was informing them that the struggles they would face would intensify, and they would be fighting for their lives. There is no evidence that they were accustomed to carrying swords, but they must have had two in their possession this night. The disciples sensed what was about to happen, and they were prepared to use the swords to defend themselves and their Lord.
The Sword
The proverb all who draw the sword will die by the sword provides the reason for the reprimand. Turning to such violence would not be necessary because Jesus could call on His Father and have more than twelve legions of angels at His disposal (26:53)
One of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear (22:50). John identified this person—not surprisingly—as being Peter (John 18:10). He had said he would be willing to die for Christ and this just could be his time. Fortunately for the victim, Peter was not skilled in sword-swinging and had poor aim. The servant lost an ear, but he could have lost his head. Peter was a man of action. Sometimes he was impulsive in his action, but no one could say he did not love his Lord as he stood against the crowd.
Jesus was not leading a rebellion. The crowd did not have to come after Him with swords and clubs (Luke 22:52), and He would not defend himself with violence. To His followers He said, “No more of this!” (22:51). Jesus had taught His followers to love their enemies and to bless those who despitefully used them. In
13. A time of war, when God draws the sword for judgment and gives it commission to devour, when men draw the sword for justice and the maintaining of their rights, when there is in the nations a disposition to war; but we may hope for a time of peace, when the sword of the Lord shall be sheathed and he shall make wars to cease (Ps. 46:9), when the end of the war is obtained, and when there is on all sides a disposition to peace. War shall not last always, nor is there any peace to be called lasting on this side the everlasting peace. Thus in all these changes God has set the one over-against the other, that we may rejoice as though we rejoiced not and weep as though we wept not.
The Reprimand
The proverb all who draw the sword will die by the sword provides the reason for the reprimand. Turning to such violence would not be necessary because Jesus could call on His Father and have more than twelve legions of angels at His disposal (26:53)
Addressing the Disciples
A legion at full force consisted of six thousand Roman soldiers, though many legions operated in the field at less than full strength. Jesus’ comment implied that He did not need the twelve disciples to defend Him because twelve legions of the angelic armies were available if He should call for them. However, if He called on the hosts of heaven to defend Him, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled (26:54) that spoke of Jesus’ coming death?
A legion at full force consisted of six thousand Roman soldiers, though many legions operated in the field at less than full strength. Jesus’ comment implied that He did not need the twelve disciples to defend Him because twelve legions of the angelic armies were available if He should call for them. However, if He called on the hosts of heaven to defend Him, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled (26:54) that spoke of Jesus’ coming death?
Addressing the Crowd
Turning from Peter to the arresting crowd, Jesus pointed out the irony of their mob action against Him (26:55). Their swords and clubs would have been most appropriate if He had been leading a rebellion. But in fact, He had taught in the temple courtyard almost every day that week, and they had made no move to arrest Him. The irony is even greater because Jesus sat in the official position of teaching and thus had been respected as a rabbi. Surely no rabbi would be arrested in the middle of the night by a mob with swords and clubs. But, Jesus declared, this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled (26:56).
The Roman troops, identified as a “cohort” by the Gospel writer, may have ranged in number from two hundred to six hundred men. Why would such force be needed to capture only twelve poorly armed men? No doubt the conspirators knew that Jesus enjoyed huge popularity among the masses (whether they truly believed in Him or not; recall 12:17–19). Any success He might have had in rousing their attention and support could have placed a small band of troops in jeopardy.
Though the troops were led to the garden by a betrayer, Jesus was not caught there by surprise. He apparently had settled into the routine of visiting the garden, and had maintained that routine in order to assure the success of Judas’s mission. Despite the numerical superiority of the arresting party, Jesus proved to be the one in complete control of the situation. Filled with the knowledge of all that was going to happen to him (18:4)
The Healing Miracle
In this moment of personal agony, He thought of others, even His enemies. He touched the man’s ear and healed him (22:51). The last recorded miracle of Jesus was that of healing the severed ear of one of His enemies.