When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.
Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour – when darkness reigns.”
(verses 49-53)
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The night is dark. Black. I imagine the mob sent by the chief priests are brandishing torches, as well as swords and clubs, so shards of light and elongated shadows are swirling. The disciples are terrified. The armed crowd is surging.
Judas approaches Jesus to greet him with a kiss of betrayal. The mob presses in, ready for the arrest. One bold disciple (John tells us it’s Peter) wields a sword and lops off the ear of one of the high priest’s servants. Presumably there are shrieks of pain, plus more swirling chaos. Luke pauses to tell us that Jesus touched the severed ear and healed it – the other Gospel writers don’t bother.
In the midst, Jesus’ voice rises above the fray. His urgent words momentarily arrest the chaos, bringing calm to the storm. He halts the sword swinging disciples. He heals the wounded man’s ear.
In this moment, he could have gone further. Matthew tells us that as he halted his disciples, he made it clear he didn’t need their protection – “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?”(Matthew 26:53). Since a Roman legion was made up of 6,000 soldiers, this would be a considerable army, more than enough to compensate for the single sword that Peter is impetuously swinging. As one commentator puts it, not only would there be a legion to fully defend Jesus, but also one apiece for each of the Twelve (minus Judas) – entirely adequate!
But he doesn’t do it. Why? Because from eternity past, it has been the will of the Triune God that Jesus would go to the cross. So, he presses forward, submitting to the Father’s will.
He speaks, then, to the surging mob who are fully armed with swords and clubs. He points out the foolish irony. They have been sent by the chief priests and elders, upholders of justice and righteousness, who cowardly refused to apprehend him while he taught peacefully in the Temple courts. Now they have sent these men to violently arrest him, hidden by the shadows of night. “This is your hour,” Jesus says, “when darkness reigns.”
Jesus stays the course. He yields to his attackers. All is happening so that Scripture might be fulfilled. In prayer, he had submitted himself to the Father: “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Now he is living it. He embraces the way of the cross.
Indeed, it has always been his purpose.
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“I cast my mind to Calvary
Where Jesus bled and died for me.”
Praise you, Lord Jesus, that you relentlessly pressed forward. You submitted to the Father. You went to the cross. You provided salvation for me. Praise your name.
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Reflect:
Jesus’ determination was motivated by his commitment to the Father, but also by his love for us. Pause to reflect and give thanks. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends …” (John 15:13-14).
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Photo by Kai-Chieh Chan (on Pexels)
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