Matthew 26:47-6847And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. 49And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. 50And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. 51And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear. 52Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. 53Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? 54But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? 55In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. 56But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. 57And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. 58But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end. 59Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; 60But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, 61And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. 62And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? 63But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. 64Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. 65Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. 66What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. 67Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, 68Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee? (Matthew 26:47‑68)
The Lord had been practically alone in the Garden of Gethsemane, for even his disciples had slept while He prayed. If He had looked for some one to watch with Him, it was to feel that there was none. But He had gone through it all with His Father as to His path, and it was settled. The time had now come that the Son of Man should be betrayed into the hands of sinners.
“And while He yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves”. Here man and the blessed Lord are again in contrast. The Lord could have disappeared in the darkness after having warned His disciples, but He hadn’t come for that. He must be the obedient and submissive victim, the lamb led to the slaughter (Isa. 53:77He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7)), the perfect sacrifice for sin, in order to make atonement and to lay down His life for the sheep. It was His perfect love that held Him fast. On the other hand unhappy Judas comes and betrays his Master by that very act which expresses intimacy and love. “He came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Master; and kissed Him.” What a terrible thing it was to betray the Son of God and Lord of glory! Yet even in that awful hour the calmness and dignity of the blessed Lord shines above all, and His only answer to the deceit of Judas was “Friend, wherefore art thou come?”
Then they lay hands on Jesus and take Him away. And here one of those with Him draws his sword and strikes a servant of the high priest and cuts off his ear. From the other gospels we learn that it was Peter who struck the blow and that the Lord healed the wounded man. The Lord commands His disciple to put up his sword, saying, “all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou 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?”
The Lord’s words to the multitudes only showed His tenderness and compassion towards them. “Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take Me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on Me.” They were led by others, but they would not have been led this way if they themselves were not far from God. At this point the disciples forsake their Master and flee. They save themselves, leaving the Lord in the hands of His captors. They lead Jesus away to Caiaphas the high priest where the scribes and the elders were assembled, awaiting His capture. All was prepared. Peter follows afar off, and going in to the high priest’s palace he sits with the servants to see the end. The chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false witness against Jesus to put Him to death, but none could be found. At last two came forward and declared that He had said, “I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.” But to all their charges the Lord was silent.
However, when the high priest turns and adjures Him to answer if He be the Christ (Messiah), the Son of God, He could not be silent. He at once answers that He was, for He must confess to the truth of His Person. “Nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” They would only see Him coming in power and glory for judgment. The Lord was condemned for the truth that He confessed. “Then did they spit in His face, and buffeted Him.” He was again the victim of insult and outrage.
Further Meditation
1. Had the Lord said He would “destroy the temple of God”?
2. Why did the Lord remain silent?
3. For more on this epic day read 33 Prophecies Fulfilled in One Day.