Arrested at Night

“Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?” — John 18:11

While Jesus was still speaking, a crowd came into the garden, carrying torches and lanterns and swords and clubs. They had been sent by the chief priests. And leading them was Judas, one of Jesus’ own twelve disciples.

Judas had told them, “The one I kiss is the man you want. Arrest Him.” It was dark, and he wanted to make sure they took the right person.

Judas walked straight up to Jesus. “Greetings, Teacher!” he said, and kissed Him.

“Judas,” said Jesus, “are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” A kiss was a sign of friendship. Judas was using it to betray his friend.

Jesus knew everything that was going to happen to Him. He stepped forward. “Who are you looking for?” He asked.

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered.

“I am He,” said Jesus.

And when Jesus said, “I am He,” they all stepped back and fell to the ground! Even the soldiers couldn’t stand before Him. Nobody was taking Jesus’ life from Him. He was giving it.

“I told you that I am He,” said Jesus. “If you are looking for Me, then let these men go.” Even now, Jesus was protecting His friends.

Then Peter pulled out a sword and swung it at the high priest’s servant, a man called Malchus, and cut off his right ear!

“Put your sword away!” Jesus said to Peter. “Shall I not drink the cup My Father has given Me?”

And Jesus touched the man’s ear and healed him. Even while He was being arrested, Jesus was kind to one of the men who had come to arrest Him.

Then the soldiers seized Jesus and tied Him up.

“Am I leading a rebellion,” Jesus said to the crowd, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you didn’t lay a hand on Me. But this is your hour, when darkness reigns.”

And then all the disciples left Him and ran away.

They had promised to stay with Jesus, even if it meant dying with Him. But when the soldiers came, they were too frightened. Jesus was left alone.

They led Jesus away into the night, to the house of the high priest.

Jesus could have called on His Father to send armies of angels to rescue Him (Matthew 26:53). But He didn’t. He let Himself be arrested. He was choosing to go to the cross, to rescue us.

Read it in your Bible: John 18:1–12; Luke 22:47–53

Dear Jesus, thank you that you chose to give your life for us. Thank you that you were kind even to the people who came to arrest you. Help me to be kind to people who are unkind to me. Amen.