Daily Devotions
John
John 18:1-11 (Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22) "ONE OF THE TWELVE"
Day 273 – John 18
“ONE OF THE TWELVE”
All the Gospels paid close attention to the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Synoptic Gospels described Judas poignantly as “one of the twelve”.
“And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas,
One of the twelve, with a great multitude with
swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and
elders of the people.”
Matthew 26:47 (Mark 14:43; Luke 22:47)
How it must have pained Matthew to write what he did! Judas was indeed one of the Twelve, as Matthew was! He did the unthinkable! He did the worst thing possible! A disciple betraying his Master!
THE KISS OF DEATH
The Synoptic Gospels followed the same tradition of describing Judas giving to Jesus the kiss of death! It was normal for a Teacher to express His affection for a favourite disciple with a kiss! It was normal for a host to greet his guest in his home with a kiss too! A symbolic kiss on the cheek was the normal way of greeting in those days. Suddenly, the symbolic kiss denoting affection became the kiss of death!
“Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying,
‘Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.’
Immediately, he went up to Jesus and said,
‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed Him.”
Matthew 26:48-49 (Mark 14:44-45)
Luke added a special insight. As Judas drew near to kiss Jesus, he heard these startling words from his Master’s lips.
“Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Luke 22:48
Judas had worked out with the religious leaders this secret signal. The Garden of Gethsemane would be dark and there was that fear that perhaps Jesus could escape in the cover of darkness! Judas who knew Jesus well, would be able to identify Him to the detachment of troops who came with him! But the kiss of betrayal was no secret as far as Jesus was concerned! The words of Jesus must have drained all the blood from Judas’ face! His Master had seen it all, had known it all along that one of the twelve, Judas specifically , would betray Him thus!
John intimated this insight with these words,
“Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops,
and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees,
came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.
Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come
upon Him, went forward and said to them,
‘Whom are you seeking?'”
John 18:3-4
Jesus acted as if He had known all along that this event would take place! Only a person in perfect control of Himself would be able to say these words with such calmness. “Whom are you seeking?” He knew exactly whom they were seeking!
The words of Jesus to His Disciples about His betrayal by one of the twelve suddenly took on ominous meaning! It was all true! One of the twelve did betray Him! What a powerful emotional scene all the Gospel writers tried to capture as they wrote about the arrest of Jesus!
A DETACHMENT OF TROOPS
All the Gospel writers mentioned that Judas came with “a detachment of troops” (Matthew 26:47; Mark 14:43; Luke 22:47). The detachment had come fully armed, expecting possible violent resistance! How do we understand this word?
1. To ensure the arrest of Jesus
This was the idea of the religious leaders! It must have seemed the wisest course of action to take. They wanted to arrest Jesus so badly. They had failed so many times before. They could not allow this golden opportunity to slip by now! Not when “one of the twelve” would betray Jesus to them!
2. The question of security
Perhaps there was that basic fear that the Disciples would turn violent and attack those sent to arrest Jesus. That would of course be a natural response from the Disciples who had given up their all to follow this reknown Teacher! Judas would probably have welcomed this idea heartily for he knew the impetuous nature of Peter, and the quick temper of James and John! He would feel safer if there was a detachment of troops with him!
3. A total misreading of Jesus
The sending of a detachment of troops to arrest Jesus showed clearly that they had not understood Him at all! He had never given anyone any reason to fear Him. He had healed the sick. He had cast out demons! He had raised the dead! He wielded unbelievable power! Who would have stopped Him if He were to employ those powers that resided in Him? Can a mere detachment of troops contain or restrain Jesus? That would be a foolish and vain attempt!
WHAT A CONTRAST!
What a contrast all the Gospel writers sought to paint! On the one hand, we have a noisy detachment of armed troops, poised for battle! On the other hand, we have Jesus, strong and steady in full assurance that this was the Cup that His Father had given Him to drink! But We See Jesus …