Jesus Betrayal and Arrest

 By: Brian Evans, gccwaverly.net

One great need we have is to understand and trust that our Lord is always in complete control of every situation.  Do you believe this morning that God is in complete control of everything?

So often when we are pressed by our circumstances we react in fear and unbelief.  We worry or get anxious because way down deep, we think that our future depends on us.  Way down deep we think we’re in charge and that if things are going to get better, I’m going to need to act.

The best way to handle trials and struggles is to remember God is sovereign and in control and we are not.

This text is rich with theological truth.  What I’d like us to see today is the power and control God has even in this dark trial.  Jesus is fully aware of everything about to happen and fully in charge.  He is letting them arrest Him.

I pray today, when we run into events that cause us to move toward anxiety, we will remember this passage.  No one takes Jesus’ life but He is laying it down freely for His people.

Please hear God’s Word for Grace Community Church today…

Luke 22:47-53

47 While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”49 And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?”50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” [1]

1. Would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?

47 While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”

Jesus had just stood up from His time of very intense prayer.  After being comforted and strengthened by the angel that appeared, He was ready.  He was ready to face what was already headed His way.  Right down the path a little ways, Judas was leading the mob.  No time to pray now…our Lord had already prayed and was ready to face this challenging and brutal night.

Luke tells us that the man who was leading the mob was Judas.  Again, Judas is seen as one of the twelve.  This was no stranger who was about to betray our Lord but one who had been with them, one of the twelve.

Judas was about to do the most hideous act that human depravity could do.  He had already overridden his conscience and it was seared.  He desired payment for his three wasted years.  He wanted compensated for following Jesus.  His hopes of Jesus taking the throne as King and ruling over everyone had been dashed.  Judas was trying to get whatever he could and for thirty pieces of silver he sold his soul to Satan.  In fact, Satan had entered into Judas now and was doing what he wanted.  Judas was a hypocrite and a traitor before Satan ever entered him.  The devil was just moving things along.

Judas was feeling confident at that moment.  He had at least 600 men armed for battle with weapons, and torches.   We get this number from the fact that John’s Gospel tells us that Judas was leading a Roman cohort.