“The Arrest”

3/8/20

THE ARREST

Last week we talked about the “Last Supper” and about how Jesus ordained Holy Communion as a Sacrament for us. In His last two days on earth, everything Jesus did was pointedly for us… everything.

And we talked about Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane for you. The walk from the Upper Room and the Last Supper into the Garden of Gethsemane may have been Jesus’ last peaceful time on earth.

Think back about crossing the Kidron valley, crossing the trench flowing with the blood of the thousands of lambs and other animals, slain in sacrifice for Passover.  But it really would take the blood of only one Lamb, if it was the right Lamb, our Lamb for the Atonement so many were seeking.

Jesus and the 11 Disciples had probably left the Last Supper sometime after midnight.  Then Jesus spent time praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, probably well over an hour.  So, by now it’s about 1 to 2 a.m.  Now, Jesus has finished His prayers in the Garden.  Remember, Judas had left supper early, he had some things to do and people to see.

Now they are in the olive grove on the top of the hill and they begin to hear things.  They start getting glimpses of light coming toward them through the trees.  Soldiers, hundreds of them, are approaching on the roadway and trails that lead to Jesus’ location.  They can see the source of the noise and the lights.  Soldiers and Temple guards are approaching.  And there is Judas, leading the way.  What’s going on?  The Disciples have no idea, Judas thinks he knows, but Jesus knows full well what is about to happen.

The Roman detachment could have numbered as many as 600.  A Roman cohort, which would have been sent for something like this because of the fear of riots, could number between 600 and 1200.  Imagine that picture, 600 men, with swords and spears, lamps and torches… looking for the Light of the World.  What an irony.  Do you really believe that if God had not wanted to be arrested, 600 or even 6,000 could have done it?

Look at the stark contrast as Jesus, The Light, The Peace of the World, stands before the embodiment of force, violence and evil in the Roman soldiers.  So, Judas approaches Jesus, after receiving his 30 pieces of silver earlier from the High Priest, (the going rate for a slave or a prostitute) and reaches up to give Jesus, his teacher, his Rabbi, a kiss on the cheek.   While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:47-48 NIV)

Nowhere does it tell us after Jesus’ prayer time in the Garden, that He had stopped to clean Himself up.  So, the blood that had come during His prayers, the drops of blood He shed, some of which were for us, was still on His face.  The phenomenon of sweating blood is known as Hematidrosis.  It occurs during intense pressure, even raised blood pressure, when the small capillaries in the face burst into the sweat glands near the surface of the skin and drops of blood are mixed with the sweat.

Do you remember some of the words to “Mary Did You Know?” “Mary did you know  When you kissed your little Baby   You kissed the face of God?”  Look at the irony here, Judas kissing the face of God.  And as he does, do his lips get bloody from the drops of blood Jesus sweated during His prayers?  More irony.

So, they are standing there, as many as 600 witless soldiers, the Temple guard, and the traitor.  As the torches flicker and lamps glow, shadows dance around on the surrounding trees; a perfect setting for the evil about to be done.

Jesus asks, “Who is it you are looking for?”
The guard replies, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
Jesus replies, “I Am He; I Am the one you are looking for.” (John 18:7-9)

You may recall that Peter didn’t want this to happen.  So, he pulled his sword and cut off one of the servant’s ears. Jesus would not have it happen this way.  Jesus’ blood was to be the only bloodshed.  So, Jesus healed the servant’s ear.  Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”  (John 18:10-11 NIV)

The Roman soldiers would have surrounded the garden walls to prevent Jesus from escaping.  Then a moment an unusual event — when Jesus replied, “I AM He,” even the soldiers drew back and fell to the ground.  (John 18:5; Re: 4:26; 8:24, 28, 58; 13:19; cf. Ex. 3:14)  Even these base men, the Roman soldiers recognized Jesus was declaring Himself to be Almighty God.

Then Jesus was bound in the normal Roman fashion: a soldier would grab Jesus’ wrist and twist His arm behind Him, forcing His hand up between His shoulder blades.  While Jesus’ body would have been shifted upwards with His arm, the soldier would jam his heel into Jesus’ instep to keep Him under control.  A rope would be affixed to Jesus’ wrists and wrapped around His neck, so any effort to relieve the pain in His arms and shoulders would immediately choke Him.

From here Jesus is led to the home if Annas, the retired High Priest, then to Annas’ son-in-law, Caiaphas, the current High Priest then to the Sanhedrin.  All three of these events are against Jewish law, but the Romans didn’t care.  The Jewish leaders, the Roman soldiers, Judas, then Pilate and Herod to come, are all being used to complete the plans of God.  His plan to bring us Salvation through the sacrifice of His Perfect Lamb upon an old rugged cross.  And so, the slow walk to Calvary begins.

Chronology of Events
Surrounding Jesus’ Death

           EVENT                                                    Approx. time
Prayer and agony at Gethsemane      Midnight to 1:00 AM
(Matthew, Mark & Luke)

Betrayal by Judas and arrest                                  1:30 AM
(Mark 14:43-46; John 18:12)

Irregular, unauthorized inquiry by Annas       2:00 AM
(John 18:13-23)

Unofficial trial at Caiaphas’ house                       3:30 AM
(Matthew 26:57-68; John 18:24)

Formal, official trial before Sanhedrin              6:00 AM
(Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66-71)

First interrogation by Pilate at his Palace         6:30 AM
(Matthew 27:1-2; 11-14, Luke 23:1-7, John 18:28-38)

Audience and mockery before Herod                 7:00 AM
(Luke 23:8-12)

Final Judgment by Pilate                                         7:30 AM
(All Four Gospels)

Scourging at the Praetorium                                  8:00 AM
(Matthew 20:17-21; Matthew 27:27-31; John 19:1)

Nailing of Jesus to the Cross                                  9:00 AM
(All Four Gospels)
(The Third Hour)

Darkness                                                                        12:00 Noon
(Matthew, Mark, Luke)
(The Sixth Hour)

Death of Jesus                                                              3:00 PM
(All Four Gospels)
(The Ninth Hour)