Matthew 26:47-56

JESUS IS BETRAYED AND ARRESTED

Matthew 26:47-56

 After the last supper Judas finished breaking bread Satan enter him.  John 13:27 Before he left Jesus looked at him and said to do what he had to do quickly. Jesus was looking at a man who had followed him for about 3 years and he knew that he was going to betray him. For 30 pieces of silver, the price of a slave at that time, Judas was going to betray a friend. Matthew 26:24-26

Mat 26:47  And even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people.

Jesus knew what was to happen and the eleven disciples were outnumbered. Joh_18:3 He had an armed guard with him.

Mat 26:48  The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: "You will know which one to arrest when I greet Him with a kiss." Mat 26:49  So Judas came straight to Jesus. "Greetings, Rabbi!" he exclaimed and gave Him the kiss. Mat 26:50  Jesus said, "My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for." Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested Him.

He was going to give Jesus a kiss.  Jesus still called him friend even though he was being betrayed.  A kiss in that time was a formal greeting but this kiss meant something else it was a form of betrayal.

Mat 26:51  But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest's slave, slashing off his ear.

Jesus knew what was to happen, he even healed the servant Malchus's ear. Jesus was totally devoted to Gods plan  Joh_18:10,

 Mat 26:52  "Put away your sword," Jesus told him. "Those who use the sword will die by the sword. Mat 26:53  Don't you realize that I could ask My Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and He would send them instantly? Mat 26:54  But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?" Mat 26:55  Then Jesus said to the crowd, "Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest Me? Why didn't you arrest Me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day. Mat 26:56  But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures." At that point, all the disciples deserted Him and fled.

How sad Jesus must have been. All of the disciples had deserted. Jesus pointed out how wrong this was. He was not dangerous, clubs and spears were not necessary. Jesus had to fulfill his father's plan. He had prayed to be released from this but was not. He was to die so that we may live. I have struggled with Judas being the bad guy. Why him did God make him do this? If that were true why would he be condemned? I went to Bible Thirsty and this is the answer I found.

Bible Question: Why did Jesus choose Judas Iscariot as a disciple if he knew he was going to betray him? Bible Answer: The answer is that Jesus selected him because this was part of God's plan. Jesus drops the first hint that He would be betrayed while He is speaking to a large crowd of "disciples,"     But there are some of you who do not believe. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. (NASB) John 6:64 John 6:66 says that many of His "disciples" left Him after this. Why did so many leave Jesus? The answer is many did not really believe in Jesus. Is it not interesting that Jesus called them betrayers. Those who are real Christians will not turn traitor and desert Jesus. This passage also tells us that this was no surprise to Jesus. He knew who the traitors would be.     Jesus Chose Judas. Yet, Jesus chose Judas Iscariot as a disciple anyway,     Jesus answered them, "Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?" Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him. (NASB) John 6:71 And John 12:4 tells us again that Judas was intending to betray Jesus. Why did Jesus choose Judas? There are probably many reasons. One reason could be that Jesus wanted to show us how to love even our enemies. Another reason could be that God wanted to leave an example for us that even those we trust may not be real. John 13:22 tells us that even after Jesus told His disciples that one them would betray Him, they did not know who that was.     Why Jesus Chose Judas. The main reason Jesus chose Judas is given to us in John 13:18-22,     I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.' . . . He became troubled in spirit . . . and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me." The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking. (NASB) John 13:18-22 It was done so that the prophecies of old would be fulfilled. The prophecy quoted here is Psalm 41:9. Judas was such an evil man that John 17:12 tells us that Judas is the son of perdition.     While I was with them, I was keeping them in Thy name which Thou hast given Me; and I guarded them, and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. (NASB) John 17:12

Agape

Dave