Culver Community Church
Pastor Chris Sweeney
Sermon Notes
April 28, 2019
Matthew 26:47 – 56 – Taken from the Garden
{vs. 47} While Jesus was still speaking – Jesus used every minute, every second to pray – right up until the mob led by Judas was upon them! This crowd carried swords (small, short swords – standard issue for the Roman soldiers) and clubs (word describes any log, staff, stick, etc. – probably the temple guards’ weapons which would be the equivalent of today’s police officers’ Billy club), and John’s account tells us they carried torches and lanterns also, even though it was a full moon. Consider the implications – this is a show of force, perhaps they even expected a fight! They are literally an angry mob with torches, clubs and swords (sorry, no pitchforks). This was a large group - John’s gospel says it was a band or cohort (1/10th of a legion = 6,000) so that means 600 Romans, an unspecified number of temple guards and representatives of the religious leaders – it could perhaps be close to 1,000 men, just out for a casual midnight stroll led by Judas with torches and weapons.
Judas, one of the Twelve – I was thinking about how the gospels are relatively kind to Judas, considering what he did. They could have called him that dirty, no-good, rotten scoundrel . . . but instead he is always referenced as ‘one of the twelve’ or as the one who would betray Jesus. One of the reasons for this is that there are two disciples who go by the name Judas - - - how would you like to be explaining all of your life – “I’m the other Judas!” However, I want you to remember that ‘one of the twelve’ can be said and taken differently based upon the attitude of the writer and/or reader. It can be said as a matter of fact, with disbelief or with disdain.
{vs. 48-50} Just to add insult to injury, to make the betrayal as bad as it could possibly be – Judas arranges (under the Devil’s influence) a special signal to point out to the mob who they should arrest. It could have been anything, in fact he could have just walked up to Jesus – but no, a very intimate greeting to pour proverbial salt into the wound. Judas, who knows that Jesus knows he is betraying Him – Jesus actually told him to go and do quickly what he was going to do still keeps up pretenses! He greets him with Rabbi and kisses Him (repeatedly – Mark uses a word which means - to kiss much, kiss again and again, kiss tenderly) – it could be translated kiss heartily or with passion. A kiss was a common way of greeting your master/rabbi but this was so much more!
Sadly, it is the same today – those who would betray Jesus, His gospel and work often begin with a kiss! Far more damage is done to the reputation of Christ by those claiming to be His than by all of the legions of Hell put together. Demons cannot put off a person considering Christ nearly as well as a quote, unquote Christian who lives like there is no power in the cross! Today, only tell people that you are a believer if you have committed your life to Him! Don’t do it because you think the Bible is true, or because you live in a ‘Christian nation’. The Great Commission is clear, we must not just go, make disciples and baptize but we must also “teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Don’t overlook this, everything Jesus commanded us – that implies a life of obedience – living as Jesus would have us live! Far too many people feign allegiance, like Judas’ kiss but won’t be true to the Master – they will not obey!
Judas could not have been any more insincere but Jesus continued to love him until the end – "Do what you came for, friend." It is at this point that John’s gospel shows Jesus to be in charge and to be a compassionate Savior who is protecting his followers. As He comes to the mob, He asks "Who is it you want?" to which they answered ‘Jesus of Nazareth’. He answers “I Am” (the name God gave to Moses from the burning bush! Most of your Bible translations add the implied word ‘He’ so that it makes more sense in our English minds. This direct answer sends them falling backwards to the ground! Remember this is a huge crowd, hundreds of people are literally floored! Now, some have tried to explain this away as pushing and shoving on an uneven hillside combined with a domino effect; or some sort of shock/fainting; but I believe it is the revealed power of God! Why else would John take the time to put this detail into his account? However, what really amazes me the most is that this mob still tried to arrest Jesus after that! Not only did Jesus not try to make a run for it while they were on their backs, but He once again asked, "Who is it you want?" they collected themselves and answered ‘Jesus of Nazareth’. This time Jesus answers in a full sentence – “I have told you that I am He: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:” Let me paraphrase for you - If it’s Me you want, let these others go free!
{vs. 51} Luke’s gospel tells us that the disciples actually asked “Lord, should we strike with our swords?”, but Peter (the companion identified by John) apparently could not wait for an answer and started hacking at the mob with his little short sword (really just a big dagger or knife). This servant was obviously an important person – no run of the mill house slave because he was right up front (probably next to Judas), seeing to it that his master’s orders were accomplished. It would have been far better for Peter to have put his hands together in prayer than to grasp this sword – this just made a mess for Jesus to clean up. Peter was moving in the natural, looking at a worldly solution and had no idea that this must happen – that God had more than enough spiritual power to accomplish or stop this at any time! It is so hard for us to distinguish between God working with us (through us) and when we take matters into our own hands. Results will tell the difference – hindsight is perfect and only what God does will be of any lasting good or value. It is good or lucky as we say, (really God’s providence) that Peter took on this servant instead of one of the Roman soldiers, otherwise Jesus would have needed to heal him (maybe raise him from the dead)!
Jesus does heal the servant (by the way, the only recorded healing of a fresh wound!) – literally restoring his ear. Either Jesus caused the man to regrow the ear or He picked it up (dusted it off – gross) and reattached it! I personally believe it was the first option. Another interesting thing is that Jesus healed Malchus (the servant) – with him having no recorded sign of faith. It’s hard to imagine that someone who came to arrest and ultimately put Jesus to death had faith in His healing ability! Which goes to disprove those faith healers and their excuse for lack of results – “You didn’t have enough faith”. When God, Jesus heals – it is a sovereign act – no portion of our own effort required. God who created Malchus (us all), simply recreated the missing ear.
{vs. 52-54} This was not a harsh rebuke, although it could have been (praise God that Jesus is gentle and loving – even, no - especially when we don’t deserve it!) However, Peter is warned with a general principle or truism – those who go to do battle, must be prepared for the consequences!
More than that however, Jesus essentially tells him I didn’t need your help. Christ came to conquer sin and death by the cross, not the Romans or even the Jewish leaders with the puny weapons of man! No, this is the way – God has already prophetically laid out the plan and this is how it must happen, how it will happen! Notice how resolute Jesus is – any human fear, doubt or reluctance has been left behind with His prayers, at the throne room of God. Even at what looks like the most dangerous moments – the garden, the trials and yes dying on the cross – Jesus knew that He could prevent them from taking Him and doing what they wanted and what scripture predicted would happen. Not only could Jesus pray and have all the resources of Heaven at His command, but as God incarnate . . . He could have wiped them out of existence with a word (not just knocking them on their derrieres)! Remember, a legion is 6,000 (they brought 1/10th of that) to arrest God, but He could have called on twelve legions (72,000!) But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?" – Jesus was never arrested by force, He surrendered Himself willingly. He went to the trials willingly and yes, He allowed them to crucify Him, willingly!
{vs. 55-56} Jesus does indeed go willingly, but before He does He wants them to have a chance to understand that this is wrong. The language actually describes coming out to get a robber in the night. In that day, thieves only came out at night (today it’s different). With this, Jesus is exposing their evil. They didn’t take Jesus in public, because they knew they had nothing to charge Him with, nothing that would stand up in court or in the court of public opinion! We know they feared the crowds, who thought Jesus could be the Messiah – they tried to wait until after the festival, but their hand was forced. Jesus isn’t the robber here, they are the ones operating in the dark of night! They were being led by Satan, and “… this is your hour—when darkness reigns.” (Luke 22:53) Even in this, scripture is being fulfilled. Jesus went with them, and the disciples like sheep fled when their shepherd was struck (Zechariah 13:7).