Jesus’ Betrayal by Judas
November 12, 2022
Commentary
After Jesus had finished His prayer, He took His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane (v. 1). This is located on the western slope of the Mount of Olives and across the Kidron Valley from Jerusalem. In a garden, the first Adam brought sin and death to mankind; but Jesus, the last Adam brought righteousness and life to all who will trust Him, as He was obedient and went into the Garden of Gethsemane. He had taken His disciples there many times before to get away from the crowds.
Soon Judas came with a large crowd (some have estimated six hundred soldiers) to arrest Jesus (vv. 2-3). Because Jesus was completely aware of Judas’ plan, He went out to meet them (vv. 4-6). It was at this point that Judas, in his act ofbetrayal, kissed the Lord (Matthew 26:49). The crowd was caught off guard by this unusual behavior of Jesus as He calmly faced them, identified Himself, and made no effort to escape. In this moment of personal crisis, He requested that they let the disciples go free (vv. 7-9).
Peter, wanting to show his devotion to Christ, quickly drew out a sword and started to fight. Jesus did not need Peter’s protection. He could have summoned legions of angels if it had been His desire to be delivered. Peter proceeded to cut off the ear of one of the servants (vv. 10-11). No doubt, he aimed for the head and got the ear. Peter should have known that Jesus would be arrested and that He would willingly surrender to His enemies (Matthew 16:21). Peter’s loyalty was touching, but it missed God’s plan. It is still true today that zeal without knowledge often leads men astray (Romans 10:2). Jesus rebuked Peter and then deliberately gave Himself over to His enemies. They bound Jesus and led Him to the house of Annas (father-in-law of Caiaphas) for a sort of preliminary exam before going before Caiaphas, the high priest (vv. 12-14).
Application
It is so easy to misunderstand God’s plan in my life. The results of this misunderstanding can have tragic consequences. I need to constantly be on guard against misunderstanding God’s plan. I want to understand His plan for my life daily and not try to take things into my own hands. The only way I am going to understand his plan is to be seeking it every day in his word.
John 18:1– 14 (NET)
1 When he had said these things, Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley. There was an orchard there, and he and his disciples went into it. 2 (Now Judas, the one who betrayed him, knew the place too, because Jesus had met there many times with his disciples.) 3 So Judas obtained a squad of soldiers and some officers of the chief priests and Pharisees. They came to the orchard with lanterns and torches and weapons.
4 Then Jesus, because he knew everything that was going to happen to him, came and asked them, “Who are you looking for?” 5 They replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He told them, “I am he.” (Now Judas, the one who betrayed him, was standing there with them.) 6 So when Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they retreated and fell to the ground. 7 Then Jesus asked them again, “Who are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” 8 Jesus replied, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, let these men go.” 9 He said this to fulfill the word he had spoken, “I have not lost a single one of those whom you gave me.”
10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, pulled it out and struck the high priest’s slave, cutting off his right ear. (Now the slave’s name was Malchus.) 11 But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath! Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
12 Then the squad of soldiers with their commanding officer and the officers of the Jewish leaders arrested Jesus and tied him up. 13 They brought him first to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 (Now it was Caiaphas who had advised the Jewish leaders that it was to their advantage that one man die for the people.)
Illustration: William Tyndale’s Betrayal by a Friend
William Tyndale first translated the Bible from Hebrew and Greek into English, making a Bible for the common people. In 1535, he was betrayed by a friend, taken prisoner to the castle of Vilford, and was unable to finish his work because he was sentenced to die a heretic’s death: strangulation and burning at the stake, on October 6, 1536. (Source unknown).