As a family, we read through Matthew 26 and 27 last Good Friday and throughout Easter Weekend. Alexis was very interested to know what happened each day leading up to and right after Jesus’ crucifixion. Sarah wondered how the soldiers could watch Jesus and not believe. She thought several must have believed, but didn’t tell anyone. What amazed me, was how Jesus continually captured all the possible teaching moments even while he was being betrayed, arrested, wrongly accused and abandoned!
Matthew 26:47-56 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve,
arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the
chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the
betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest
him.” 49 Going at once to Jesus,
Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”
Then the men stepped forward, seized
Jesus and arrested him. 51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for
his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off
his ear.
52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I
cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than
twelve legions of angels? 54 But
how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this
way?”
55 In that hour Jesus said to the
crowd, “Am I
leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture
me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all
taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.’ Then all the disciples deserted
him and fled.
Wow! Jesus kept
calmly teaching, even as they arrested Him!
Like Sarah, I
wonder how many people, besides the disciples, thought back to Jesus’s profound
words!
