Jesus Stopped A Fight So He Could Die On The Cross

There was deadly tension at Jesus' arrest. The conspirators were afraid of reprisals from the masses who followed Jesus, so they came prepared to fight. Jesus' disciples knew Him well, and knew there was no just reason to arrest Him. They also knew He had a large following and might be able to start a war, which everyone expected the Messiah to do. They, too, were ready to fight.

A large armed mob was there to support a delegation, led by Judas, assigned to arrest Jesus. John 18:3 Jesus, instead of retreating, walked straight toward them with His small group following. John 18:1 As the groups approached each other the tension was thick. Jesus engaged them first, asking who they were seeking. Twice Jesus revealed who He was, the mob fell back. John 18:4-9 Judas stepped forward and confirmed this was indeed Jesus by kissing Him. Matthew 26:49

When a fight is about to begin the adrenaline starts flowing and a fevered, passionate rage begins to rise. Some of the High Priest's men stepped forward and grabbed Jesus to arrest Him. Mark 14:46 As they were taking Him away His disciples moved forward, Peter pulled a sword and began a close quarter street fight, cutting off an ear with a deadly slash. John 18:10

Then an amazing, startling thing happened... Jesus pulled away from His captors and quickly moved between His disciples and the mob. A mob looking for a fight. Jesus demanded that Peter put away His sword, and then He spoke clearly to Peter and the rest of His men to calm them down and back them off. Matthew 26:52-54 This is where all the warring dreams of His disciples died... Perhaps their bold bravery sunk into a sort of angry helplessness, a kind of shame, that comes when a man is prepared, but unable, to prove his faithfulness and mettle when it is needed most...

Then, in this trigger ready tension, Jesus reached down to the ground, picked up the sliced ear, and with the care of the greatest physician repaired the injured man's wound... a man who had come prepared to fight to take this Great Physician to His death. Luke 22:51

Jesus then turned to the mob to calm them. He reminded them that He had been among them for days, and had always been available for arrest. He was not a criminal who needed to be arrested with weapons drawn. Mark 14:48-49 Then they bound Him and led Him away. John 18:12-13 Jesus could have died there with His disciples... but His destiny was the Cross... it was always the Cross.

A Monday Thought: The Death Of Death

Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

The events we read about in this passage in Matthew happened many years ago. And it was amazing! Can you imagine being there to watch the shackles of the curse of the Mosaic covenant fall from the condemned! How rapturous it must have been to be delivered from the pain of physical and mental illness by the simple word and touch of the great physician.

But there is a greater day coming! It will begin with the chains of death, the ultimate disease, being shaken from believers who have suffered its frigid captivity. Death... the ancient enemy, has broken our beautiful, brilliant, and beloved. It has blighted with age those who have longed to remain productive for their Savior. It has silenced the most gifted voices mankind has ever heard.

But it cannot and will not hold them, for death is swallowed up in the victory of the Cross. Full atonement has been made. The redeemer has paid the kinsman’s price, and He will take His people home. The great Physician has defeated death, and the final victory is near.