Betrayal and Arrest

Betrayal and Arrest
John 18:10-11

10 Then [oun] Simon [Simon] Peter [Petros] having [echo] a sword [machaira] drew [helkuo] it [autos] , and [kai] smote [paio] the high priest's [archiereus] servant [doulos] , and [kai] cut off [apokopto] his [autos] right [dexios] ear [otion] . [de] The servant's [doulos] name [onoma] was [en] Malchus [Malchos] .
11 Then [oun] said [epo] Jesus [Iesous] unto Peter [Petros] , Put up [ballo] thy [sou] sword [machaira] into [eis] the sheath [theke] : the cup [poterion] which [hos] my Father [pater] hath given [didomi] me [moi] , shall I [pino] not [me ouk] drink [pino] it [autos] ? KJV-Interlinear

10 Simon Peter therefore having a sword, drew it, and struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave's name was Malchus. 11 Jesus therefore said to Peter, 'Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?' NASB

We know from Lk. 22:38, that the apostles had two swords between them. Peter obviously had one of the swords. The other sword is not brought out, if it was even with them in the garden. Who carried the other sword is not known, and is really irrelevant. The swords did them no good, for it is the sword of the Spirit (Gods Word) which carries vast power, such that all weapons of mankind are rendered useless when arrayed against God.

Peter is impetuous. He has a knee jerk reaction. Someone asks whether they should fight, and Jesus has already said no. Peter, did not listen, but goes head on toward the servant of the high priest. He swings his sword to take off his head, but misses and gets only the ear. Notice that there are about 600 very well trained Roman soldiers right behind the servant, and none of them, if ordered to do so, would miss their target.

With a sword Peter is out matched and without training. But with Bible doctrine in the mature believers soul, there is no man nor even angel who can stand up against the spiritually mature.

Jesus immediately heals the ear. This sequence of events certainly got the attention of those standing by. Note that this is the High Priests, servant. This story (the repair of the ear) will get back to Caiaphas for certain, but he will remain defiant against Jesus. It is no accident that the servant of the High Priest was injured and healed by the very man, Jesus Christ, whom they will take to the Cross.

Jesus, rebukes Peter. 'Put your sword away.' Is in effect what He has to say. Matthew reports a little more that was said, but we will get to that tomorrow.

Now, Jesus is not here to fight the Roman army, defeat them, and then bring in the Kingdom of God.

When man was placed in the Garden of Eden, he was perfect. He could have lived forever there, but Satan entered into the picture and tilted the table against man and won mans downfall. Man chose against God by disobeying Him.

Now man has swallowed corruption and it is permanent. Were there no plan or means for getting rid of that corruption, man would have died in the garden and that would have ended history. But God promised a savior. Someone who would come to earth as a man, born of a woman's seed (the virgin birth), and redeem mankind from his ball and chain (sin and death). Then, after salvation was provided for, God would bring in His own Kingdom, after allowing mankind to runs things for a while and failing miserably.

The sacrifices spoke of the savior, and they spoke of the fellowship requirements after salvation. Lost to oblivion, man has to believe in Christ in order to be found again, and to become a part of Gods family. Once inside Gods family, we have to abide by the rules of the house. If we violate them, then we have two choices.

The first is to get hammered with discipline, and the second is to make amends with God and get back into His good graces. We call the second choice fellowship. In order to get back into fellowship we confess our sins to God the Father, and He restores us into fellowship. All of this is studied in great detail in Lev. 1-7. And the mechanics of confession is explained in 1 Jn. 1:9.

So, now we have Jesus here for the first advent and ready to go to the Cross to secure salvation for mankind, to fulfill all that the sacrifices taught. After all of the centuries of human history from Adam up and until the time of Christ, was that all for nothing? Does Jesus allow Peter, who does not seem to want to use his brain, to arrogantly fight off 600 well trained Roman soldiers, for the selfish purpose of his own desires?

Does God allow anyone to have their way, just because they want things their way? Because it is convenient? Because it just seems right? Because they just don't want to get with a daily Bible study program and then learn what life is really all about? So, in ignorance (lacking knowledge), people jump to the wrong conclusions, and pursue their emotional desires. Lucky for us all, God does not let us have our way.

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