Thursday, March 23rd The Arrest

And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

Luke 22:50-51

Read Matthew 26:51-56

At first the group hesitated. “Who do you seek?” the Savior asked. “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. In the same words He had used to claim deity once before, He looked at the chief priests and said, “I AM.” John records that they actually fell backwards in shock at His response.

Hands reached in from all directions. Now that the One who called Himself the Son of Man was identified, the band of soldiers took swift action. The lanterns and torches lit the Garden, as the military men seized Jesus.

In a valiant effort to make a stand, Peter drew a sword and cut off the ear of Malchus, servant of the high priest, but it was not the time for battle. Jesus healed the man’s ear and rebuked His friends for their violent reaction. He could have called twelve legions of angels to His rescue, but this was the hour of darkness, necessary for the drama of redemption.

The soldiers bound the Savior like a common criminal. In the flurry of the arrest, one by one the disciples slipped into the darkness. Those who pledged their loyalty were nowhere to be found. Some of the saddest words in the Bible are recorded here, “Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled.” (Matthew 26:56b).

Something to think about

1. How long did the arrest take?

2. Why did they arrest Christ at night?

3. Why did the disciples flee?