Part 3 / Jesus betrayed, arrested and forsaken / Lesson # 278 / Monday March 10, 2014 Matthew 26:51-56 [New King James Version]; And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled. ************************* Good morning from Theodore. All four of the gospel writers, Matthew, Mark Luke and John record this history of the betrayal, arrest and the forsaking of Christ. In this lesson I want us to notice John 18:4-11 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were coming upon him, went forth, and saith unto them, whom seek ye? 5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When therefore he said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. 7 Again therefore he asked them, whom seek ye? And they said, Nazareth. 8 Jesus answered, I told you that I am he; if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: 9 that the word might be fulfilled which he spake, Of those whom thou hast given me I lost not one. [John mentions the foreknowledge of Jesus to remind us that he could have avoided the arrest had he chosen to do so. Jesus asked, Who do you seek? (1) To openly and manfully declare his identity; (2) to make the Jewish rulers fully conscious that they were arresting him, an innocent man; (3) to confine the arrest to himself and thus deliver his disciples. The older commentators regard the falling to the ground as a miracle, but modern scholars look upon it as a result of sudden fear. Jesus merely manifested his dignity and majesty and the prostration followed as a natural result.] 10. Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it, and smote the High Priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. The Servant’s name was Malchus. 11. Then Jesus said to Peter, “put up thy sword into the sheath; the cup which my Father gave me to drink, shall I not drink it?” ************************* Matthew 26:51-54 Peter stretched out his hand, drew his sword, and struck Malchus, the servant of the High priest, and smote off his right ear. Then said Jesus unto him; put up again your sword into the sheath. This Christ said, not only to rebuke Peter for his rashness, but to soften the minds of the multitude who must be enraged at such an action. For all they that take the sword, said Christ, shall perish with the sword. This is to be understood of private persons that use the sword for private revenge, or engage in a quarrel to which they are not called; and such do generally perish, as Peter must have done, had it not been for the interposition of almighty power Peter, said Christ, don’t you think that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more that twelve legions of angels. In other words, if it was necessary, or if I was desirous of being rescued out of such hand I am falling into [this must be understood of him as man]; my father shall presently send me more than twelve legions of angels who could rescue me from the present danger; therefore, Peter, I have no need of your sword to defend me. Should I make such a request to my Father and he should grant it, then how shall the Scriptures be fulfilled which speak of my being taken, and led as a lamb to the slaughter, and of my various sufferings, and the circumstances of them have their accomplishments? Therefore, Peter, it must be; that I, the Messiah must be apprehended, and suffer, and die. Matthew 26:55-56 In that same hour Jesus said to the heads and chief of the multitude; to the chief priests, captains of the temple, as elders, as Luke say in Luke 22:52; “Are you come out as against a thief with swords and staves, for to take me as if I am a notorious robber that had done great mischief to the country. I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple and you laid no hands on me. The business in which Christ was employed was not thieving and stealing, but teaching; and that wholesome doctrine, which he, as man, had received from his Father, and as the great prophet in Israel taught; and with such power and authority, as the Scribes and Pharisees did not: the place where he taught, was the temple; not a corner, or a private place, but a place of public worship, and of public resort. “But this is your hour”; this is that hour which God has determined. This was the very hour when the soldiers would arrest our Lord and lead him away to be judged and crucified for the redemption of his elect; this was the hour when the prince of darkness would put forth his power; The appointed time when the rulers would take counsel against the Lord and against his anointed, the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter says, [Christ], being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain… “THIS IS YOUR HOUR, AND THE POWER OF DARKNESS All this was done, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him and fled; not only went away from him, and left him alone, as he foretold they would, John 16:32, but they ran away from him in a precipitant manner, like timorous sheep, the shepherd being about to be smitten; and they fearing, lest Peters rash action should be imputed to them all, and they suffer for it; or lest they should be laid hold on next, and bound, as their master was, or about to be. ################################################################################# HAVE A BLESSED DAY – GOD BLESS, THEODORE
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 10:15:09 +0000
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