47 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. 48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? 49 When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? 50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. 51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? 53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. (Luke 22:47-53 KJV)
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
Satan, finding himself baffled in his attempts to terrify our Lord Jesus and disturb his inner peace, turned to force and arms, bringing a group to arrest him—and Satan was in them.
Here a large crowd appears, and Judas leads them, for he was the guide to those who took Jesus. They didn’t know where to find him, but Judas led them to the place. Once there, they didn’t know which one was Jesus, so Judas told them, “The one I kiss is the man.” He approached Jesus to kiss him, using the familiar greeting Jesus allowed among his disciples. Luke alone records the question Jesus asked him: “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48).
Must the Son of Man be betrayed—by one of his own disciples, as though he had wronged them? Must he be betrayed with a kiss—the symbol of affection turned into an act of treachery? Was any love-token ever so abused? Nothing grieves or offends the Lord Jesus more than being betrayed by someone who professes loyalty and love to him. That is what people do when, under the pretense of zeal for Christ, they harm his servants; or when, claiming to defend grace, they undermine holiness. Many betray Christ with a kiss—those who uphold the form of godliness while denying its power. If only their consciences would ask them, as Christ asked Judas, “Are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” And will he not take it seriously?
When the disciples saw what was coming—that armed men were there to arrest him—they asked, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” (Luke 22:49). “You let us carry two swords—should we use them now? If not now, then when?” They asked the question as if they wouldn’t act without permission, but they didn’t wait for an answer. Peter, aiming at the head of the high priest’s servant, missed and cut off his right ear. Just as Christ had shown what he could do by knocking down those who came to arrest him, Peter showed what he could do too—if he had been allowed.
Luke tells us how Christ handled it. First, how Christ defused the situation: “No more of this!” (Luke 22:51). Some think he said this to the officers to calm them, so they wouldn’t retaliate against the disciples: “Overlook this injury—it was done without my approval, and no more harm will follow.” Though Christ could have struck them down, even killed them, he spoke gently and, in effect, apologized for his disciple’s rash action. He taught us to speak kindly even to enemies.
Second, how he healed the wound, which more than made up for the injury: he touched the man’s ear and healed him, even restoring it fully. This demonstrated his power—he who could heal could also destroy, which should have made them fear him. If they had struck Peter, Christ would have healed him immediately—what couldn’t a small force accomplish with such a healer among them? It also revealed his mercy. Christ lived his teaching of doing good to those who hate us and later praying for those who mistreat us. Those who return good for evil imitate Christ. One would think this generous act would have touched their hearts—that they couldn’t treat as a criminal one who had just shown such compassion—but their hearts were hardened.
Then Christ confronted the officials who came to arrest him, to show how unreasonable their actions were (Luke 22:52-53). Matthew says he addressed the crowd; Luke specifies that he spoke to the chief priests, temple officers, and elders—men of religious standing involved in this shameful act, even some of the highest rank.
He asked why they had come with swords and clubs as if he were a criminal. He had never resisted them or stirred up the crowd. “Why are you coming at me like this?” They knew he wouldn’t run or hide—he had been teaching openly in the temple every day, yet they never tried to arrest him then. Before his appointed hour, they couldn’t take him; and now that the hour had come, all this force was unnecessary.
Then he explained why he submitted to them: “But this is your hour—when darkness reigns” (Luke 22:53). However strange it may seem that he was so exposed, he accepted it, because it was determined. This was the time appointed for them to have their way with him. Their time would be short, and he had his hour too—when he would reckon with them. Now Satan, the ruler of darkness, was allowed to do his worst—to bruise the heel of the woman’s seed. But Christ resolved to endure it: “Let him do his worst. The Lord laughs at him, for he sees that his day is coming” (Psalm 37:13).
Let this comfort us when the church’s enemies seem to prevail—and also in our dying hour:
- Their triumph is only for a limited time.
- It is their hour—granted to them so that God’s power may be glorified in their defeat.
- Darkness is in control now, but light will break through. The power of darkness must yield to the Prince of light. Christ was willing to wait for his victory until his suffering was finished—and so must we.