They Thought They Had Power

And while He was still speaking, behold there came a crowd, and a man named Judas, one of the Twelve apostles, was going before them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, ""Judas! Would you betray and deliver up the Son of Man with a kiss?"

And when those around Him saw what was about to happen, they said, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?"

And one of them struck the bond servant of the high priest and cut off his ear, the right one. But Jesus said, "Permit them to go so far as to seize Me." And He touched the little ear and healed him.

Then Jesus said to those who had come against Him- the chief priests and captains of the temple and elders of the Sanhedrin- "Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a robber? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not stretch forth your hands against Me. But this is your hour- and the power which darkness gives you has its way."

Then they seized Him and led Him away, bringing Him into the house of the a high priest. Peter was following at a distance. Luke 22:47-54

Judas followed through with his betrayal, even so far as to attempt to kiss Jesus. How foul was his heart?

The disciples were willing to use the swords, the whole two of them. I imagine they would not have gotten far with trained guards. I wonder what was their thinking when they set off with two swords in the first place? Did they only expect the betrayer and another? What was in their minds?

In the midst of betrayal, an illegal arrest, Jesus is still the Saviour and Lord, He heals the ear that was cut off. Thank You Jesus!

Jesus confronts the chief priests and leaders with their darkened hearts. They had come in darkness when the crowd was not around, so that they were able to do what they wanted, and not be accountable.

Jesus permits the crowd to take Him, because now was the time. All but Peter disappear, where Di the others go? What did  they do? Did they run to fellow believers seeking to help Jesus? Did they hide? Did they pray?

Now that Judas had done the deed, what did he do? Did he follow on and watch? We know he later realised his error and in remorse hung himself. Satan had finished with him and flicked him away like a used pair of gloves. The gloves that sanitised his murder. Just as Satan used Judas, he used the chief priests and the leaders. Yet God had a greater plan. Satan was being used to destroy his own kingdom, his power over the souls of mankind was about to be shattered, he did not see it coming. His hatred of Jesus blinded him.

Whilst in Brisbane recently I bought my eldest grandson a game of chess and taught him to play. I discovered my daughter's two children were playing chess as well. The game of chess is a game of strategy. You can think you have made a clever move, but one standing can see your error. I lost a queen to a grandson. Satan lost his kingdom in a move that he thought would take out the King, he was wrong. He lost!

We can be so clever, and yet lose everything. Without Christ, we lose! He is the centre of all, the beginning and he end, the Alpha and Omega,  the power that holds all things together. He is the invisible matter that binds. There is no other way to the Father. Jesus is Lord, of all. Amen!