He is Betrayed and Arrested

["Click here for Matthew's account"]
["Click here for Mark's account"]
["Click here for Luke's account"]
["Click here for John's account"]

For this lesson we will use primarily the account according to Matthew.
Let us first look at who they were that came to betray and arrest Jesus.

There was Judas. He was the betrayer. He was the one who led the rest to where Jesus was. Without his help, they would not have known where to find Him at night and as you may recall, they did not dare arrest Him during the day while the crowds were around Him, for fear of what the multitudes would do.
There appears to have been two unlikely groups with Judas. One was a detachment of Roman Guards, Gentiles, sinners, unclean. Then there were the servants and officers of the High Priest who were Jews.

Notice they were armed with swords and clubs. Obviously they were not regular Roman Guards but renegades or whatever they could find or buy. What the Jews did not realize was that all these guards and their arms were not necessary nor were they sufficient for if Jesus had not wanted to be taken, they certainly could not have taken Him. But, His "hour had come", He gave Himself up and went with them without a struggle.
What authority did they have to arrest Him? They had a warrant from the Chief Priest and the Elders, basically, the Sanhedrin. There was no authority from Pilate, the Roman Governor. Later Pilate would remind Him that it was His own nation, not Rome, that delivered Him up to be killed.
Notice how this treachery was carried out. Judas had given instructions to the Guard that he would identify Jesus by kissing Him. There must be no mistake. In a large group at night, without lights, and everyone dressed similarity and perhaps all having beards, it would have been easy to have gotten the wrong man. Judas further instructed them to be sure that when they got their hands on Him, to "hold Him tight". As we know, He had escaped them many times in the past, often simply walking out from them, testimony to what Jesus had said, they could not hold Him until His hour had come.
Notice how Judas addressed Jesus. "Hail, Master." We can only assume that Judas had no love or respect for Jesus, otherwise, how could he have come face to face with Him and betray Him with such a token of recognition.
Notice how Jesus addresses Judas. "Friend, why are you here?" Why would Jesus call Judas, "friend", and Peter, "Satan"? Judas fulfilled that which was prophesied concerning His betrayal. Peter was hindering Jesus from fulfilling His mission here on earth. No, Peter was not Satan but he was being used by Satan. Judas was not a friend, but God was using him. Confusing isn't it?
"Why have you come, Judas?" Jesus knew the answer but He wanted Judas to ponder what he had done. "Explain yourself." "Have you come as an enemy or a friend?" "Where have you been the last few hours?" "Has all shame left you that you can betray me with a kiss?" "Why didn't you just point me out to the Guards and leave?" Whether Jesus ever asked these questions or not, surly Judas asked them of himself and was never able to answer them.
The Guards laid hands on Jesus and certainly must have handled Him like a common prisoner. Obviously they took even greater precautions because of His ability in the past to escape capture. All this was unnecessary for Jesus made no effort to resist.
From this point on we see some differences in the four accounts. According to John's Gospel, Peter drew a sword and cut off the ear of one of those who came to arrest Jesus. This falls in very well with Peter's character. He was impulsive and often spoke before he thought. Luke records that they had two swords among them and Peter had one of them. Peter had bragged that no one would take Jesus as long as he was around. He would give up his life for the Master. Obviously he was not very good with the sword. Someone suggested that he had tried to cut the man's head off and only got his ear.
Notice the rebuke that Jesus gave Peter. "Peter, put the sword in it's place and never draw it again." Then He gave Peter three reasons for this:

The drawing of the sword endangered the lives of himself and his fellow disciples.
It was needless for him to do for if Jesus so wanted, He could pray to the Father and the Father would send a legend of Angels from Heaven to protect Him.
This arrest was necessary in order that He be led, as a lamb to the slaughter, that scripture might be fulfilled.

Notice Jesus also rebukes the crowd. "Why do you come after me like a common robber with swords and clubs?" "You have seen me day after day as I sat in the Temple teaching, why did you not seize me then?" We know why, they were afraid of the multitudes.
Matthew records that at that point, the disciples forsook Him and fled, but John records that Jesus spoke up for His Disciples and said to the guards, "It is I that you seek, let these men go their own way."
Our Lord Jesus was made a prisoner because it was His will that in all things He would be treated as a malefactor and be punished for our sins. He became a prisoner that we might be set free.

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