While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd, with swords and clubs, who had come from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 His betrayer had arranged a sign with them, saying, “The man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him.” 49 Immediately he went over to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and he kissed him. 50 Jesus answered him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then stepping forward they laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. 51 And behold, one of those who accompanied Jesus put his hand to his sword, drew it, and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot call upon my Father and he will not provide me at this moment with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But then how would the scriptures be fulfilled which say that it must come to pass in this way?” 55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to seize me? Day after day I sat teaching in the temple area, yet you did not arrest me. 56 But all this has come to pass that the writings of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.
Judas arrived in the Garden of Gethsemane with a group sent by the religious authorities to arrest Jesus. The large hostile crowd came with swords and clubs. Judas had planned to kiss Jesus as a sign that he was the person they should arrest. Judas approached Jesus and, addressing him as “Rabbi” kissed him. To feign respect, friendship, and love was a treacherous way to betray Jesus. Jesus addressed Judas as “friend,” even though he was being betrayed, and allowed himself to be arrested. Jesus was fulfilling his Father’s plan.
Peter responded violently to the crowd, drawing his sword and striking the high priest's servant, cutting off his ear. Jesus reprimanded Peter for using violence and told him that violence leads to a cycle of retaliation and violence. Jesus was demonstrating what he taught; nonviolence and self-sacrificing love, as he allowed God’s plan to unfold. He told Peter that he could summon heavenly reinforcements to fight for him if he wanted but the OT prophecy had to be fulfilled. Jesus then addressed the crowd and asked them why they came out against him at night with such force as if he were a criminal when they could have arrested him any time when he taught them peacefully in the Temple. Jesus again said that the OT scriptures must be fulfilled through the events that were unfolding and the disciples, who had just told Jesus that they were all willing to die with him, all fled.
Almighty God, grant us the courage to surrender to Your will no matter what the cost may be. Help us to reject all forms of violence and to embrace the path of peace and love your Son taught us. This we pray through the same Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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