Betrayal of Jesus

When one of Jesus' twelve disciples (Judas Iscariot) betrayed Him, Jesus did not resist arrest but willingly submitted Himself to the Jewish religious leaders and Gentile Roman soldiers who seized Him.

We live in a world of people, creatures, and things we can see, touch and hear. We call it the visible or natural world. But God, who is invisible, influences our world. In fact, God’s angels and Satan and his demons are invisible and also influence our world often in ways we usually don’t see or perceive. But Jesus was aware of the invisible, supernatural world. He knew His time to die was approaching; Satan was working hard to make it happen.

As the Passover drew near once again, the leading priests were trying to figure out how to kill Jesus without upsetting the crowd. Satan entered into Judas (one of Jesus’ 12 closest followers) and influenced him to contact the priests and betray Jesus to them when no one was around. They were happy to pay Judas for this, so he left looking for such an opportunity.

On the night of the Passover meal, Jesus wrapped Himself in a towel and performed the most meaningful act of love and condescension in Jewish culture; He washed His followers’ feet—including Judas’—and explained the significance of that act. As He finished, He said, “If you understand what I do, you will happily do it, too. But, of course, not all of you will.” Then Jesus quoted part of Psalm 41, saying, “He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.” As Jesus continued, he was more and more troubled. Finally, He stated clearly, “It’s true, one of you will betray me.” Later, He even said, “The betrayer is the one to whom I give this morsel of bread I have dipped,” and He gave it to Judas.

At that point, Satan entered into Judas again, and Jesus told him to “do it quickly.” Judas was the treasurer of the group, so everyone thought Jesus was referring to paying for the meal or giving money to the poor. As soon as Judas received the bread, he went out into the night.

Later, Jesus led His followers across the Kidron Valley to “Olive Press Garden” on the Mount of Olives, where He told them, “Pray that you won’t succumb to temptation.” Then He Himself went a little farther to pray. Jesus prayed earnestly, “Father, deliver Me from this impending suffering and separation from You, but only if it accomplishes Your will.” Three times, He prayed these words in agony, His perspiration falling to the ground like huge drops of blood.

Judas knew where they would be. He led armed soldiers, officers, leading priests, and Pharisees to the garden with torches and lanterns. Jesus, fully aware of what was to befall Him, stepped forward and asked, “Who are you looking for?” They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus, with all the power of the Old Testament name for God behind Him, answered, “I am,” and they fell backward to the ground! He asked them again, “Who are you looking for?” and again, they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am. If I am the one you want, let these men go.”

Peter had brought a sword. He drew it wildly now and cut off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s servant. Jesus healed the man’s ear and said to Peter, “Put your sword away. I accept the suffering the Father has planned for me. Don’t you realize that I could call to my Father, and He would immediately send Me more than 70,000 angels?”

Turning to the mob led by the priests, He said, “You come after Me with swords and clubs as if I were a robber? I was in the temple day after day, and you never touched Me. This is the time you chose, night, and this is the power you chose, the power of darkness.”

Other times, Jesus simply disappeared from their midst when they tried to kill Him. Now was the time. He willingly submitted Himself to the soldiers because He willingly submitted Himself to God’s will.