Jesus answered. "If you are looking for me, then let these men go.”
It must have been a terrifying moment. Soldiers coming in the night - They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
Our Hero stands unafraid. He actually goes forward to meet the danger. He questions them – Who is it you want?
He knows the answer. He also knows His followers are no match for the trained men who accompany His enemies.
So Our Hero stands between His students and the danger - Jesus answered. "If you are looking for me, then let these men go."
This is the courage of love that is willing to die for those who are loved.
But there is something more here than a confrontation in the night. More important than protecting His followers from the soldiers!
Our Hero has His eye on the cross. He will go forward to that place also. Carrying His cross to die! And His blood will reach to heaven with the plea – let these people go!
Let humanity go free from the guilt of their sins. Free from a guilty conscience. Free from the final penalty of hell.
Jesus stands between us and the enemy who seeks to destroy us and asks, Who do you want?
His cross answers – Now let these go free! I have sacrificed by life for those I love.
They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people.
Here is Our Hero!
"Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting choice of words.
In Luke's account, before the crowd came to take Jesus, Jesus prayed "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
Jesus confirms that God gave Him this ‘cup’. Because Jesus obeyed, instead of resisting , we can be united with the Father and the Son eternally!
As students, have we carefully considered the example of the Teacher? Many times in this life we are faced with difficult situations. Actually, Jesus tells us with certainty that we will have problems (see John 16:33). Our Teacher encourages us to talk to God about our trials. There is nothing wrong with asking God to remove the ‘cup’. Jesus did. However, Jesus teaches us that if the ‘cup’ is still served we should drink it. We need to proceed in faith not fear. If we fix our eyes upon Jesus, we can have confidence that in our trials God will work to perfect our faith as He accomplishes His purpose.