Examples Of Jesus In Control Before Crucifixion

Jesus in Control before Crucifixion

On the evening of his arrest, Jesus created the tradition of the Communion from the bread and wine of the Passover meal, talked of the kingdom to come with his disciples, begged the disciples of his inner circle to pray, and then prayed himself in deep agony as his trusted disciples slept. Then a crowd of officials, Temple police, and Roman soldiers descended upon the garden, led by Judas Iscariot, who had been with Jesus for three years as a disciple. Jesus challenged the crowd, and Judas greeted him with an embrace to identify him. Jesus was led away, his enemies in apparent control. He would be set before a series of tribunals, judged worthy of execution, and executed as a criminal. Nevertheless, Jesus shows that this impression is mistaken. In obedience, He submitted to His Father to death, but during the unfolding of events, He shows control over them.

Three examples show this. First, when the crowd of soldiers and officials descend upon Him, he challenges them, and when he does, they fall back in fear. Second, when Judas embraces him with a betrayer’s kiss, he responds with a sad warning to Judas over the seriousness of his offense before God, not with anger over the personal betrayal. Third, when Peter strikes with his sword at the neck of High Priest’s
Judas had been one of the Twelve throughout all of Christ’s ministries. He had seen the crowds fed miraculously, witnessed Lazarus rise from the dead, and probably talked personally to the blind and paralyzed who had been made whole. He had ample evidence to prove that Jesus was the promised Messiah. Why he chose to betray Jesus, other than Satan had entered into his heart, is a matter of speculation. One theory suggests that he meant to force Jesus’ hand, thinking that putting him in jeopardy would induce Jesus to respond as a military leader, the Prince who would throw off Roman rule and restore