And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. And they laid hands on him and seized him. But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.” And they all left him and fled.
Comment: Jesus entered the garden to pray. As we read yesterday it was an anguished, but submissive prayer of the Man Jesus to His Father. He was ready now for what was to come, reaffirmed, no doubt, by having spent the time in prayer with His Father God. This passage is a precis, with some further details filled in by the other gospel writers. But we see here a mob of armed, at least in the main religious types, led by that despicably acting Judas. Judas, according to his promise to the authorities gave Jesus the promised betraying kiss. A word can be said in lots of ways. Can your hear the underlying scathing, sarcastic, hateful echos in that single word ‘Rabbi’, uttered here?Can you begin to imagine how that rent the heart of Jesus?
From the other gospels we know that it was Peter who swung the sword and cut off the High Priest servant’s ear, which in spite of His dreadful betrayal Jesus healed miraculously. But the ‘oh so brave’ Peter and all Jesus followers deserted Him and fled while Jesus is led out bound! They fled not in betrayal but fear.
Prayer: Neither in Judas’ type betrayal, nor in disciple type fear, do I want to ever desert You, my Lord!
As I read it! 
Thank you Barry for your comments on this passage. Luke 22 verse 47 records this. “While He was still speaking a crowd of people arrived, led by the man called Judas, one of the twelve. He stepped up to Jesus to kiss Him. ‘Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?’ said Jesus to him.” (JB Phillips Translation). We can only reflect on what that particular act did to the heart of Jesus. And yet, have we, at some time in our life, done something the same? We know that Judas showed only remorse, and then committed suicide. And yet Peter, who also denied Jesus, sought forgiveness, and was restored by Jesus, and used in an amazing way. May we always seek to ask our Saviour for His forgiveness, and be restored by His grace. God bless you.
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