26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”……Comment: Remember that Jesus, His disciples and the crowds were in Jerusalem because it was the Passover, a feast to commemorate the delivery of Israel from slavery. The initial delivery and the memorial feast were celebrated by the killing and eating of a lamb. Jesus is called the Lamb of God and was about to be slain by crucifixion to deliver mankind from the guilt and slavery to rebellion to God! ……36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.”…..Comment: Jesus prayed thrice. He was under real human, emotional torment because He knew what was coming! But He, the Son submitted to His Father’s will. A decision which the Trinity had made together before Jesus came to earth! Meanwhile the disciples slept. 47 While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me.But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled. Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. ….. Comment: Betrayed with a kiss! A disciple (in another gospel we are told that it was Peter) cut off an ear of one of of the massive company who came to arrest Jesus. How characteristic of Jesus was it to fix the suffering man! Jesus, chiding them, submitted to arrest……62 And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?” Comment: Jewish trials were not supposed to be held at night. If you read the whole four gospel accounts of this first trial of Jesus you understand that it was a sham. They had already decided to murder Him. I guess that by their law, if Jesus was not who He claimed to be their decision to kill Him was the right one. Blasphemy was punishable by death! But we will see in a few days that He was NOT blaspheming – and they had already had heaps of proof to know that He was God!
Prayer: Help me to think deeply on these matters, O God.
As I read it! 