God Meant it for Good

Luke 22:47-53

"Rise and pray so you may not enter into temptation." while Jesus spoke these words, a crowd appeared. Jewish religious leaders accompanied by Roman soldiers carrying lanterns and torches and heavily armed with weapons surrounded Jesus and eleven of His disciples. Now was the time to keep alert and pray for God to keep them from temptation.

Leading the pack was Judas, the twelfth disciple. Judas approached Jesus and leaned in to kiss His cheek, which was the customary greeting of affection between two close friends in those days. On this occasion, it was instead, a kiss of betrayal. The kiss was Judas and the Jewish leaders' pre-arranged signal to identify Jesus and have Him arrested. Jesus and Judas were face to face. With all-knowing authority Jesus said, "Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" 

Jesus knew this was about to happen and long before it happened, He knew Judas was a deceiver. Jesus, obedient to His Father, did not resist His arrest. Remember this: Jesus Christ chose to give Himself up as a sacrifice for us. He never lost His authority as He was taken into Roman custody. 

One of His disciples, not understanding God's plan, became upset at what was happening to Jesus. Giving in to temptation, he drew out his sword and struck one of the high priest's servants on his ear. Jesus authoritatively said, "No more of this!" They were not to fight their way out of this. He touched the ear of the servant and healed him.

'Jesus turned to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come out against Him, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs?"' Jesus, knowing what was about to happen, did not resist. These men sought to arrest and kill a sinless man who kept all God's laws perfectly but they had no power to do so until God allowed it to happen. 

Nothing these men did to Jesus could happen by their own authority. He said to them, "When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness." God's sovereign plan was to allow this injustice to happen to Jesus, but only in God's perfect timing so that many people would be saved from the penalty of sin.  In the words of Joseph, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant if for good, to bring about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today." (Genesis 50:20)