By this Jesus meant, that they had lost the opportunity of watching with Him; they could no longer show any kindness by praying for Him: He would no longer ask them to do this, for the time was come, when He was to be given up to His enemies. Jesus did not mean that the disciples were actually to lie still and sleep; for He added immediately, "Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand. And immediately, while he yet spake, Judas, one of the twelve, having received a band of men and officers from the Chief Priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns, and torches, and weapons." Upon reading this passage, if we think at all, it must appear strange that as the moon was at the full, it should have been necessary to take lanterns and torches, as the light of the full moon in those countries, is far too bright to need any other. But travellers tell us, that in fact the light of the full moon only made the garden of Gethsemane darker, for it is situated on the slope of the Mount of Olives, away from the moon; that is, the moon at the time of the Passover rises behind the Mount of Olives, and thus casts the shadow of the mountain upon the garden of Gethsemane; so that whilst all surrounding parts were lighted up, there was complete darkness amongst the trees in the garden of Gethsemane. Judas, well knowing this, had been careful to procure lanterns and torches, to render the execution of his purpose easy; and now, leading the way, he cometh, "and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the Chief Priests, and the Scribes, and the elders of the people. Now he that betrayed Him had given them a token," whereby the servants of the High Priests might surely know which was Jesus. Judas had told them, "Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, hold him fast, and lead him away safely." A kiss was in those times a common form of salutation; and a sign or token of respect and regard: Judas Iscariot now made use of it for a very different purpose.
"And as soon as he was come," with his band, into the garden, "he went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?" Jesus did not ask this question because He needed to be told; but in order to give Judas another warning against the sin he was about to commit.
The officers did not immediately lay hold upon Jesus; we can well believe that His calm and dignified behaviour, and His question to Judas, struck them with awe.
But Jesus, knowing all things that should come upon Him, now showed his readiness to do his Father's Will: for "he went forth and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he." As soon then as He had said unto them I am He they went backward, and fell to the ground: whether in fear or out of respect, we are not told; but in any case their behaviour made it clear that the Saviour's sacrifice was a voluntary act; for He could certainly, even as a man, have escaped. "Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way." Even at such a moment, Jesus took care for His disciples, that they might not suffer with Him: "that the saying might be fulfilled which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me I have lost none."
By this time, the officers seem to have recovered from their surprise and alarm: "Then came they and laid hands on Jesus, and took him." The disciples now seem to have thought that it was time for them to use the two swords, which they had brought for the deliverance of their Master. "And behold one of them which were with Jesus, Simon Peter, having a sword, stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the High Priest's and smote off his ear; the servant's name was Malchus." "And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far." These words seem to have been addressed to the Roman soldiers, who would naturally be made very angry by such an occurrence taking place; therefore he asked for their forbearance; though he at once removed the cause of complaint—"for he touched the ear of the wounded man, and healed him."
Chapter XXXV.—JESUS TAKEN BEFORE ANNAS AND CAIAPHAS.
After He had healed Malchus, Jesus said unto Peter, "Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" Here Jesus plainly declares that He gave Himself to fulfil the Scriptures, which declared, that in no other way could man be redeemed from the curse of the Law. His sufferings and death were the means appointed by the Father for the redemption of man; but His sufferings and death were voluntary—no man could take His life unless He chose to give it. He could have saved Himself, but then His work would have been unfinished, and mankind for ever lost. Therefore was He willing to drink the cup which His father had given Him. "In that same hour Jesus answered and said unto the Chief Priests and captains of the temple, and to the multitudes, and to the elders, which were come to him, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me: ye stretched forth no hands against me: but the Scriptures must be fulfilled; this is your hour and the power of darkness."
Here, again, Jesus showed that those who came against Him, could only succeed because the time was now come, when they were allowed to execute their wicked purposes, "that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled."