Daily Bible Reading Saturday 23rd March 2024
by William Moody
Luke 22:47–53
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
47 While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the servant1 of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said 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? 53 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.”
Footnotes
[1] 22:50
Or bondservant (ESV)
Judas found it easy to lead this crowd to Jesus (v47) as Jesus did not change His normal routine of going to the Mount of Olives each evening (see Luke 21 v37). Jesus was not running away from His future suffering.
The fact that Judas used a kiss brings home to us how awful his treachery was. I believe there must have been great sadness in Jesus’ words (v48).
We need to examine our hearts because it is possible for us to be displaying love for Jesus in worship yet in our lives be betraying Him. Take time to pray about this.
The disciples are ready to fight (v49-50) but they fail to realise what Jesus had come to do at the cross. Victory would not be through force, but through sacrifice. For the Christian this truth does not change.
Jesus in the face of hatred is filled with wonderful love (v51). Jesus healed one who had come to condemn Him.
Jesus though does not fail to confront the chief priests about the darkness of their deeds (v52-53).
Jesus in His love will not fail to confront our sin, if we are willing to listen. Praise God for the Saviour who loves us too much to neglect dealing with our sin. Be open to His voice and discipline.
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