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by Sandy Shaw
We are studying the detail in Luke Chapter 22 at verse 47 where Judas and that gang approach Jesus Christ to have Him arrested.
It is possible to be physically close to Jesus Christ and have rebellion in your heart. Jesus makes no attempt to frustrate Judas's hellish scheme. Jesus is calm and poised and in control.
Jesus knows what has to happen, that we might be saved, rescued, washed, forgiven, justified, sanctified, and anointed with the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus shows no fear as he faces the enemy. Jesus is Master of the whole situation.
Judas had started well, being appointed treasurer of that band of disciples, but what counts is not how well we run at the beginning, but how we complete the course remaining faithful to Jesus.
Jesus was going to the Father, but not so Judas.
Peter barges in with his sword and cuts off a man's ear, but Jesus heals the severed ear to show that brute strength and physical resistance is NOT the way for the disciple of Jesus to walk. Peter in a sense missed! He was not going for the man's ear, but for the man, and Jesus makes amends for Peter's mistake.
Is this what we do today when someone makes a mistake? Do we minister to that person? Do we make amends? Or do we gossip about the mistake, and spread rumours about the person? There are deep lessons here as we see how Jesus acted on this dark tragic occasion.
This gracious healing miracle should have made the gang stop and think. It should have made the mob consider what they were doing - but NO.
A religious festival is on, but look at the behaviour of the leaders of Worship in the Temple. It is the Feast of the Passover.
Verse 52. You come out to Me as I were a common thief. Can you imagine these men in their resplendent robes trampling out down the valley to the Garden of Gethsemane? As well as the religious leaders there were around 200 soldiers, armed with weapons one would use to go and hunt a wild animal.
Verse 53. They had been such cowards. They couldn't do this openly. They were not only in natural darkness, but they were in spiritual darkness too.
Verse 54. Jesus is led away, humbly but with dignity. And Peter follows, afar off and at a safe distance. There is no safe distance when you are distancing yourself from Jesus. Peter is watching, trailing behind, and in great danger.
We are called to come close, and draw near and be right at the very heart - involved - participating - faithfully following and serving Jesus - where He has placed you and appointed you.
The religious leaders finally had Jesus in their hands, but not His Love in their hearts.
They should have been in the hands of Jesus - the tender, loving, healing hands of Jesus. But, they took Him and led Him to Caiaphas's house, the House of the High Priest.
They wanted to kill Christ, and have Him removed from their sight, and His Voice silenced once and for all - this troublemaker - this radical, popular preacher.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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