Mat 26:52 | KingComments | STEP | One of His disciples wants to defend His Lord. He also does not realize Who He is, as if He were not able to defend Himself. The disciple does not help, but causes damage to one of the opponents, i.e. the slave of the high priest. The fact that the high priest has a slave means that he is served by someone he has subdued. But isn’t it the task of the high priest to serve others? The high priest has sent his slave to participate in this evil work of capturing the Son of God. Matthew does not mention that the Lord heals the ear. He does mention that the Lord reproves His disciple. The sword should be in the sheath and not pulled out. Whosoever takes up the sword shall perish by it ( ). It is now the time of suffering. Going the way of suffering is the way of the Father. He could have prayed to the Father to send angels. These angels are ready to carry out the judgment of all those who offend the Son at one wink of the Father. The angels will have held their breath in watching this scene in which their Creator is being captured by puny creatures. However, it is not the execution of the verdict on evil that is at issue, but the fulfilment of the Scriptures of the prophets. After the Lord has addressed the betraying Judas and His straying disciple, He addresses the crowds. He also asks them a question that must awaken their conscience. Why do they come to capture Him as if He were a robber? What has He stolen from them? He did nothing but give, didn’t He? And why do they come with swords and clubs? Have they ever seen Him fighting? Did His performance ever frighten them? Has He not always been kind and full of love for them? And why are they coming now? He was with them daily in the temple and they heard and enjoyed His teaching. He wants to wake them up and make them realize that they have been persuaded to commit a crime. He Himself gives the explanation of their actions, without diminishing their responsibility to any extent. He is perfect Lord and Master of and in everything that happens. Nothing comes as a surprise to Him because He takes the Scriptures as His guide. If we know the Scriptures and let ourselves be guided by them, there will be fewer things in our lives that will upset us. We learn through the Scriptures that God is above everything and nothing gets out of His hand. We learn that we can trust Him in all circumstances ( ). At this moment, the disciples can no longer bear it. The threat of superior numbers makes them flee. With this they forsake Him and leave Him alone. They let Him down.

‏ Matthew 26:52

To Fulfil the Scriptures

One of His disciples wants to defend His Lord. He also does not realize Who He is, as if He were not able to defend Himself. The disciple does not help, but causes damage to one of the opponents, i.e. the slave of the high priest. The fact that the high priest has a slave means that he is served by someone he has subdued. But isn’t it the task of the high priest to serve others? The high priest has sent his slave to participate in this evil work of capturing the Son of God.

Matthew does not mention that the Lord heals the ear. He does mention that the Lord reproves His disciple. The sword should be in the sheath and not pulled out. Whosoever takes up the sword shall perish by it (Rev 13:10). It is now the time of suffering. Going the way of suffering is the way of the Father.

He could have prayed to the Father to send angels. These angels are ready to carry out the judgment of all those who offend the Son at one wink of the Father. The angels will have held their breath in watching this scene in which their Creator is being captured by puny creatures. However, it is not the execution of the verdict on evil that is at issue, but the fulfilment of the Scriptures of the prophets.

After the Lord has addressed the betraying Judas and His straying disciple, He addresses the crowds. He also asks them a question that must awaken their conscience. Why do they come to capture Him as if He were a robber? What has He stolen from them? He did nothing but give, didn’t He? And why do they come with swords and clubs? Have they ever seen Him fighting? Did His performance ever frighten them? Has He not always been kind and full of love for them? And why are they coming now? He was with them daily in the temple and they heard and enjoyed His teaching. He wants to wake them up and make them realize that they have been persuaded to commit a crime.

He Himself gives the explanation of their actions, without diminishing their responsibility to any extent. He is perfect Lord and Master of and in everything that happens. Nothing comes as a surprise to Him because He takes the Scriptures as His guide. If we know the Scriptures and let ourselves be guided by them, there will be fewer things in our lives that will upset us. We learn through the Scriptures that God is above everything and nothing gets out of His hand. We learn that we can trust Him in all circumstances (Rom 15:4).

At this moment, the disciples can no longer bear it. The threat of superior numbers makes them flee. With this they forsake Him and leave Him alone. They let Him down.