Last week, in THE SUFFERINGS OF JESUS, Part 1, we learned from Jesus’ garden experience that we can’t always run from problems. We need to strengthen ourselves in prayer, and then meet them head-on!
The focus of today’s lesson centers around the suffering Jesus underwent at the time of His arrest: “Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.” (Matt 26:50)
This simple verse briefly summarizes what happened as Jesus was arrested, but it does little to help us understand the suffering that Jesus underwent at this time. In order to fully do so, we must go back a few verses, back to the Garden of Gethsemane.
Remember now, Jesus has just undergone hematidrosis, an extreme stress-induced medical condition that causes a person to actually sweat blood. He is very near the point of death at this time, and only by the touch of God’s angel can he continue on.
And as if that isn’t enough, he goes to the place where he’s left his disciples, only to find them – Asleep! Imagine the sense of total abandonment he must have felt!
Then, while He is still speaking to the disciples, Judas, one of His closest friends appears.
Now under different circumstances, Jesus might have been glad to see Judas. But today Judas is surrounded by an angry regiment: “And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.” (Matt 26:47 NKJV)
Imagine the agony of seeing one of your very best friends approach you with a company of soldiers, all bearing guns, all pointed – at YOU!
Then, to make matters worse, Judas comes up and gives Jesus a kiss of greeting!
But this kiss was far from innocent: “Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.'” (Matt 26:48-49 NKJV)
Talk about pouring salt into a wound!
But Jesus doesn’t turn away from Judas. He doesn’t even rebuke him. Instead He calls him “friend”: “Friend, why have you come?” (Matt 26:50b NKJV)
And while all of this was going on, where are Jesus’ other disciples?
We know where Peter is! Peter has drawn his sword! Peter is ready to fight for Jesus! “Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear.” (John 18:10 NKJV)
Now this might bring comfort, but it isn’t THE WAY! “But Jesus answered and said, ‘Permit even this.’ And He touched his ear and healed him.” (Luke 22:51 NKJV). We know that the gesture of good will on Peter’s part saddens Jesus, for He turns and rebukes Peter gently: “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” (Matt 26:52 NKJV)
And then, as if it isn’t hard enough on Jesus, “all the disciples forsook Him and fled.” (Matt 27:56b)
The Bible tells us that Peter and another disciple, probably John, later turn back and follow the crowds (See John 18:15), but this doesn’t happen immediately! Jesus, already feeling abandoned by His closest friends in the garden when they slept instead of battling with Him in prayer, now is forced to watch as His eleven loyal friends turn and run away!
If only the story would end here! Jesus is taken to Annas’ house, then to Caiaphas’. They blindfold Him and strike Him, commanding Him to tell them who had done it (See Luke 22:63-65). They spit on Him (See Mark 14:65). They take His own words out of context to condemn Him (See Mark 14:61), and the list goes on. But as if this public pain and humiliation isn’t enough, Peter then betrays Him openly (See Matt 26:69-75, Mark 14:66-72, Luke 22:54-62, and John 18:15-18,25-27)!
The sense of utter abandonment! The utmost rejection! The ultimate desertion!
My thoughts now turn to the Christians in the world-wide persecuted church. Some are turned in by close friends and family. Others watch as their friends and families abandon them in their greatest time of need. Still others are beaten and abused, their homes and churches burned, their Bibles desecrated. These faithful people can take great comfort in the fact that Jesus knows EXACTLY what they are going through!
Persecution of Christians is not yet a worldwide affair, but it may reach that point. Each one of us may someday face something similar, and whether our persecution is today or sometime in the future, we can stand strong knowing that Jesus will NEVER abandon us! He’s been there! And if our persecution leads to our death, we will simply be carried from this Earth into the arms of the One who has walked the same road, the One who can dry our tears, the One who can bring comfort to our abandoned, tormented souls, the One who can restore us anew in His Kingdom of Light!
Now we know that Jesus’ death was the road He chose to walk that Salvation might be made a free gift for anyone who will accept it. But why did He have to suffer so much prior to His death? I believe it is because Jesus knew we would have to suffer for His name! He willingly walked the road of suffering the night of His arrest that He might be able to fully understand every form of persecution we might have to experience!
Thank You, Jesus! Thank you for choosing the cross for our Salvation, and thank You for choosing the road of suffering! Thank You for understanding every physical, emotion, mental, and spiritual pain that we must endure. And most of all, thank You for always being there, for never abandoning or deserting us, for carrying us through our time of greatest need!
Please join us next week for THE SUFFERINGS OF JESUS, Part 3: The Mockery!
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Speech-Language Pathologist, mother of two teens, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, www.scripturalnuggets.org, with Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org.
[1] http://www.apologeticspress.com/articles/2223
(To access the entire “The Sufferings of Jesus: A Lenten Series” mini-series, please click here.)