Matthew 26:45-56

Matthew 26:45-56 NIV

Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” 
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesusʼ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

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Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:

“ ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

Matthew 26:31 NIV

The quoted verse is Zechariah 13:7. It comes in the context of God promising to cleanse Jerusalem and the house of David of their sin. God will purge the city of idols and false prophets. He will strike the one closest to Him (the king, the son of David) and the little ones (the citizens) will scatter. He will strike down 2/3 of them and refine the surviving 1/3 to fashion them into an obedient and holy people. Of course God doesn't do the actual killing. Enemy nations do that. But Zechariah interpreted the times as driven by God's will.

The sleeping disciples were surprised by Jesus when He returned from ardent prayer. He told them to rouse from their slumber because His time had come and His betrayer had arrived. Judas prearranged a signal, with the men of the high priest, by kissing Jesus to identify the man they were to arrest. As the men grabbed Jesus the startled disciples fled the scene. One grabbed a sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

Jesus stopped the violence saying all who use the sword will die by it. Very clearly Jesus believed what was happening was the fulfillment of prophecy. Jesus, the Son of David, the one closest to God, is struck and the sheep scatter. Judas will later hang himself out of shame. Peter will wander the streets crying bitterly for his denial of Christ. The refiners fire will expose their impurities, purge their ranks and refine them, making them ready to lead the church.

The terrible failure of the disciples at Gethsemane will become a wake up call for them. They all rallied after Jesus' resurrection and found their courage. Rather than deny Jesus, they proclaimed Him boldly, even at the prospect of prison and death.

As sad as the betrayal and arrest of Jesus is, it became the very means by which a purified church found its courage and strength. For at their darkest moment the Lord was planning to raise them in the grace of the Lord Jesus by filling them with the Holy Spirit. It gives me pause to consider that any trial or failure is to be honored as part of the Lord's will. It should be honored as much if not more than pleasant moments and victories, for trials form us more than easy living.

Think of a time you felt like you'd never recover from a trial, challenge, tragic loss or epic failure. What happened? You likely did recover, although not without scars. You recovered wiser and stronger. God turned a difficulty into a blessing. Allow such times to cleanse you of that which is not of God. Look to The Potter to shape your life into a fitting vessel for the Lord's use.

Consider how Joseph, a slave, was transformed into a savior. You may remember that he was able to interpret dreams and shared with his brothers dreams in which they would all bow before him. In jealousy they threw Joseph into a dry well and then sold him into slavery. In Egypt Joseph served his master Potiphar faithfully, but again was betrayed by Potiphar's lusty wife. Joseph was imprisoned for many years, but God did not forget him. Joseph was called upon to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh. He proved to be insightful and filled with wisdom, so Pharaoh placed Joseph second in command over all of Egypt. Later when Joseph's father Jacob died, his brothers assumed that Joseph would exact his revenge. But Joseph had a different perspective.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Genesis 50:20 NIV

What can God do with your life's betrayals and failures? Stay awake and trust in the Lord to work out His good purposes for you and this world.