‘BETRAYAL’ GRACIOUSNESS

Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on February 9, 2022 under AM Bible Study |

AM Bible Study Group: February 9, 2022 from Luke 22:47-53

Theme: Jesus displayed graciousness toward sinners even while He was betrayed and arrested.

(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).

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Imagine Judas slipping away in the darkness of night—running through the narrow streets and alleys—making his way to the high priests and elders of the people. He was in a hurry. The Lord Himself had told him, “What you do, do quickly.”

Judas had already made arrangements to betray Jesus. He knew that the chief priests and authorities were seeking how they might kill Jesus without arousing the anger of the crowds that followed Him. And after Satan entered Judas, he then went to the leaders of the people and offered to deliver Jesus to them. They were glad; and offered Judas thirty pieces of silver to do the job. He promised to show them who Jesus was by a kiss. And now the time had come.

Imagine the chief priests and leaders of the people. At a time when they should have been celebrating Passover, they went to work instead on arranging for Jesus’ arrest. There were a lot of preparations that needed to be made. They had to secure a band of Roman soldiers and some officers of the temple police. Lanterns and torches had to be provided and lit. Weapons had to be obtained. A large group needed to be gathered. The trip had to be made from the temple area, across the Kidron Valley, and to the place where Judas promised that Jesus would be; and the timing had to be just right. Plans also had to be made for what to do with Jesus after the arrest—and what would happen if any of His disciples decided to try and fight for Him. The high priest had to be informed and prepared in order to lead the interrogation. False witnesses had to be put in place and told what to say. Once Judas was released from the Lord, he ran and set the operation into motion. Imagine how he then led the large torch-bearing crowd to Jesus.

Our Lord knew all along what was happening. And where was He? He was in the garden. Imagine how He prayed deeply to the Father as He waited patiently. Imagine how He woke up His sleeping disciples; and told them that His betrayer had arrived.

Our Lord had prepared Himself for this moment in obedience to the will of His Father. He submitted to it in order that He might pay the death penalty for you and me on the cross. And now, that moment had come. Luke tells us, in Luke 22:47-53;

And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness” (Luke 22:47-53).

This story is told to us by all four of the Gospel writers. And there are many things we learn from it that move our hearts with the love of Jesus for us. But this morning, let’s pay particular attention to our Lord’s response to the main characters in this story—to those who came to arrest Him, to His disciples who sought to defend Him, and even to the man who had betrayed Him. The best word to describe it all is ‘graciousness’.

In all of it, we see the graciousness of our Lord Jesus Christ on display—even while He was betrayed and arrested—toward sinners like us.

* * * * * * * * * *

Certainly, the graciousness of our Lord Jesus Christ was shown to us in the fact that He willingly died for sinners like us. But it’s important to note that the cross itself was not where that graciousness was first displayed. He demonstrated graciousness—that is, an undeserved kindness and favor—in the events that led up to the cross; and even toward those who would lead Him to His crucifixion. As the apostle Peter later wrote in 1 Peter 2:22-24, Jesus was He

“Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;

who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed (1 Peter 2:22-24).

This means that there is abundant grace for sinners like you and me whenever we come to the Lord Jesus. We should never be afraid to draw close to Him for whatever we need.

As we look, then, at the story of His betrayal and arrest—as it’s told to us by Luke—consider first …

1. HIS GRACIOUSNESS TO HIS BETRAYER (vv. 47-48).

Luke tells us in verse 47, “And while He was still speaking”—that is, while was still telling His sleepy disciples to arise and pray, because the betrayer was at hand—“behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him.”

That “kiss” has gone down in history as the most infamous kiss of all; hasn’t it? Proverbs 27:6 says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” The Lord Jesus, however, was not deceived by this notorious kiss. It was part of the fulfillment of an Old Testament promise. King David spoke of it prophetically when, in Psalm 41, he wrote;

Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted,
Who ate my bread,
Has lifted up his heel against me (Psalm 41:9).

It’s hard to imagine the pain our Lord felt in receiving that kiss. He loved Judas. He chose Judas to be one of His followers—even though He knew from the beginning that Judas would betray Him. He had stooped down to wash Judas’ feet. You can feel the Lord’s broken heart when He said, in verse 48, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

But you can also see our Lord’s graciousness. John, in his Gospel, tells us that when Judas approached Jesus along with the troops and officers and chief priests and Pharisees—with the lanterns and torches and weapons—

Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” (John 18:5).

Jesus—as it were—went forward to receive that kiss. He yielded Himself to His betrayer. And in saying those words to Judas—in pointing out to Judas that he was betraying the Son of Man with a kiss—wasn’t He giving His betrayer a final opportunity to repent?

What a gracious Savior! He displayed graciousness even to His betrayer.

As we read on, we also see …

2. HIS GRACIOUSNESS TO HIS DISCIPLES (vv. 49-51).

In verse 49, we read, “When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, ‘Lord, shall we strike with the sword?’” The disciples—in misunderstanding our Lord’s words earlier—had already taken stock of what weapons they had (v. 38). Peter had already pledged that he would be willing to go both to prison and to death with Jesus (v. 33). And now, when the moment had arrived, they thought that it was time to attack.

Verse 50 tells us, “And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.” John, in his Gospel, tells us a bit more of the details. Before this occurred, the Lord told those who came to arrest Him that He was the one that they were looking for; and that they should let His disciples go. We’re told that He said this in order to ensure the answer to His prayer to the Father; “Of those whom You gave me, I have lost none” (John 18:9). And then John tells us;

Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus (John 18:10).

John, who wrote his Gospel many years after the other Gospel writers wrote theirs, may have been willing to name names; because by that time, Peter had laid down his life for the Lord already. But look at what our Lord then did. In order to show mercy not only to Malchus, but also to Peter, we read in verse 51, “But Jesus answered and said, ‘Permit even this.’ And He touched his ear and healed him.” No one could then charge Peter for having cut off an ear that was still attached and perfectly well.

Our Lord would not have His disciples fight and defend Him. He said that if He had wished too, He could have asked the Father to send more than twelve legions of angels (perhaps as many as 72,000) to come to His rescue; but then asked, “How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” (Matthew 26:5).

What a gracious Savior! He did this for His followers—as over-zealously mistaken and as prone to scatter from Him as they were.

And finally, notice …

3. HIS GRACIOUSNESS TO HIS CAPTORS (vv. 52-53).

In verse 52, we read, “Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, ‘Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs?’” What an insulting and humiliating display they were making. And to some degree, it was cowardly too. They were doing this under the cover of night—and at a time when they knew that the vast majority of the people would be in their homes celebrating Passover. Their very manner was making it appear as if the Lord Jesus was a violent threat—when He was nothing of the kind at all.

In verse 53, He said to them, “When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me.” He had made Himself publicly available every day. He never tried to hide His teaching, and He never presented a danger to anyone. In fact, He once challenged His opponents who were threatening to stone Him to death,

“Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?” John 10:38).

He once even challenged them;

“Which of you convicts Me of sin?” (John 8:46).

There had been no wrongdoing in Him. Yet, even when He had the opportunity, He did nothing to bring harm to them. Instead, as they came to Him to arrest Him like a dangerous criminal, He said, “But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” They were being used by the devil. And He was willingly submitting to the plans to crucify Him.

What a gracious Savior! He was in no way hostile to those who were hostile to Him.

* * * * * * * * * * *

As we read of the dark night of our Savior’s betrayal and arrest, we see how gracious He was. He submitted Himself to it all willingly; showing graciousness to His betrayer—though it broke His heart; showing graciousness to His disciples—though they misunderstood Him and abandoned Him; and showing graciousness to His captors—though they treated Him unjustly and were being influenced by the forces of evil.

And in all of this, there’s a lesson for us. If the Lord Jesus was so gracious back before He went to the cross—even to those who were hostile to Him—just think of how gracious He is to all who come to Him now as our Redeemer!

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16).

AE