Who Arrested Jesus?
Bible Study Guide
(Verses 1-3) When Jesus concluded His prayers for His disciples and for us, He took them to the Garden of Gethsemane.
It was here that Luke recorded in his gospel that Jesus was filled with anguish. He prayed three times so intently that He was sweating blood.
“And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” (Luke 22:44)
What was about to take place, no one could accomplish but Jesus. He also knew that it was ordained to happen for the sins of mankind.
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
According to Luke, it was Peter, John, and James who were near Jesus in those final moments before His arrest in the garden. They were asked to pray for strength to endure the coming hours. But each of them failed to uphold Jesus’ command. It was a demonstration of human weakness.
The gospel accounts record that a detachment of soldiers, chief priests and Pharisee’s as well as townspeople holding clubs and swords were there to arrest Jesus.
It was time for Judas to do the work of his father the devil and betray Jesus for 30 silver pieces. A betrayal that would lead Judas to hang himself after realizing what he had done.
No One Spoke Like Jesus
(Verses 4-7) When the crowds approached, they said they came to arrest Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus replied, “I am He.” Immediately upon Jesus’ answer, they drew back and fell to the ground.
It’s possible that the authorities that came to arrest Jesus were some of the same temple guards that listened to Jesus preach in John 7. In this chapter, the guards listened to Jesus preaching and they were instructed to report back to the religious leaders of the temple.
These same guards heard the words of Jesus and their response to the Pharisee’s was described this way.
“Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”
No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied. (John 7:45-46)
While the Jewish leaders may have been blind to the truth of Jesus’ words, the guards saw that Jesus spoke with wisdom, truth and authority.
It was the same wisdom, truth and authority that those in the garden who came to arrest Jesus, heard Him speak when He replied, “I am He.” It was enough to make them draw back and fall to the ground in honor of His words and glory of His presence.
The Fulfilling of His Word Before They Arrest Jesus
(Verses 8-9) After Jesus identifies Himself to the crowd He demonstrates one last act of love for His disciples before His arrest. He asks that they let His disciples go.
Christ makes this request in order to fulfill the words He spoke in John 6:39.
“For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.” (John 6:38-39)
Notice that John doesn’t just record Jesus’ words of love toward His disciples. He also demonstrates that the words He spoke of earlier in His ministry must be fulfilled.
First, this continues on the main theme of John’s gospel that Jesus is God. And all of Jesus’ words of prophecy must be and will be fulfilled.
Second, it demonstrates that there is no other god like our God. He is a God of faithfulness, truth and fulfillment of His word. There is not a single word of God’s that will not come to fruition. It’s all truth and it all will be fulfilled.
This is why there is no other god like Him and all glory belongs to Him. There is not even a god that can compare to Him.
Peter Attempts to Thwart the Will of God
(Verses 10-12) Matthew records in chapter 16 of his gospel that Jesus predicts His death to His disciples. Upon hearing this, Peter decides to take matters into his own hands only to be told to stand down.
“Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” (Matthew 16:22-23)
It appears that Peter has not learned his lesson from this incident. While his heart might appear in the right place, his wisdom and understanding of God’s word is still lacking.
As the crowds gather to arrest Jesus, Peter again takes matters into his own hands. He comes to the defense of Jesus by cutting off the ear of one of the guards with his sword.
Jesus responds by telling Peter that God’s will must be fulfilled when He says these words.
Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” (John 18:11)
Peter, still in his immaturity as a follower of Jesus has much to learn of the will of God. It is much to the glory of God that we pray for His will in us and in others. It’s not our duty to thwart the will of God.
Understanding God’s will is part of our journey as Biblical Christians and following Jesus. Christ also reminds us that our prayers should align with the will of God.
This scene of Peter standing in opposition of God’s will is about to bring him to the most pivotal point in his life and his journey of walking with his Messiah.
Something for Peter is about to change for the good. Although it may not appear as such.
Who Arrested Jesus?
(Verses 13-14) A detachment of Roman soldiers along with a group of Jewish religious leaders arrested Jesus in the garden.
The Jews of Jesus’ day lived under certain agreeable conditions with the occupying Romans. There was an understanding that existed between the Roman ruling party and the Jewish religious leaders.
The Romans allowed the Jews to live among them practicing their religious rituals and beliefs only under certain conditions. The Jews were required to recognize the Roman Empire as the ruling party of the people and they had to pay the necessary taxes to the emperor. It was understood that the Roman Emperor was the king of the land and the ruler.
As long as the Jews observed these conditions, they were allowed to live their lives within their own religious world they created for themselves. That was until Jesus showed up, attracted followers and people began calling him the King.
Jesus was creating a stir among the people that threatened the way the Jews were allowed to live under Roman rule. The Jewish religious leaders wanted no part of it.
When the Sanhedrin and other religious leaders found themselves arguing over what they should do about Jesus, someone made a suggestion.
Caiaphas, the high priest at that time advised that it would be best that one man die in order to protect the arrangement that they had to live under the authority of the Romans.
Blind to the truth of Jesus’ deity, they chose to protect their religion and all it’s rituals and traditions. They put Jesus on trial illegally thus paving the way for his death on the cross.
They acted in the flesh and had no regard for God and spiritual matters.
The Dangers of Religion
We see the same thing happening today in many religions. Sacrificing the truth of God’s word for the words of man found in worthless religious Catechisms, rules and traditions. So many religions teach of a much different Christ than the One in the Bible.
Churches today are becoming more and more of a very dangerous place to be if one doesn’t understand the truth of God’s word and are not able to discern a false gospel.
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