“So the soldiers, their commanding officer, and the Temple guards arrested Jesus and tied him up. First they took him to Annas, since he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest at that time. Caiaphas was the one who had told the other Jewish leaders, “It’s better that one man should die for the people.” John 18:12-14
How many people were gathered around Jesus making him look like a common criminal? A Dozen, fifteen? Twenty well armed, well trained men? It says that soldiers (more than one and more than likely several), their commanding officer, several Temple guards who were Jewish were all around Jesus. And let’s not forget the high priest, his servant, and the disciples and Jesus followers. It was a crowd!
And so they arrested Jesus and tied him up. What a joke. What a travesty. He had just spoken his true name/identity — “i AM he” and they had all fallen to the ground. He had to ask them again, “Who are you looking for?” He is submitting. Becoming the substitute for our sins. Rendering himself powerless and allowing himself to be tied up, arrested and taken to the house of the high priest’s father-in-law. Who foreshadowed Jesus death by saying, “Its better that one man should die for the people.”
The shame is that anyone had to die. If we (starting with Adam and Eve) had not desired to go our own way, had not eaten the forbidden fruit, had not wanted to be like God, then Jesus would not have died because relationship with God would not have been broken. But it was broken and we helped make that happen. Our own sin, iniquity, and junk put Jesus upon the cross and made him accept the role as substitution for the world.
Did God know it was going to happen? Was Jesus “born to die”? Certainly. Yet loving the creation and giving them free will could not end well. The Word of God became the Lamb of God so that we might be restored for the Will of God.
So on that dark night in Jerusalem, so many years ago, on a hill just across from where the Temple sacrifices occurred, came the arrest of the spotless, blameless Lamb of God. Jesus, the Christ, submitted to humanity and went to the cross. There was no stopping it. Even had Jesus refused, he would not have done so. For his love for you and me was too great to leave us in our separation.
Don’t let Jesus’ death be in vain. Turn from sin and toward the Savior. Live into sanctification that you might become his bride both today and for eternity.
“O Lord God, you are good. In your goodness, I praise your name. Although I am a sinner saved by grace, I find strength in your name. Come now, Holy Spirit, fill me with our power and might. Help me be all that you have called and created me to be. Turn me toward your holiness and away from the dark. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen