Luke 22:47-53 - The hour has come

At this point in time, Jesus came to His disciples, whom He had instructed to pray. Having just struggled with the anguish of His impending death, Jesus came looking for their support. But He was disappointed instead. They were truly insensitive to the crisis that was confronting the Master. Before Jesus could even finish what He was saying, a mob approached. Leading them was none other than Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve. The agreed signal to indicate Jesus to the Jewish authority was a kiss. So Judas approached to kiss Jesus.

A kiss was a customary greeting meant for a friend, but this kiss that Judas planted on Jesus' cheek was sinister. It was a kiss from hell. Using an act of affection, Judas betrayed his Master. It was so incongruent, so deluding. What could be more deceptive? To use an act that was meant to express warmth to betray a friend. Haven't we been guilty of acts such as this before? To do things that give the appearance that we love the Lord, but with a very different agenda. To give the impression of a deep passion for the Lord, yet knowing deep within how far and remote is that love for Him.

Notice the way Jesus responded to Judas. Addressing him, he asked, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” What Jesus said to Judas was cloaked in a deep love for his lost soul. He was telling him, "Judas, how could you do this? Why a kiss? Couldn't you choose another means? Are you so unfeeling, so beyond hope that you would use a kiss?" What happened next revealed the calmness of the Lord. He showed that He was in total control. His disciples must have thought that this was the moment to use the two swords they found earlier. They awaited the Lord's command.

But one of His disciples, which John 18:10 identifies as the impulsive Peter, struck a servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.  gain we are told by John that the name of that servant was Melchus. We are told Jesus immediately rebuked Peter and have the ear of Melchus fixed. Have you ever wondered what Melchus would have thought of the whole incidence? Do you think he would be cursing Peter or praising Jesus for the healing? The answer is as good as anybody's guess.

Knowing that fighting would have given the Jewish authority the perfect excuse to prove His guilt, He ordered the disciples to stop and restrain from violence. Jesus went on to question the legality of the arrest. In verse 52 when Jesus asked, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a robber?" He was questioning their intention. They could have arrested Him anytime in the temple if He was in the wrong, why did they come in the cover of the night? Unless they knew there was no basis for their action.

What did Jesus mean when He said, "...but this hour and the power of darkness are yours"? He was telling them that they had control of that moment because of the cover of darkness of the night. Jesus further indicated that it was the hour that the power of darkness reigned. What they were doing was only acting on impulse of the evil one that ruled that hour. Unwittingly, they were fulfilling the moment for which Christ had come for. This is the hour that the Lord prayed in the beginning of His prayer in John 17:1. He said, "Father, the hour has come...." and indeed it has.

As God ordained the hour of Christ’s life, He has also lined up the program of our lives. And He says to us through Jeremiah 29:11-14, "For I know the plans that I have for you, plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes...."  Oh, what a glorious Hope! And such a wonderful promise!