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. (Matthew 26:47-50)
Why was Jesus so kind to Judas and those who arrested him?
Jesus' response to Judas indicates that he was not surprised at his arrest. It also shows that he understood that Judas had been instructed to set up the arrest.Jesus had been praying to God as he waited for the men to come. He was not surprised by his arrest.
He was not only fully aware of what would happen but had a hand in the arrangements of his arrest. This is confirmed as Jesus spoke the following to Judas before Judas left to get the guards:
"What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him, but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. (John 13:27-28)Let's consider this carefully. Why would Jesus respond as if he knew what was going to happen?
Jesus' statement illustrated that he knew he was being arrested.
Even so, Jesus still loved those who were involved.
Why didn't Jesus try to escape?
Since this statement illustrates Jesus knew what they came for, why didn't Jesus try to escape before they got there, or even when they were there?
We know that Peter and his fellow disciples were willing to fight off the guards. That would have allowed Jesus to escape.
But even more so, if Jesus knew he was going to be arrested, why did he stay there on the mount? Why didn't he walk away, into the wilderness and evade being captured?
A typical person would have tried to escape.
But Jesus is not a typical person. He is the representative of God, and the messenger of God. In his love for God, he loved them. He cared for them. Why?
Because Jesus saw them as children of God - spiritual beings. He saw them as part of his spiritual family.
Indeed, Jesus was accepting his arrest. He was standing up for God's teachings. He could have evaded arrest. He could have run off into the wilderness. But he didn't.
This was all done in the service of God but also to help others. He was showing us how important our relationship with the Supreme Being is:
This was all done in the service of God but also to help others. He was showing us how important our relationship with the Supreme Being is:
"Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him." (John 13:31)
Did Jesus die?
Many teach that Jesus "rose from the dead." As if Jesus died. Did Jesus really die?Jesus communicated many times the distinction between the person and the physical body:
We do not die when the body dies. Neither did Jesus. The spirit-person identity is not visible with the physical eyes, but Jesus was a spiritual being and he saw each spirit-person within everyone - even within the physical bodies of the guards.
Thus Jesus did not die. His body was killed on the cross, evidenced by the guards taking down the body and testing it. It was lifeless because Jesus' spirit had left that body:
But what was the most important part of Jesus' teachings?
"The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." (Matthew 26:41)and
"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul." (Matthew 10:28)This indicates that Jesus differentiated between the physical body and the spirit-person within the body. We are each spirit in essence, not physical. As our body ages from the baby body to the elderly body, we remain the same person within.
We do not die when the body dies. Neither did Jesus. The spirit-person identity is not visible with the physical eyes, but Jesus was a spiritual being and he saw each spirit-person within everyone - even within the physical bodies of the guards.
Thus Jesus did not die. His body was killed on the cross, evidenced by the guards taking down the body and testing it. It was lifeless because Jesus' spirit had left that body:
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. (Matthew 27:50)But as evidenced later, Jesus' spirit person, through an apparition, reappeared to his closest disciples. Why? To show those disciples that he did not die - and none of us will die. This was an important part of Jesus' teachings.
But what was the most important part of Jesus' teachings?
'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." (Matthew 22:37-38)
