Topical Encyclopedia The arrest of Jesus is a pivotal event in the New Testament, marking the beginning of the Passion of Christ. This event is recorded in all four Gospels: Matthew 26:47-56, Mark 14:43-52, Luke 22:47-53, and John 18:1-11. It takes place shortly after the Last Supper and Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.Context and Setting The arrest occurs in the Garden of Gethsemane, located on the Mount of Olives, a place where Jesus often went with His disciples (John 18:2). After the Last Supper, Jesus went there to pray, deeply troubled by the impending suffering He was to endure. He asked His disciples to keep watch with Him, but they fell asleep despite His repeated urgings to stay awake and pray (Matthew 26:36-46). The Betrayal by Judas Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, plays a crucial role in the arrest. Having agreed to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16), Judas leads a large crowd to the garden. This crowd, sent by the chief priests and elders, is armed with swords and clubs (Matthew 26:47). Judas had given them a prearranged signal: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest Him" (Matthew 26:48). Approaching Jesus, Judas greets Him with a kiss, a gesture of betrayal that Jesus acknowledges with the words, "Friend, do what you came for" (Matthew 26:50). The Arrest As the crowd moves to seize Jesus, one of His disciples, identified in John 18:10 as Simon Peter, draws a sword and cuts off the right ear of Malchus, the servant of the high priest. Jesus immediately rebukes Peter, saying, "Put your sword back in its place. For all who draw the sword will die by the sword" (Matthew 26:52). He then heals Malchus' ear, demonstrating His commitment to peace and His divine authority even in the face of betrayal and violence (Luke 22:51). Jesus addresses the crowd, questioning why they have come out with swords and clubs as if He were a criminal, emphasizing that He had been teaching daily in the temple courts without being arrested (Matthew 26:55). This highlights the clandestine and unjust nature of the arrest, fulfilling His earlier prediction that He would be "handed over to the chief priests and scribes" (Matthew 20:18). Fulfillment of Scripture The arrest of Jesus fulfills numerous Old Testament prophecies and His own predictions about His suffering and death. Jesus acknowledges this fulfillment, stating, "But this has all happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled" (Matthew 26:56). The disciples, despite their earlier vows of loyalty, abandon Him and flee, fulfilling Zechariah 13:7, "Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered." Significance The arrest of Jesus is a moment of profound theological significance. It sets in motion the events leading to His crucifixion and resurrection, central to Christian belief in the atonement and salvation. It also serves as a powerful demonstration of Jesus' obedience to the Father's will, His nonviolent response to aggression, and His fulfillment of prophetic Scripture. The event underscores the themes of betrayal, sacrifice, and divine purpose that permeate the Gospel narratives. Nave's Topical Index Matthew 26:57And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. Nave's Topical Index Mark 14:46 Luke 22:54 John 18:12 Library The Arrest of Jesus D. The Arrest of Jesus. Ch. 22:47-53 Arrest and Trial of Jesus. A Glance at Jerusalem. Yielding to Arrest. Last Week of Jesus. The Betrayal and Arrest. The Arrest The Arrest. The Arrest of Christ. --Peter's Haste, and Its Reproof. --The ... Resources What happened on Paul's fourth missionary journey? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak? | GotQuestions.org What is the meaning and importance of the Last Supper? | GotQuestions.org Arrest: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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