Matthew 26:47

 Matthew 26:47  And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Even as Jesus was speaking about the time being near for Him to be betrayed, one of the twelve disciples came with a multitude who had drawn swords and staves and were sent by the chief priests and elders.  Verse forty-eight states, Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.  Judas had given them a sign to look for so that they would know Who to arrest and he warned them to hold Jesus tight.  The sign was to be the One Judas kissed.  I believe Judas may have wanted to avoid being known as the one who betrayed Jesus by not just coming out and saying saying out loud which one of the others was Jesus.  At times, we may betray our relationship with Christ and hope that others do not find out, but even if they don't, we will never fool God.  Verse forty-nine continues, And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.  When Judas came to Jesus, he hailed Jesus as Master, and then he betrayed Him.  Judas' words sounded good, but his actions were what were important, just so it is with us.  Verse fifty declares, And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.  Jesus called Judas friend and asked him why he had come.  This would have been Judas' opportunity to confess his betrayal.  Instead, Judas stood by while the multitude took Jesus.  If we do betray our relationship with Jesus, He will still call us friend and give us an opportunity to repent.  Verse fifty-one states,  And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.  One of Jesus' disciples, Peter we know from another gospel account, drew his sword and cut off a part of the ear of one of the servants of the high priest.  Peter was always quick to act, but often he was not following God's will but was acting out of his own ego we might say.  If we make a bold action for God, we need to first make sure that it is what God wants us to do.  Verse fifty-two declares, Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.  Jesus told Peter to put away his sword and warned him that those that live by the sword would die by the sword.  I don't believe that this means that we are never to fight against evil, but that when we do take up the sword that we had better be sure that what we are doing is in accordance with God's will.  Verse fifty-three adds, Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?  Jesus asked Peter if he did not think that Jesus could pray and the Father would send twelve legions of angels to protect Him.  Jesus was here to sacrifice Himself for the sins of mankind, and He did so willingly.  Verse fifty-four continues, But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?  Jesus then asked Peter if He called for the angels to rescue Him, how could the scriptures concerning the Messiah be fulfilled.  Verse fifty-five says, In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.  Jesus asked the multitude if they came against Him as thieves with swords and staves when He sat daily in the temple teaching.  Jesus had not been hiding Who He was nor where He was, and He doesn't today.  Verse fifty-six states, But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.  This was done to fulfill the scripture.  Then, we are told that the disciples forsook Jesus and fled.  If we are a follower of Christ, and things begin to get tough because of that fact, how will we react?  Will we stand firm or forsake Jesus and flee?