The Pilgrim Path---Luke 22: 47 – 65

While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “LORD, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them stuck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the LORD turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the LORD, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.

“…this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

The Son of Man (Jesus) has already begun to drink from the cup prepared for him. He knows the terrain ahead. He is aware the cost. He must give everything. He has taken the path of the Incarnation to give his all for his own---can we ever grasp it all? Perhaps only fleeting slivers. We are limited by our sinfulness and finiteness---but what we can measure---seems measureless. Glorious Gospel Love in the face of the power of darkness!

---Jesus takes the kiss of Judas. The temple police needed a “sign” in the darkness of Gethsemane. Judas said that he would pinpoint the Savior with a kiss. Quite a few “kiss” the LORD Jesus in public who have never had a heart for him. Do you really love the Living Christ?

---Jesus helps the high priest’s servant, even as he is arrested. How could that man with the ear that was “healed” ever forget that miracle? How could any who were in attendance? Consider the many ways the Living Christ keeps “healing” you…

---Jesus gives himself over to treachery. He lets it be known that his holy ministry of conveying God’s Truth was “open” at all times in the temple---now, these deeds of malice and intrigue?

---Jesus knows all about the man who said, “When all these other disciples run---I will never run!” Peter did not “own” the LORD Jesus….We have all been Peter at times. Jesus had even told Peter he would “fade” before the rooster crowed in the morning. No wonder Peter wept so bitterly. Jesus must teach us often, that it is not self-sufficiency that keeps us---but Christ-sufficiency.

---Jesus took the beating---the mockery---the blasphemy---at the hands of his custody officers. They said and did awful things to him (none of which he deserved / none of which were lawful). They spoke with contempt of him and his work---and his relationship to God. He took it. What a “cup” he was beginning to drink from---and it was just the beginning.

From Jonathan Pennington: God cares most about our hearts, and even when we fall out of fear and rebellion he restores us out of his abundant grace. Such stories reveal God’s heart of acceptance and forgiveness. When we understand God properly in this way, it creates in us a freedom to be honest and open about our weaknesses and failures, which is precisely the humility needed to approach God. Our acceptance of God’s acceptance of us---free from condemnation because Christ (Romans 8: 1) ---woos and draws us near to God and frees us from shame and fear.

From John Flavel: Did Judas, one of the twelve, do this? Then, certainly, Christians may approve and join with such men on earth whose faces they shall never see in heaven…

From B. M. Palmer: These two, Judas and Peter, are the types, respectively, of the two classes of sinners. The difference between sinner and saint is found in the behavior of the two in respect to their sins---the one persisting in it, the other weeping bitterly.

HYMN

Man of Sorrows! What a name for the Son of God who came

Ruined sinners to reclaim: Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude, in my place condemned he stood,

Sealed my pardon with his blood: Hallelujah! What a Savior!

When he comes, our glorious King, all his ransomed home to bring,

Then anew this song we’ll sing: Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Philip P. Bliss, 1875

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason