October 11, 2023
Who Is Really In Control?
“Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, ‘Whom do you seek?’ They answered Him, ‘Jesus the Nazarene.’ He said to them, ‘I am He.’ And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them.” John 18:3-5 (NASB)
I learned in Army Basic Training how to respond to drill sergeants' questions. Make them short and to the point. When they ask a question, keep it short. This kept them from hollering at you. This is how the soldiers arresting Jesus responded. They answered Jesus’s question, “Whom do you seek?” Their response was simple and to the point, “Jesus the Nazarene.”
“Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.” “A full Roman cohort at full strength numbered from 600-1000 men. It is unlikely, however, that the full cohort stationed at Jerusalem to keep order during the Passover season would have been sent to arrest Jesus. More likely this was a smaller detachment known as a maniple, which consisted of 200 men. In any case, enough of the soldiers from the cohort were sent to warrant their commanding officer accompanying them (vs. 12).”[1] With the group of soldiers were the chief priests, and the Pharisees. These would have been from the temple police force. Their purpose was to deliver Jesus to the Jewish court to face charges. The Roman detachment was there to make sure the disciples or possibly a larger group of followers did not stir any trouble. If they did, they would be easily handled. Some commentators say that night there was a full moon, so the torches would have been unnecessary, however, the torches also gave light in darkened areas. This might be in the event Jesus and His followers might have hidden themselves from the soldiers. “So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, ‘Whom do you seek?’ They answered Him, ‘Jesus the Nazarene.’ He said to them, ‘I am He.’ And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them.” Other events not recorded by John were occurring at this time as well as stated by Brown and Fausset; “Now ‘he that betrayed Him had given them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is He, hold Him fast’ (Matt. 26:48). The cold-bloodedness of this speech was only exceeded by the deed itself. ‘And Judas went before them [Luke 22:47], and forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Master, and kissed Him’ (Matt. 26:49; compare Ex. 4:27; 18:7; Luke 7:45).”[2] Judas’ fate was sealed.
When the soldiers and the Jews arrived to arrest Jesus, they held an overwhelming advantage over anyone opposing them. They had the numbers, the training to deal with the problem, and the authority to impose death on the one(s) who opposed them. The difference was Jesus’s response to their question had more authority than theirs. It took them off their feet. Judas knew he compromised his Master, but the truth was he really wasn’t in charge of the situation. God was in full control. “The surrender and death of Jesus were voluntary acts, though the guilt of Judas and the rest remains.”[3] Jesus was ready to face the next day, but Judas wouldn’t.
[1] (John MacArthur, 2006), 307.
[2] Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 161). Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[3] Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Jn 18:4). Broadman Press.