Season 5 Podcast 60 The Stories of the New Testament, Matthew 26 F, “Gethsemane B Peter’s Denial.”

In last week’s episode we explored the second half of the story of Gethsemane, focusing on the three prayers of Jesus. In this week’s episode we shall explore Peter’s denial. In the following we have the final act of Judas’s betrayal in the kiss of death.

“Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. 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. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. (Matthew 26:46-50)

Christ knows every move before it occurs, yet he does nothing to defend himself. This is his hour, the culmination of his life’s work to bring about the salvation of man. Always a perfect example, he faces each crisis with the dignity of his high calling. It would be normal to curse Judas, yet Jesus calls him ‘friend.’ Was that the remark that smote the heart of Judas and compelled him to take his own life.

The impulsive Peter draws his sword and cuts the ear off one of the servants of a High Priest who came to arrest Jesus. The response of Jesus is epic.

“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. 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. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? (Matthew 26:51-54)

As recorded in Luke, Jesus heals the servant.

“When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.” (Luke 22:49-51)

Every moment with Christ is a teaching moment. Christ entirely overcame the natural man as the story of healing the servant’s ear demonstrates. There is no anger, no revenge, no hatred, and no fear. He accepts his fate. How many of us, if our lives were in eminent danger, would not, if we could, pray to God and have him send “more than twelve legions of angels?” Historians tell us that one Roman legion was composed of around five thousand soldiers. That would have been more than 60,000 angels, presumably all with raised swords. But, as always, Christ submits himself to the will of the Father just as he did when he fell under the heavy hand of justice when alone he took upon himself the sins of the world.

Christ teaches us what true meekness is. He is no pushover. Though victimized, he never plays the role of a victim. He is always in charge. His courage under circumstances that no mortal could stand is almost beyond comprehension. In the face of a mob, he heals a servant’s ear and then boldly condemns the mob who falsely come in the dead of night to kill him. He reveals to them their own cowardice and their presumption of law.

55 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. (Matthew 26:55)