THURSDAY April 13, 2017
A Day of Arrest
Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” - John 18:3-5
Christ is the faithful one––our High Priest and He had begun to pray for His disciples in John 17. As we move into John 18, we read a tremendous part of Scripture. Jesus had left the upper room, walked through the Valley of Gehenna over to the Kidron Valley, and into the Garden of Gethsemane. Peter, James and John joined Jesus, as He had asked them to pray with Him. Going a short distance further Jesus prayed for His Father’s perfect will––to go to the cross to redeem us from our sins so we can have eternal life!
Judas, one of Jesus disciples betrayed Him in the upper room. Satan entered Judas as he left the room (John 13:26-27). Judas went to meet with the chief priests who gave him thirty pieces of silver for his betrayal.
Jesus, innocent of any crime, faced a day of arrest––His time had come. It is believed about six hundred men came with torches, swords and clubs. Judas led the Roman and Jewish pack, he is the one that would betray the Lord with a kiss (Matthew 26:48).
I believe with all my heart that everyone of us have a time when we are tested. Our hour will come–spiritually speaking, not only in death, but when God wants your will to be in full submission to His. We are by nature selfish, strong headed, and often we do not listen. We do many foolish things that eventually hurt us. Instead, we need to be like Jesus, prayerfully our hearts and lives must be fully submitted to God––Thy will be done. Then by His grace, God can do whatever He wants in our lives.
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace…
~Ephesians 1:7~
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