Betrayal And Arrest

IT is well past midnight as Judas leads a large crowd of soldiers, chief priests, Pharisees and others into the garden of Gethsemane. The priests have agreed to pay Judas 30 pieces of silver to betray Jesus. Earlier, when Judas was dismissed from the Passover meal, he had evidently gone directly to the chief priests. These immediately assembled their own officers, as well as a band of soldiers. Judas had perhaps first led them to where Jesus and his apostles had celebrated the Passover. Discovering that they had left, the large crowd bearing weapons and carrying lamps and torches followed Judas out of Jerusalem and across the Kidron Valley.

As Judas leads the procession up the Mount of Olives, he feels sure he knows where to find Jesus. During the past week, as Jesus and the apostles traveled back and forth between Bethany and Jerusalem, they often stopped in the garden of Gethsemane to rest and to converse. But, now, with Jesus possibly concealed in the darkness beneath the olive trees, how will the soldiers identify him? They may never have seen him before. Therefore Judas provides a sign, saying: "Whoever it is I kiss, this is he; take him into custody and lead him away safely."

Judas leads the great crowd into the garden, sees Jesus with his apostles, and goes straight up to him. "Good day, Rabbi!" He says and kisses him very tenderly. "Fellow for what purpose are you present?" Jesus retorts. Then, answering his own question. He says: "Judas, do you betray the Son of man with a kiss?" But enough of his betrayer! Jesus steps forward into the light of the burning torches and lamps and asks: "Whom are you looking for?" "Jesus the Nazarene," comes the answer. "I am he," Jesus replies, as he stands courageously before them all. Astonished by his boldness and not knowing what to expect, the men draw back and fall to the ground.

"I told you I am he," Jesus calmly continues. "If, therefore, it is I you are looking for, let these go." Shortly before in the upper room, Jesus had told his Father in prayer that he had kept his faithful apostles and not one of them had been lost "except the son of destruction." So, in order that his word might be fulfilled, he asks that his followers be let go.

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The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, 1991