All this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures

Matthew 26:47-68 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

While He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.” ⁴⁹ Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. ⁵⁰ And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.

⁵¹ And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. ⁵² Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. ⁵³ Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?”

⁵⁵ At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me. ⁵⁶ But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled.

⁵⁷ Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. ⁵⁸ But Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the officers to see the outcome.

⁵⁹ Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death. ⁶⁰ They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on two came forward, ⁶¹ and said, “This man stated, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.’” ⁶² The high priest stood up and said to Him, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” ⁶³ But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” ⁶⁴ Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; ⁶⁶ what do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death!”

⁶⁷ Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, ⁶⁸ and said, “Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?”

In yesterday’s text, in Matthew 26:39 Jesus prayed:  "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will."    Jesus was though, fully submitted to the Father’s will. Going to the cross was not something He was made to do against His own will. Earlier, in talking to the disciples, In John 10:17-18 Jesus said: “The Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”   Now in today’s text it says:  Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear.  Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?”  

There were and are many prophecies in scripture regarding the Messiah, which Jesus fulfilled; many of those where related to the events surrounding His betrayal, His arrest, and of course His death on the cross. So, not only does the text confirm Jesus willingness, it also confirms that Jesus is who He says He is. He is the fulfillment of God’s plan to redeem, reconcile and restore man.    The Old Testament, written hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, contains over 300 prophecies that Jesus fulfilled through His life, death and resurrection. Mathematically speaking, the odds of anyone fulfilling this amount of prophecy are staggering. Mathematicians put it this way: 1 person fulfilling 8 prophecies: 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000 1 person fulfilling 48 prophecies: 1 chance in 10 to the 157^th power 1 person fulfilling 300+ prophecies: Only Jesus! (from cbn.com)      The text continues:     At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me. But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled.

In His darkest hour Jesus was abandoned by those who were closest to Him, by the very ones who had sworn allegiance, even to death. If we are ever feeling alone or abandoned by those who we expected would stand with us, we should be encouraged that we have a Lord and Savior who knows how that feels. Hebrews 4:15 says:  We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.  Jesus felt abandoned, but He did not despair. He was determined to fulfill the Father’s will; to do the very thing He came to do. When we feel abandoned, we should not despair. When we cannot see or sense the presence of God around us, it is not that He has left us. It is that those seeds of doubt and despair are tempting and hindering us. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says:  We walk by faith, not by sight.   Even when we cannot see or feel the presence of God, we should believe what He says:  Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)   We should walk in faith, believing what Jesus says: “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)   The psalmist knew the comfort of the presence of God even in dark times. He said: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me. (Psalm 23:4)     He says:  Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day. (Psalm 139:7-12)

In today’s text it says:  Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”    Regardless of what we are experiencing, we should take courage knowing that that same One, the Son of Man, the One who could call on the Father and summon twelve legions of angels, the One who has all authority in heaven and on earth, is the same One who willingly laid down His life, no one took it from Him, He did it willingly for you and for me.

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ; precious Holy Spirit thank You that You are always with me, there is nowhere that I can go that You are not there; You will never leave me nor forsake me. Thank You most of all, that You were there, on the cross, and there You thought of me. You laid down Your life so that I could live, forgiven. redeemed, reconciled and restored. By faith, I believe. Help me to walk by that faith in all I do.   Amen.