That final week: ARRESTED

There are many things that happen that are outside of our control. Awful, awful things. Betrayal and disaster and illness and suffering and bereavement and displacement and persecution and prejudice – pain and heartbreak visit us and those who we love in so many different ways. Terrible things happen to good people, to those who don’t deserve it. And we can’t do anything about it. We are helpless. We can’t fix it.

An important lesson that I’ve been forced to learn over the last few days is this: ‘Sometimes, the only thing I can control is my own reaction.’ It’s an ongoing lesson!

Jesus was arrested. He was a good man. The best. He was a son of God. He lived as fully human and yet never did anything wrong. Never. He did not deserve to be arrested.

The Gospel accounts of his arrest are packed with reactions.

The men followed orders

Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders….The men seized Jesus and arrested him.  Mark 14:43, 46

The chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders sent a crowd to arrest Jesus. An armed crowd (described as ‘a detachment of soldiers and some officials’ in John 18). They would not get their own hands dirty. They would use others to do their dirty work, others who would simply follow orders without questioning. Others who would in fear bow to authority and do what they were told.

Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss

While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”  Luke 22:47-48

For whatever reasons, Judas chose to align himself with those who wished to silence Jesus. He played a key role. He could see that this adventure with this radical preacher was not going to end well and he was willing to hand Jesus over. He was doing what he had to do to protect his own interests.

Jesus’ followers wanted to defend Jesus by retaliating

When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.  Luke 22:49-50

They could not let these men take Jesus away. They could not let it end this way. They would do whatever it took to stop this. This could seem like the brave response – standing up for what is right, fighting back, defending the one they love from an unjust process. Retaliation feels right and it feels good. It’s doing something.

Jesus was still all about healing.

But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.  Luke 22:51

Jesus could not condone retaliation in any form. This was an escalation of retaliation and who knows where that would end up? In the midst of all this confusion and fear and violence, Jesus healed. It didn’t matter what side the man was on. He simply saw him as a human in need of a divine healing touch.

Jesus did not resist

Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.” Luke 22: 52-53

Jesus had asked God to spare him from this, if it was at all possible. But this moment where these men came for him was the time for Jesus to accept that this was part of God’s plan, even if he couldn’t understand how that could be. He was not going to fight this. He would go willingly. Jesus allowed what was to happen to unfold.

In the account in Matthew 26, as Judas approached Jesus to betray him, Jesus replied “Do what you came for, friend.” What a response filled with grace and forgiveness and love and peace!

Jesus’ followers ran away

Then everyone deserted him and fled.

A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind. Mark 14:50-52

Fear took a hold. That natural fight or flight response kicked in. They’d tried fight. Now it was the time for flight. They abandoned the one they had been following and trusting and listening to for the last three years. In that moment of panic, all they could think of was running for cover. Jesus was left to walk this path alone.

And so it happened…

Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people. John 18:12-14

I wonder where you would place yourself in that story, how you imagine yourself reacting to these events. I wonder how you identify your fall-back reaction when the going gets tough….is it fight or flight or maybe freeze? Is it betrayal or abandonment? Do you do whatever you have to to protect yourself? Or do you simply follow orders and do as you are told?

As in all these stories of Jesus’ life, Jesus’ way has to be the best way. He has the wisdom to know when to speak up and when to remain silent, when to withdraw to a safe place and when to allow himself to be led away by the guards. He finds a peace and acceptance in walking the path laid out ahead of him. He doesn’t blame, doesn’t hold a grudge, doesn’t look for revenge.

He reacts with love and peace and forgiveness and compassion and mercy.

Always.

I want to be more like him.