01.10. In Spite of the Evidence
In Spite of the Evidence Matthew 26:47-56
Jesus has instituted the Lord’s Supper as He shared the Passover with His disciples. He then goes over the brook Cedron (John 18:1 ) to the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36 ) on the Mount of Olives (Matthew 26:30 ). This was a familiar place for the disciples and Jesus. Judas knew this place well and knew He would probably be there. (John 18:2 )
Jesus was indeed there in the agony of the garden as He was troubled in soul. He has asked Peter, James and John to watch and pray with Him. They could not even for one hour.
Judas had made a deal to betray the Lord for thirty pieces of silver. As we enter the scene Judas is coming to betray Jesus. With Judas is a crowd with sword and staves to arrest Jesus.
The crowd would chose not to believe in spite of the miracle that they will witness that night. Israel will choose not to believe in spite of the evidence of the miracle they had witnessed. Men down through the ages have chosen to reject Christ because they didn’t take time to consider the evidence of His claims.
I- Kiss of A Traitor: Matthew 26:47-49
Jesus is unarmed and defenseless while the multitude is heavenly armed. Judas will come to Jesus give Him a kiss of betray. This was the kiss of a traitor.
One might wonder why the crowd had to have Judas point Him out. After all He had been among them for some time. Jesus says to the multitude in Matthew 26:55 "…I sat daily with you teaching in the temple…" The betray came this way to fulfill prophecy. (Matthew 26:54 ) II- Born To Die: Matthew 26:53
Perhaps the greatest miracle in this event is not what Jesus did but what He did not do. He did not seek to escape. He didn’t call angels to fight for Him. He had already submitted to the cross a few moment earlier in the Garden. Jesus had been born to die for our sins. Before the foundation of the world Christ had been sacrificed in the mind and heart of God for our redemption.
III- The Miracle: Matthew 26:51 ; John 18:10-11 ; Luke 14:46-47; Mark 14:46-47
The last miracle of physical healing that takes place prior the Jesus death on the cross will take place in the garden when He is taken into captivity.
A- Cutting Off of the Ear: Matthew 26:51 ; John 18:10-11
All four of the gospels give us the account of the cutting off the ear of the high priest servants. We go to John’s gospel to find the name of the man was Malchus. John also tells us the one who pulled the sword and did the cutting off of the ear was Peter.
B- Healing of the Ear:
Luke, the Physician, is the only gospel writer that gives us the miracle of the healing of the ear of Malchus. He says, "And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him." Luke 22:51
What a picture of grace! Here this man comes to arrest Jesus with trumped up charges and Jesus in an act of grace heals him. He bestowed this on an enemy.
Is not this a picture of who Jesus was and is. Romans 5:8 ; Romans 8:10 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us...For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."
C- Rebuke of Peter: Matthew 26:52
The disciples only had two swords among them. (Luke 22:38 ) Jesus told them that would be enough. Jesus knew it would be enough because He never intended to fight.
IV- In Spite of the Evidence:
This miracle of healing leaves us to wonder how the crowd could see the healing of the ear and not believe. I submit that it was a deliberate act of will. It was not that they could not believe but that they intentionally chose not to believe.