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THE VIA CRUCIS / STATION 2
JESUS IS BETRAYED

John 18:1 (NIV) When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. 4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” 5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said. 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”

Most of us are familiar with the story of how Judas Iscariot came to become the betrayer of Jesus. Matthew 26 and 27 tell the story of Judas selling out for thirty pieces of silver, plotting with the Jewish authorities and whose betrayal led to his ultimate ruin and suicide. Over the centuries some have tried to speculate that Judas’ motives were more complicated, that perhaps Judas was trying to force Jesus to declare a revolution, that Jesus would stir the masses against the Romans, or that the people would rise up upon his arrest.

However, the men who spent the last three years with him held no such opinions. After Jesus’ arrest, all mention of Judas’ name comes with a description, “Judas the Traitor, Judas the Betrayer, Judas the Thief”; this name lives in infamy and describes every traitor who has lived thereafter. We had our Benedict Arnold, Norway had Vidkun Quisling, Julius Caesar had Brutus and Cassius, but no name in history conjures images of treachery and back-stabbing like that of Judas Iscariot.

As bad as Judas (the traitor) was, the story of Jesus’ betrayal and arrest is not about Judas (the betrayer), but it is about Jesus, and there is a moment in the passage above when we have one of those “wait, what ?” moments. As the goon squad arrives to capture Jesus, Jesus takes charge,  “Who are looking for?”, Jesus asked “Jesus of Nazareth !” , the brutes answered.

“I AM – HE”, Jesus answered,…….. And…..they…..all…….fell…..down. (Wait. What?)
Remember this, Jesus was in charge. He was in charge when the universe was born, He was in charge when Adam was formed, He was (and is) in charge of everything, everywhere, all the time, and all at once. He was in charge of everything that happened to Him from the moment He arrived on Earth as an infant to the moment he stepped out of that tomb on Easter Morning.

Sometimes, the Glory of God flashed out from Jesus and it certainly did at that moment, stopping the Universe and knocking down his enemies. For that millisecond, I believe our existence may have been held in the balance, Jesus could have just ended it all, but being God, at that moment He saved it all. Just a little reminder to everyone then, now and always about Who is in charge. (John 8:58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I AM!”)

So here is what is so very cool; He is still in charge, He is still “I AM” and always will be. No matter what mob may be beating down your door, know that “I AM” is right beside you. Nothing,….. not…. one…. thing…. or even a multitude of other “things” will take you from His side. Not even death can take you from Him, for even then, He is still in charge.

Peace. Phil Parsons

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From Rodger:

Jesus was in charge – and still is.  I often feel like the Christian church misses the impact of this truth; and misses it egregiously!  We should never succumb to the temptation of thinking that the Gospel is all happenstance; just the “way it all worked out,” or even that “God managed to make good come from all the bad of Jesus’ passion.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  He knew EXACTLY what he was doing, knew how the powers that be would react and respond, and knew what the end game was, long before he ever announced to this disciples that Jerusalem at Passover was the ultimate endgame in their 3 year journey and ministry.

There’s a visual of this that I truly love.  Not for it’s accuracy because there is absolutely no evidence – Biblical or otherwise – that Jesus ever had any face to face encounter with Barabbas before the crowd yelled at Pilate to release the criminal and crucify Jesus.

But in the Movie “Son of God,” that was produced by Mark Burnett (the guy who keeps bringing us “Survivor” even though it’s long past its sell by date) and his wife Roma Downey (Touched by an Angel) in 2014:  In the Palm Sunday procession into Jerusalem and ultimately Jesus climbing the steps of the Temple to turn over the money changers’ tables,  Barabbas steps out of the crowd sneering at Jesus:  “MESSIAH!  Why don’t you save us from the Romans!”  Jesus gets off the colt and walks over to Barabbas, and it appears that a confrontation is about to happen.  But watch the implied, subtle, but very real power when Jesus puts out his hand!  This is what “Being in Charge” looks like; and like Phil says, have no doubt that Jesus most decidedly was in charge – every single minute from Palm Sunday through Easter morning!