Welcome to Day 35 of our 40 Day challenge! Luke 22:47-53

(Catch up with us, with our reading list March, reading list for April,  and Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11, Day 12, Day 13, Day 14, Day 15, Day 16, Day 17, Day 18, Day 19, Day 20, Day 21, Day 22, Day 23, Day 24,
Day 25, Day 26, Day 27, Day 28, Day 29, Day 30, Day 31, Day 32, Day 33, Day 34)

Today we are reading Luke 22:47-53

Luke 22:47-53

Jesus Arrested

⁴⁷ 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, ⁴⁸ but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

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

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

⁵² 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? ⁵³ 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.”

As I read this, I find myself comforted by the fact that Jesus had advance warning of Judas’s betrayal and Peter’s denial. He was able to get with His Father about it and have it settled in His heart before it happened. But that doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt. The sting of betrayal is sharp. Betrayal by someone so close to you has to be one of the hardest things to experience.

We mostly get to know about three years of Jesus’ life. And in that, we watch Him experience pain none of us could fathom. We do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses. He’s experienced testing in every respect, but walked through it triumphantly. We tend to judge others more harshly in the areas we’ve struggled with. But for Jesus, He became more compassionate, not less. He was tempted in all ways, but He doesn’t judge Peter harshly for his denial. The next time Jesus sees him, He will make Peter breakfast and tenderly restore him. What incredible kindness we see in Him!

I’m thinking about the Last Supper when Judas takes the bread, and it says that by doing so, he allowed Satan to enter him. When we think of the actions of our enemy, it’s easy to think of bold, obviously evil things. But it’s usually far more subtle. And often it’s simply affirming our self indulgent thoughts. Judas wanted Jesus to declare Himself boldly and take His throne already. He didn’t think it would end up with Him crucified. Judas knew Jesus had the power to subvert the Romans. He likely rationalized that he was moving the needle forward, why was Jesus taking so long? But control is never the way of God. He speaks in whispers and only acts in us by invitation. He doesn’t seek to force or control us—He draws us with His kindness.

Lord, help us to walk with others as you walk with us, not seeking power or control, but in love and kindness, drawing them to your heart.

Options for further  journaling or discussion throughout the challenge:

• Choose a part of the passage to write out by hand. Writing by hand helps us slow down and focus on what the Lord might highlight for us in the passage. Our brains can focus and remember better by writing than just reading alone.
• Journal about what the passage brings to mind. Does the passage tell us anything about God? Does it tell us anything about our response to Him?
• Does your heart respond in gratitude to any part of the passage? Write or pray your gratitude to the Lord.

We’ll see you next time, for Day 36 and March 15:1-20

♥ Samantha