Stage 2: Jesus’ betrayal and arrest
Judas, the betrayer of our Lord and Savior, betrayed Him with a kiss. Jesus’s statement to Judas was so warm and touching when Judas approached Him. His words, in Matt. 26:50 were:
50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him.
Knowing full well that Judas had betrayed Him, Jesus still called him a friend. What manner of love and caring did our Lord and Savior show to him? If Judas had repented and asked for forgiveness rather than committing suicide, he could have been saved. Instead, he committed himself to Hell forever. It is also remarkable that amid all that the Roman soldiers were doing, Jesus continued to show love and care towards them. When Peter cut off Malchus’ ear, Jesus put the ear back on and healed the man.
John 18:10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
Luke 22:51-53 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.
Why was this not enough to show that Jesus was indeed the son of God? Why did no man exclaim, “Wait a minute? Jesus just reattached Malchus’ ear. This had to be a miracle!” All of them should have fallen on their knees before the Son of God.
After Jesus was arrested, he was abandoned by His disciples. Even Peter refused to be associated with Him, although he did stay close to see what would happen next. Jesus was brought first before Annas, then Caiaphas, the Jewish High Priest, and son-in-law of Annas, along with the Jewish council, called the Sanhedrin.
John 18:13-14 And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.
14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
Following that, Jesus was blindfolded, mocked repeatedly, spat on, and struck in the face. Caiaphas insisted that He tell Him whether or not He was the Son of God. False witnesses were sought out to put Jesus to death, and two false witnesses were eventually found who spoke against Him. Initially, Jesus held his peace, but he finally spoke and said, in Matthew 26:64
64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
It was then that they decided that His words were blasphemous and that He was worthy of death.
