Daily Devotional for Saturday, May 16

Jesus Rebuked the Soldiers

“Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?” Luke 22:52.

Jesus’ earthly ministry was one of peace, not violence or rebellion. He regularly taught large crowds but never stirred them to revolt. The gospel writers recorded seventeen occasions of Jesus teaching or being in the Temple, “and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come” (John 8:20). Even when Peter cut off Malchus’ ear, Jesus did not condone, allow or encourage it. He corrected Peter and healed it, proving He is not a violent man. The religious leaders, on the other hand, were ready for violence.

When Judas led the bloodthirsty mob to the garden, the hour of darkness had come. Satan was again working hard in the hearts of men. They came armed and fired up as if they were arresting a heinous, dangerous criminal on the most wanted list. Talk about overkill. March 14, 2025 was the seventy-fifth anniversary of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. Almost five hundred criminals have been located or arrested since its inception. One of the longest manhunts in US history was eighteen years, and one of the most strenuous involved three thousand agents over forty-six days. Wanted fugitives hide and evade authorities and lead them on wild chases. Jesus never hid. In fact, He was regularly near the authorities and available. When the mob approached Him, He calmly questioned them. Were swords and spears really necessary? Jesus pointed out all the times they could have arrested Him in the Temple, yet, they did not.

Up to that point, His hour had not come, but it arrived with Judas’ kiss. His hour to face torture and murder was the darkness’ hour to rage. He faced that hour for us. The Light of the world allowed darkness to overcome for a brief moment in history in order to be victorious for eternity.

THOUGHT

Jesus was numbered with the transgressors on our behalf.

Kelli Reynolds