John 18:1-11

1 Jesus, having prayed this prayer, left with his disciples and crossed over the brook Kidron at a place where there was a garden. He and his disciples entered it.

2-4Judas, his betrayer, knew the place because Jesus and his disciples went there often. So Judas led the way to the garden, and the Roman soldiers and police sent by the high priests and Pharisees followed. They arrived there with lanterns and torches and swords. Jesus, knowing by now everything that was coming down on him, went out and met them. He said, "Who are you after?"

They answered, "Jesus the Nazarene."

5-6He said, "That's me." The soldiers recoiled, totally taken aback. Judas, his betrayer, stood out like a sore thumb.

7Jesus asked again, "Who are you after?"

They answered, "Jesus the Nazarene."

8-9"I told you," said Jesus, "that's me. I'm the one. So if it's me you're after, let these others go." (This validated the words in his prayer, "I didn't lose one of those you gave.")

10Just then Simon Peter, who was carrying a sword, pulled it from its sheath and struck the Chief Priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. Malchus was the servant's name.

11Jesus ordered Peter, "Put back your sword. Do you think for a minute I'm not going to drink this cup the Father gave me?"

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Weep for a moment. Stop and let the tears fall for the Son of God; here we stood, before the purest gift that has ever been given. Here we were, before God incarnate, glimpsing through the holes of heaven into the eternal and trying desperately to understand what it means that God has come to us, and we betrayed him, turned him over, for being too different than what we expected. Weep for a moment. Let the tears fall for humanity, who didn't recognize a Savior and when it did, didn't want it. Those few who did ran for safety, but most were so opposed they stormed into the garden, ready to put an end to the Savior they didn't want, who gave them a glimpse into a life they weren't ready for. Weep for a moment, and as the ground grows damp with our tears of sorrow, weep with joy, for in spite of all of this, inspire of our best efforts to kill Jesus of Nazareth, we are saved by His blood today.

Blessings