FAITH BIBLE CHURCH - www.faithbiblechurch.net

RAY RUSS - PASTOR-TEACHER

MATTHEW: THE KING HAS COME, WEEK 178

TITLE: THE BETRAYER'S KISS

TEXT: MATTHEW 26:47-56

INTRODUCTION: (1) SOMETIMES FROM OUR VANTAGE POINT AS HUMANS, IT APPEARS THAT OUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND EVEN OUR WORLD IS SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL.

* IT LOOK'S LIKE EVIL IS WINNING, THAT OUR PRAYERS ARE UNANSWERED AND THAT GOD IS NOT THAT CONCERNED ABOUT OUR CIRCUMSTANCES.

** WE FEEL LIKE THINGS ARE FALLING APART, AND HOW COULD GOD BE GLORIFIED WHEN SIN AND EVIL SEEM TO HAVE AN UPPER HAND.

*** HOW COULD THE PLAN OF GOD BE FULFILLED IN THE MIDST OF THESE TERRIBLE CIRCUMSTANCES?

**** WELL, I BELIEVE THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS FELT THAT WAY WHEN JESUS WAS BETRAYED BY A KISS FROM ONE OF THEIR OWN GROUP.

(2) FOR FROM A HUMAN VANTAGE POINT, THE REMAINING EVENTS OF THAT TRAGIC NIGHT OF CHRIST'S BETRAYAL WOULD SEEM TO BRING NOTHING BUT DISGRACE AND DEFEAT FOR THE SON OF GOD.

* IN FACT, A HUMAN OBSERVER MIGHT THINK THAT JESUS' PRAYER IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE WENT UNANSWERED BY HIS FATHER, AND THAT EVERYTHING FROM THAT POINT ON SUDDENLY SPUN OUT OF CONTROL FOR JESUS.

** THAT WAS MOST LIKELY WHAT THE DISCIPLES THOUGHT.

*** FOR YOU SEE THEY HAD NEVER BEEN IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT BEFORE.

**** MANY TIMES JESUS HAD BEEN CHALLENGED BY HOSTILE PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES, BUT ALWAYS HE HAD CONFOUNDED AND SILENCED THEM.

(3) ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, HIS ENEMIES HAD SOUGHT TO TAKE HIM BY FORCE OR THREATENED HIM WITH BODILY HARM.

* BUT HE HAD ALWAYS ELUDED THEIR GRASP, SOMETIMES BY MIRACULOUS MEANS.

** THE DISCIPLES WERE ACCUSTOMED TO SEEING HIM IN THE VICTOR'S ROLE; NEVER HAD JESUS BEEN IN THE ROLE OF A VICTIM.

*** BUT SUDDENLY EVERYTHING BEGAN TO GO WRONG - OR SO IT SEEMED.

(4) FOR AN ARMED MOB ARRIVED ON THE SCENE TO ARREST HIM. JUDAS QUITE UNEXPECTEDLY BETRAYED HIM IN THE MOST DESPICABLE MANNER WITH A HYPOCRITICAL KISS.

* THEN WHEN PETER TRIED TO INTERVENE WITH FORCE, JESUS STOPPED HIM WITH A STERN REBUKE.

** FINALLY, THE DISCIPLES, GRIPPED WITH FEAR, ABANDONED JESUS AND FLED.

*** EACH TURN OF EVENTS APPEARED TO BRING MORE DISGRACE AND DEFEAT UPON JESUS.

**** THAT IS SURELY HOW IT SEEMED TO ALL THE OBSERVERS ON THE SCENE THAT NIGHT AND EVEN TO CASUAL READERS WITHOUT SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT OF THIS NARRATIVE TODAY.

(5) BUT JESUS WAS NOT A VICTIM BUT A VICTOR. THE SOVEREIGN FOREORDAINED PLAN OF GOD WAS UNFOLDING ON IT'S EXACT TIME SCHEDULE.

* AND THE SON OF MAN, THE SON OF GOD, GOD THE SON, WOULD BE BETRAYED BY A KISS, ARRESTED, GO THROUGH SEVERAL MOCK TRIALS AND BE CRUCIFIED AND RISE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD ACCORDING TO THE PREDETERMINED PLAN AND FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD.

** AS PETER SAYS IN ACTS 2:23&24 - "THIS MAN, DELIVERED UP BY THE PREDETERMINED PLAN AND FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD, YOU NAILED TO A CROSS BY THE HANDS OF GODLESS MEN AND PUT HIM TO DEATH."

V. 24 - "AND GOD RAISED HIM UP AGAIN, PUTTING AN END TO THE AGONY OF DEATH, SINCE IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM TO BE HELD IN ITS POWER."

*** AND BELOVED IN THE PLAN AND WILL OF GOD, IN THAT THE SCRIPTURES WILL BE FULFILLED, JUDAS ISCARIOT WOULD WILLINGLY, FROM HIS OWN CHOICES TO SIN, WOULD BETRAY JESUS BY A KISS, A KISS OF HYPOCRISY.

**** AND JESUS WILL BE ARRESTED AND QUICKLY GO THROUGH SOME SHAM TRIALS AND BE CRUCIFIED IN A MATTER OF HOURS. (5) AND TODAY IN THIS UNFOLDING DRAMA WE WILL LOOK AT MATTHEW 26:47-56, WHICH I'VE TITLED, "THE BETRAYER'S KISS."

* AND UNDER THAT TITLE, WE'LL LOOK AT 3 THINGS, NO. 1 THE PLAN OF JUDAS, VV. 47-50; NO. 2 THE PRESUMPTION OF PETER, VV. 51-53; AND NO. 3 THE PROPHECY OF SCRIPTURE THAT WILL BE FULFILLED, VV. 54-56.

** AND TO BEGIN WITH, LOOK AT V. 47, WHERE WE'LL START TO SEE OUR FIRST POINT TODAY, THE PLAN OF JUDAS. LOOK AT MATTHEW 26:47 PLEASE.

I. THE PLAN OF JUDAS, (READ V. 47)

A. NOW IN V. 45, JESUS HAD TO WAKE UP PETER, JAMES AND JOHN WHO WERE A SHORT DISTANCE FROM JESUS IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE.

* AND THE OTHER 8 DISCIPLES WERE STATIONED AT THE GATE OF THE ENTRANCE OF THE GARDEN.

** NOW IN V. 46, JESUS SPEAKS TO PETER, JAMES AND JOHN AND SAID, "ARISE, LET US BE GOING; BEHOLD, THE ONE WHO BETRAYS ME IS AT HAND!"

*** NOW EITHER JESUS HEARD JUDAS ISCARIOT AND HIS LARGE ARMED MOB APPROACHING OR HE KNEW IT IN HIS OMNISCIENCE, OR IN KNOWING THAT THE PLAN OF GOD WAS UNFOLDING.

**** BUT REGARDLESS OF HOW JESUS KNEW, WHILE HE WAS SPEAKING TO THE DISCIPLES, JUDAS WAS ON HIS WAY TO BETRAY CHRIST.

1. NOW NOTICE SEVERAL THINGS IN V. 47. NO. 1, JUDAS IS CALLED "ONE OF THE TWELVE".

** AND JUDAS IS OFTEN DESIGNATED THAT WAY IN THE N.T. IN FACT, ALL 4 GOSPELS USE THE EXPRESSION TO DESCRIBE JUDAS, WHILE ONLY ONCE IS ANOTHER DISCIPLE, THOMAS, DESCRIBED AS "ONE OF THE 12".

*** NOW WHY? IT APPEARS THAT THE GOSPEL WRITERS DELIBERATELY STRESSED JUDAS' STATUS AS ONE OF THE 12 IN ORDER TO ACCENT THE SENSE OF SHOCK AND BETRAYAL THEY ALL FELT WHEN HE TURNED OUT TO BE A TRAITOR.

**** I MEAN THEY HAD NO CLUE THAT JUDAS WAS THE ONE. HE WAS EVEN THE TREASURER OF THE 12 WHICH SUGGESTS HE PROBABLY WAS THE MOST TRUSTED ONE, FOR HE HANDLED THE MONEY.

2. SO JUDAS, "ONE OF THE 12", ONE OF THEIR OWN BAND, THEIR OWN GROUP WOULD SELL JESUS OUT. WHAT A TERRIBLE ACT.

* AND THE VERY HORROR OF HIS CRIME IS EMPHASIZED THAT ONE OF THE CHOSEN APOSTLES SHOULD DO THIS TERRIBLE DEED.

** NOW NEXT NOTICE IN V. 46, THAT JUDAS' ACTION IS SHOWN TO BE EVEN MORE SHAMEFUL BY THE FACT THAT HE BROUGHT A LARGE MOB ARMED WITH SWORDS AND CLUBS.

*** THEY WERE PREPARED FOR VIOLENCE! THEY WERE SET TO DO BODILY HARM TO CHRIST AND THE DISCIPLES IF NECESSARY.

**** AND THIS WAS NOT AN IMPROMPTU MOB OF CITIZENS, BUT A HAND-SELECTED BAND OF THUGS CAREFULLY ORGANIZED BY THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND ELDERS.

3. THEY WERE AFRAID OF JESUS. SOME OF THEM SAW HIS POWER. SO THERE WAS A GREAT MULTITUDE WHO CAME OUT WITH FORCE TO ARREST JESUS.

* AND ONE COMMENTATOR I STUDIED SUGGESTED THAT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AS MANY AS A THOUSAND MEN THAT CAME OUT TO ARREST JESUS.

** FOR THE MULTITUDE INCLUDED OFFICIALS OF THE TEMPLE ACCORDING TO LUKE 22:52, WHO WERE GRANTED LIMITED POLICE POWERS BY THE ROMANS IN MATTERS OF JEWISH RELIGION AND SOCIETY.

*** AND THIS CROWD WAS PROBABLY ARMED WITH CLUBS.

**** BUT ALSO THE MULTITUDES INCLUDED A COHORT OF ROMANS SOLDIERS ACCORDING TO JOHN 18:3, WHICH AT FULL STRENGTH, COMPRISED 500 MEN.

4. AND THEY PROBABLY WERE THE ONES ARMED WITH A SWORD. AND WHETHER THERE WERE 1000 MEN THAT CAME OUT TO ARREST JESUS IS NOT WORTH ARGUING OVER, BUT WE KNOW A LARGE GROUP, A MULTITUDE CAME OUT ARMED AND READY TO TAKE JESUS.

* AND JUDAS WILL LEAD THIS MULTITUDE TO JESUS, AND HE HAS A PREDETERMINED SIGN THAT HE HAS AGREED TO, TO BETRAY JESUS. LOOK AT V. 48 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 48. NOW REMEMBER IT WAS DARK, AROUND OR AFTER MIDNIGHT, AND EVEN THOUGH PASSOVER FELL ON A FULL MOON, IT WAS PROBABLY CLOUDY, FOR ACCORDING TO JOHN 18:3 THE MULTITUDE CAME OUT WITH LANTERNS AND TORCHES.

* WILLIAM HENDRICKSEN INSIGHTFULLY COMMENTS AT THIS POINT IN HIS COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW AND I QUOTE "TORCHES AND LANTERNS - TO SEARCH FOR THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD." (END QUOTE)

** AND THERE IS AN IRONY TO THAT. FOR JESUS SAID IN JOHN 8:12, (READ IT).

*** THE IRONY IS THESE MEN NEEDED LIGHT TO SEE JESUS, BUT THEIR REAL PROBLEM WAS THEY WERE IN SPIRITUAL DARKNESS AND DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT.

**** BUT SINCE IT WAS DARK, AND A LOT OF THE PEOPLE IN THE MULTITUDE WHO WERE ROMANS WOULD NOT KNOW WHAT JESUS LOOKED LIKE, JUDAS GAVE THEM A SIGN TO IDENTIFY HIM.

1. HE WOULD BETRAY HIM WITH A KISS. NOW IT'S INTERESTING THAT THE GREEK WORD TRANSLATED KISS IS PHILEO WHICH YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN.

* AND THIS WORD IN THE KJV IS TRANSLATED LOVE 22 OUT OF THE 25 TIMES IT IS USED.

** MEANING THIS KIND OF KISS SHOWED LOVE, A SPECIAL AFFECTION AND RESPECT, A SIGN OF HOMAGE.

*** AND MY POINT FROM GOING INTO THIS WORD IS, OF ALL THE SIGNS JUDAS COULD HAVE SELECTED, HE CHOSE THE ONE THAT WOULD TURN OUT TO BE THE MOST DESPICABLE.

**** I MEAN HE COULD HAVE POINTED TO JESUS TO IDENTIFY HIM OR SPIT ON HIM, BECAUSE HE DIDN'T LOVE JESUS, BUT HE HAD TO SHOW HIS HYPOCRISY EVEN AT THIS TIME, HE WAS A PRETENDER AND HE HID BEHIND A KISS.

2. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE WILL DO, HE WILL KISS JESUS AND THEY WILL SEIZE HIM, LOOK AT V. 49 PLEASE.

C. READ V. 49. NOW JUDAS WALKS OVER TO JESUS AND SAYS "HAIL RABBI!" AND THE WORD HAIL IS A GREETING OF "REJOICE" OR "BE GLAD" WHICH IS AN IRONY THAT IS SAD, AS AGAIN, JUDAS IS BETRAYING JESUS, BUT THE COVER-UP CONTINUES.

* THEN HE SAYS "RABBI" OR "MASTER" DEPENDING ON WHICH TRANSLATION YOU HAVE, WHICH WAS A TITLE OF RESPECT FOR THEIR TEACHER IN JEWISH CULTURE, A TITLE OF HONOR, MORE IRONY.

** FOR JUDAS BY HIS ACTIONS WAS NOT HONORING OR RESPECTING JESUS, BUT SELLING HIM OUT FOR 30 PIECES OF SILVER.

*** AND THEN HE NOT ONLY KISSES JESUS ONCE, BUT KISSED HIM REPEATEDLY.

**** FOR THE WORD KISSED IS THE COMPOUND INTENSIFIED VERB KATAPHILEO WHICH MEANS TO KISS FERVENTLY, TO KISS AFFECTIONATELY, A CONTINUOUS EXPRESSION OF AFFECTION.

1. HE MOST LIKELY KISSED CHRIST REPEATEDLY. THE ACT WAS PROLONGED ENOUGH SO THE MOB HAD TIME TO IDENTIFY JESUS.

* BUT IT LOOKED LIKE HE WAS SHOWING GREAT REPEAT AFFECTION AND RESPECT FOR JESUS. AND THIS WAS A DECEITFUL DISPLAY OF HYPOCRISY.

** THIS IS DESPICABLE, DIABOLICAL, DECEITFUL AND DAMNING FOR A MAN WHO WAS ACTING OUT HIS PART, WHO WAS POSSESSED BY SATAN, AND WHO IS BURNING IN HELL TODAY, JUDAS ISCARIOT.

*** AND JESUS RESPONDS TO JUDAS IN V. 50. LOOK AT V. 50 PLEASE.

D. READ V. 50. NOW JESUS KNOWING WHAT JUDAS IS DOING, IS STILL CORDIAL TO HIM. AND AT THIS POINT I WOULD HAVE LET JUDAS HAVE IT.

* HIS HYPOCRISY SMELLS, IT REEKS, IT IS OBVIOUS TO JESUS. FOR IN LUKE 22:48 JESUS SAID TO THIS HYPOCRITE, "JUDAS, ARE YOU BETRAYING THE SON OF MAN WITH A KISS?"

** SO JESUS KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON, BUT HIS SIGHTS WERE ON THE WILL OF HIS FATHER, FULFILLING THE PLAN OF GOD.

*** SO HE'S CORDIAL TO JUDAS, "FRIEND, DO WHAT YOU HAVE COME FOR."

**** AND THE GREEK WORD TRANSLATED FRIEND HERE IS THE LESS AFFECTIONATE WORD FOR FRIEND OF THE TWO USED IN THE N.T. BUT IT STILL IMPLIES A KIND ADDRESS.

1. IT IS NOT FILLED WITH RETALIATION OR VENGEANCE BUT IS A KIND WAY TO ADDRESS A WICKED PERSON.

* AND THEN THE PHRASE IN V. 50, "DO WHAT YOU HAVE COME FOR" WAS JESUS' FAREWELL STATEMENT TO THE SON OF PERDITION.

** FOR JUDAS THOSE WERE THE LAST RECORDED WORDS OF CHRIST TO HIM, AND ONE CAN IMAGINE THAT THE WORDS WILL RING AS A TORMENT IN HIS EARS THROUGHOUT ALL ETERNITY IN HELL.

*** AND AFTER JESUS SAYS THESE LAST WORDS TO JUDAS, THE MOB LAYS HANDS ON HIM AND ARRESTS HIM. JESUS IS BOUND AND ARRESTED.

**** AND PETER REACTS TO WHAT HAPPENS WITH VINTAGE PETER BEHAVIOR, WHICH LEADS US TO V. 51, WHERE WE'LL START TO SEE OUR 2'D POINT TODAY, THE PRESUMPTION OF PETER.

II. THE PRESUMPTION, (READ V. 51)

A. NOW AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME ACCORDING TO LUKE'S PARALLEL ACCOUNT OF THE BETRAYAL AND ARREST OF JESUS IN LUKE 22:49, AS JESUS IS ARRESTED, THE DISCIPLES ASKED, "LORD, SHALL WE STRIKE WITH THE SWORD?"

* AND ACCORDING TO LUKE 22:38, THE DISCIPLES HAD TWO SMALL SWORDS AT THIS TIME.

** BUT OBVIOUSLY PETER HAD ONE OF THEM, AND HE DIDN'T WAIT FOR AN ANSWER FROM JESUS, HE IMPULSIVELY WENT AFTER MOST LIKELY THE FIRST PERSON WHO WAS NEAREST TO HIM.

*** AND JOHN IN HIS PARALLEL ACCOUNT IDENTIFIED PETER AS THE DISCIPLES WHO CUTS OFF THE EAR OF THE HIGH PRIEST'S SLAVE WHO WAS NAMED MALCHUS ACCORDING TO JOHN 18:10.

**** AND I DON'T THINK PETER WAS GOING FOR HIS EAR DO YOU? HE WAS GOING FOR THIS GUY'S HEAD, MOST LIKELY HIS JUGULAR VEIN, AND THE GUY DUCKS AND PETER CUTS OFF HIS EAR.

1. NOW THE QUESTION COMES UP HERE, WHY WAS PETER SO BOLD WHEN HE'LL DENY JESUS 3 TIMES IN JUST A LITTLE BIT?

* WELL, PETER WAS PROBABLY TRYING TO SHOW HE WOULD DIE WITH CHRIST AS HE SAID HE WOULD JUST A FEW HOURS EARLIER AND HE PROBABLY THOUGHT THIS WAS THE TIME OF HIS TESTING.

** AND YOU HAVE TO LOVE THIS GUY, HE REACTS WITH HEART, NOT OBVIOUSLY HIS HEAD, FOR THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A THOUSAND MEN THERE.

*** AND THEY HAVE TWO SWORDS, BIG FIGHT, IT'S GOING TO BE OVER IN ABOUT A MINUTE.

**** BUT I THINK THE THING THAT PETER WAS EMBOLDENED BY WAS SOMETHING THAT ONLY JOHN REPORTS IN HIS GOSPEL.

2. FOR IN JOHN 18:5&6, WHEN THE MOB ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WERE SEEKING JESUS OF NAZARETH WHEN THEY FIRST CAME OUT, JESUS SAID TO THEM, "I AM HE" AND AT THAT POINT THEY DREW BACK AND FELL TO THE GROUND, ALL OF THEM.

* AND IN MY MIND, SUCH A DISPLAY OF SUPERNATURAL POWER MAY HAVE SPURRED PETER ON THINKING THAT JESUS PLANNED TO DESTROY HIS ATTACKERS SUPERNATURALLY.

** WELL, FOR WHATEVER REASON, PETER WAS BOLD HERE AND CUTS OFF THE EAR OF THE HIGH PRIEST'S SLAVE.

*** AND JESUS' RESPONSE TO PETER IS GIVEN IN V. 52. LOOK AT V. 52 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 52. NOW LUKE IN HIS PARALLEL ACCOUNT OF OUR TEXT COMMUNICATES IN LUKE 22:51 THAT JESUS HEALED THIS MAN PUTTING HIS EAR BACK ON, WHICH PROBABLY SAVED PETER'S LIFE.

* AND JESUS THEN REBUKES PETER, PUT YOUR SWORD BACK IN IT'S PLACE, "FOR ALL THOSE WHO TAKE UP THE SWORD SHALL PERISH BY THE SWORD."

** AND JESUS BY SAYING THAT WAS COMMUNICATING THIS, "NO MATTER HOW WICKED AND UNJUST MY ARREST IS, PETER YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO TAKE VIGILANTE ACTION."

*** PETER IF YOU TAKE A LIFE WHILE DOING THAT, YOUR OWN LIFE WILL JUSTLY BE FORFEITED AS PUNISHMENT. THE SWORD IN SCRIPTURE IS A SYMBOL OF DEATH.

**** FOR EVEN BEFORE THE LAW OF GOD WAS EVER GIVEN, THE LORD GOD SAID IN GENESIS 9:6 (READ IT).

1. AND THE BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE IS IF YOU TAKE A LIFE, YOUR LIFE IS REQUIRED. AND THIS WAS REPEATED IN THE LAW, IN EXODUS 21:42 (READ IT).

* AND THEN IN THE N.T. IN ROMANS 13:1-4, PAUL SAYS IN V. 4 OF THAT TEXT ABOUT GOVT.

** V. 4 - "FOR IT IS A MINISTER OF GOD TO YOU FOR GOOD. BUT IF YOU DO WHAT IS EVIL, BE AFRAID; FOR IT DOES NOT BEAR THE SWORD FOR NOTHING; FOR IT IS A MINISTER OF GOD, AN AVENGER WHO BRINGS WRATH UPON THE ONE WHO PRACTICES EVIL."

*** AND THEN THE SWORD ANALOGY IS USED IN REV. 13:10 WHERE IT SAYS IN A FUTURE DAY, I BELIEVE IN THE TRIBULATION: "IF ANY ONE IS DESTINED FOR CAPTIVITY, TO CAPTIVITY HE GOES; IF ANY ONE KILLS WITH THE SWORD, WITH THE SWORD HE MUST BE KILLED. HERE IS THE PERSEVERANCE AND THE FAITH OF THE SAINTS."

**** NOW WITH THOSE SCRIPTURES IN MIND, IF PETER TAKES UP THE SWORD AND KILLS, HE'LL DIE BY THE SWORD, THAT IS JUSTICE.

**** AND GET THIS, JESUS' ARREST AND SUBSEQUENT TRIALS WERE CLEARLY UNJUST, BUT THEY WERE NEVERTHELESS CARRIED OUT WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM OF THAT DAY.

2. AND JESUS' POINT WAS THAT PERSONAL VIOLENT ACTION AGAINST EVEN AN UNJUST GOVERNING BODY IS WRONG.

* AND GOD HAS THE SOVEREIGN RIGHT TO OVERRULE HUMAN GOVTS. AS HE HAD DONE FREQUENTLY THROUGHOUT HISTORY, BUT NO INDIVIDUAL HAS SUCH A RIGHT.

** AND JESUS WAS NOT SPEAKING ABOUT SELF-DEFENSE OF LOVED ONES OR FRIENDS FROM AN ATTACKER.

*** NOR WAS HE TALKING ABOUT FIGHTING IN THE ARMED FORCES OF ONE'S COUNTRY.

**** JESUS WAS REFERRING TO VIOLENTLY TAKING JUSTICE INTO ONE'S OWN HAND, BEING A VIGILANTE.

3. A CHRISTIAN'S HOLY WAR IS NEVER PHYSICAL, BUT SPIRITUAL, READ II COR. 10:3&4.

* AND OUR FULL ARMOR IS SPIRITUAL FOR FIGHTING SPIRITUAL BATTLES. SO GOD DOES NOT CALL US TO CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE.

** AND THIS IS A POINT THAT NEEDS TO BE RE-EMPHASIZED IN AN ERA WHERE SOME CHRISTIANS FEEL THEY ARE JUSTIFIED IN BREAKING THE LAW TO PROTEST GOVT.-SANCTIONED WRONGS.

*** WE SHOULD ALWAYS OBEY THE GOVT. UNTIL IT TELLS US TO DO SOMETHING CONTRARY TO A CLEAR COMMAND OF GOD, READ ACTS 5:29, ROMANS 13:1&2 AND I PETER 2:13&14.

**** NOW AS WE GO BACK TO MATTHEW 26:52, PETER WAS NOT TO BE A VIGILANTE AT THIS TIME, IN FACT JESUS DIDN'T NEED HIS PROTECTION, FOR IN V. 53 JESUS POINTS OUT THAT HIS FATHER COULD DELIVER HIM FROM THIS TIME, IF HE REQUESTED. LOOK AT V. 53 PLEASE.

C. READ V. 53. NOW TRYING TO DEFEND JESUS BY PHYSICAL FORCE IS FOOLISH.

* WHY? FOR JESUS COULD PRAY TO HIS FATHER, AND HIS FATHER COULD DISPATCH MORE THAN 12 LEGIONS OF ANGELS TO COME TO HIS AID.

** NOW A FULL ROMAN LEGION WAS COMPOSED OF 6,000 SOLDIERS.

*** SO MORE THAN 12 LEGIONS OF ANGELS WOULD BE IN EXCESS OF 72,000 ANGELS!

**** NOW IN ONE O.T. ACCOUNT IN II KINGS 19:35 ONE SINGLE ANGEL OF GOD KILLED 185,000 ASSYRIAN TROOPS.

1. SO WHAT DO YOU THINK THE POWER OF 72,000 ANGELS WOULD BE? THEY COULD WIPE OUT ALL THE ARMIES AND FORCES OF THE WORLD!

* BELOVED, OUR LORD DIDN'T NEED PETER'S HELP TO DEFEND HIMSELF. FOR YOU SEE JESUS WOULD NOT DEFEND HIMSELF. THERE WOULD BE A HIGHER PURPOSE.

** THE PLAN OF GOD WAS ON COURSE, AND PROPHECY WILL BE FULFILLED AS JESUS WILL DIE TO BE THE SAVIOR OF HIS PEOPLE, THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.

*** LOOK AT V. 54 PLEASE WHERE WE'LL START TO SEE OUR THIRD AND LAST POINT TODAY, THE PROPHECY.

III. THE PROPHECY, (READ V. 54)

A. NOW FOR PETER TO VIOLENTLY OPPOSE JESUS' ARREST WAS ALSO TO OPPOSE THE FULFILLMENT OF GOD'S PROPHESIED PLAN OF REDEMPTION.

* JESUS DID NOT NEED PETER'S HELP, HE WOULD NOT CALL ON ANGELS, FOR THE SON OF MAN WAS ON COURSE.

** GOD'S TRUTH, SPOKEN CENTURIES BEFORE, WAS NOW BEING FULFILLED. IT MUST HAPPEN THIS WAY.

*** AND THE WORD MUST HERE IMPLIES A CERTAIN NECESSITY, A DIVINELY DECREED EVENT THAT IS OBLIGATED BY THE VERY VIRTUE OF GOD'S WORD TO TAKE PLACE.

**** IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT GOD HAS DECREED THROUGH HIS WORD IN PROPHECY IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE.

1. AND ALL THE O.T. SCRIPTURES ABOUT CHRIST'S DEATH AND SUFFERING ARE GOING TO BE FULFILLED. SO PETER, GET OUT OF THE WAY.

* "GET BEHIND ME SATAN", AS JESUS TOLD PETER IN MATTHEW 16:23, YOU ARE GETTING IN THE WAY FOR THE PLAN OF GOD TO BE FULFILLED.

** YOU ARE DOING WHAT SATAN WANTS, PETER, YOU ARE DOING SATAN'S WILL, FOR THE WILL OF GOD IS I MUST DIE, AND SATAN WILL BE A DEFEATED FOE!

*** NOW AFTER THIS TAKES PLACE, THEN OUR LORD TURNS TO THE MULTITUDES AND SAYS BASICALLY THE SAME THING TO THEM IN V. 56 BUT LOOK AT V. 55, WHERE JESUS ASKS THEM A QUESTION AND GIVES THE ANSWER IN V. 56. LOOK AT MATTHEW 26:55 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 55. NOW JESUS REMINDS THE MULTITUDE THAT DAILY HE HAD SAT IN THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM TEACHING.

* AND HE DID THAT OPENLY EVERY DAY FOR ALMOST A WEEK AS HE ENTERED JERUSALEM ON PALM SUNDAY.

** AND THEY COULD HAVE ARRESTED HIM AT THAT TIME. BUT NOW THEY CAME OUT WITH SWORDS AND CLUBS AND WERE TREATING HIM LIKE A THIEF OR A ROBBER.

*** HE WAS NOT HIDING FROM THEM, BUT OF COURSE, THEY DIDN'T ARREST HIM DURING THOSE TIMES FOR THEY WERE AFRAID OF STARTING A RIOT.

**** SO WITH JUDAS ISCARIOT'S HELP THEY WAITED FOR THE RIGHT TIME. AND THIS WAS THE RIGHT TIME, FOR LOOK AT V. 56 PLEASE.

C. READ V. 56. NOW WE GO BACK TO THE GREAT TRUTH THAT GOD'S SOVEREIGN PLAN IS BEING FULFILLED.

* I MEAN THERE IS A CLEAR TIME THAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED, WHAT GOD SOVEREIGNLY ORDAINS IN ETERNITY, MAN FREELY CHOOSES IN TIME.

** AND DESPITE THEIR HOSTILITY TO CHRIST, THE MEN WHO ARRESTED HIM WERE FULFILLING HIS SOVEREIGN PURPOSE PERFECTLY.

*** THEIR ATTEMPTS TO DESTROY HIM WERE ONLY ACHIEVING HIS CHOSEN ENDS, FULFILLING A PLAN THAT WAS ESTABLISHED BEFORE TIME BEGAN. **** AND THE DISCIPLES HAD REPEATEDLY HEARD JESUS EXPRESS SUCH ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE IN THE SOVEREIGN PLAN OF GOD.

1. BUT UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, AND AT THIS MOMENT, FEAR NOT FAITH TOOK OVER AND ALL THE DISCIPLES FORSOOK JESUS AND FLED. THEY WERE RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES.

AND IN APPLICATION AND WRAP UP TODAY: (1) UTTER DESPAIR AND FEAR TOOK OVER FOR THE DISCIPLES.

* EMOTION CONTROLLED THEM AND THEIR EYES WERE FIXED FIRMLY ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE MOMENT AND NOT ON THE DOCTRINE OF GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY.

** BECAUSE OF THAT, THEY COULD DRAW NO COMFORT FROM THE WORDS OF JESUS, THAT HIS PLAN WAS BEING FULFILLED.

*** FEAR OVERWHELMED THEM AND THEY DESERTED CHRIST!

**** AND I ASK TODAY, HOW MANY TIMES HAS THAT HAPPENED TO US? WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG, MAYBE TERRIBLY WRONG AND FEAR TAKES OVER FOR FAITH.

(2) AND OUR EMOTIONS RULE US AND OUR EYES GET FOCUSED ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND NOT ON THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD, AND WE FALL APART, AND FIGURATIVELY FORSAKE JESUS, WE TAKE OUR EYES OFF OF HIM.

* BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY. THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD SHOULD BE THE MOST COMFORTING TRUTH IN OUR LIVES.

** THAT IS IF WE APPLY THAT TRUTH. THAT WE DON'T ALLOW OUR EMOTIONS AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES TO OVERWHELM US.

*** AND I HAVE BEEN GUILTY OF THAT. AND IT COMES FROM FOCUSING ON THE TEMPORAL RATHER THAN THE ETERNAL, AND NOT RUNNING TO MY LORD AND CRYING OUT TO HIM.

**** FOR HE IS OUR ROCK AND OUR SALVATION. HIS WORD IS TRUTH. HIS PLAN IS GOOD, EVEN WHEN WE DON'T FEEL LIKE IT IS.

(3) AND WHEN WE RUN TO HIM AND STAND ON HIM AS OUR ROCK, WE CAN HAVE PEACE, COMFORT AND ASSURANCE EVEN IN THE MIDST OF GREAT PAIN AND DIFFICULTY. * AND THAT COMES FROM A RELATIONSHIP OF KNOWING HIM, FOR WHEN YOU KNOW HIM, NOT JUST ABOUT HIM, BUT KNOW HIM, YOU CAN TRUST HIM.

** AND MAY WE NOT BE LIKE PETER WHO BOASTED TOO LOUDLY, PRAYED TOO LITTLE, SLEPT TOO MUCH AND ACTED TOO FAST.

*** AND SO HE MISSED THE TRUTH, LET US NOT MISS IT TODAY, BUT APPLY IT. (LET'S PRAY).