When Darkness Reigns
Luke 22:47-53
Key Verse 53b
“But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”
Introduction
Today’s passage consists of three parts. First, Judas’ betrayal kiss. Second, the response of Jesus’ followers. Third, Jesus’ response to both His followers and the crowd. As the title indicates, this was a dark hour when Jesus was arrested and God’s enemies seemed to win the battle. But Jesus stepped up to the front line like a Commander in chief and faced the time of His sacrifice. Jesus boldly took liability and responsibility for the problem of man’s sins and obeyed God’s will to die on the cross. He did this to cover over a multitude of our sins. May the Lord help us to learn of Jesus’ faith and obedience above all.
Read verses 47-48. Who was leading a crowd and why? (47) How might Judas’ betrayal have impacted Jesus? How did Jesus respond to him? (48)
1-1, Read verses 47-48.
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?”
1-2, Who was leading a crowd and why? (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,
1-3, How might Judas’ betrayal have impacted Jesus?
Throughout history, betrayal is one of the worst of all tragedies.
King David was betrayed by his own son Absalom. Julius Caesar was betrayed by Brutus. Jesus was betrayed by one of the Twelve.
Jesus, as a man who had loved and served his disciples, was vulnerable to the pain of betrayal.
But through his prayer, Jesus was spiritually alert and had keen insight. He exposed Judas' act and warned that Judas would face grave consequences.
1-4, How did Jesus respond to him? (48)
but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Judas warmly greeted Jesus, even giving Him the customary kiss. In doing so, he precisely identified Jesus to the authorities who came to arrest Jesus.
For the sake of those arresting Jesus, he chose to identify Him by greeting Jesus with a kiss. What a terrible kiss it was!
But Jesus exposed Judas’ action for what it truly was. Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Jesus was not emotionally upset. Jesus saw this from God’s point of view. Judas was not merely betraying his master, his teacher, or his friend; he was betraying the Son of Man, the promised Messiah (Dan 7:13-14).
Jesus already mentioned, “Woe to that man.” (22:22) Judas had the apostolic position but he abandoned his position and betrayed Jesus.
He killed himself in the end instead of repenting of his sins. His destiny is the fiery lake of hell.
So Jesus’ warning for Judas at the last minute stemmed from true love for his soul.
Judas would surely bear full responsibility for his actions. Yet God, in His providence, used it as the best way to deliver Jesus into the hands of His adversaries.
Let’s think of other possible options Jesus could have chosen...
Option 1, If they captured Jesus in a fight or if Jesus ran and hid until they found and caught Him, it would show that He was an unwilling victim.
Option 2, If Jesus surrendered Himself to commit suicide in order not to see horrible abuse from His murderers.
Option 3, If it happened accidentally it would lessen the full effect of the bitter cup Jesus was about to drink.
Option 4, He must be betrayed by his friend, that he may bear the utmost depths of suffering.
No doubt, Jesus chose the last option to render glory to His Father in Heaven in full obedience.
Read verses 49-50. What did Jesus’ disciples say? (49) What does this reveal about them? What did Peter do? (50; Jn 18:10) What does this show about him?
2-1, Read verses 49-50.
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.
2-2, What did Jesus’ disciples say? (49)
When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?”
2-3, What does this reveal about them?
When the disciples were not spiritually prepared as much as Jesus through prayer, all they could do was to react to the situation in promptu.
As a result, they made things go from bad to worse. Suppose their act of passion ignited a violent sword battle and all the disciples were killed.
Who then would preach the gospel to the ends of the earth after Jesus’ resurrection?
2-4, What did Peter do? (50; Jn 18:10)
And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
Let us look at a reference from John 18 for a moment, for apostle John was one of Jesus’ disciples who must have been there next to Jesus.
When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.
2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”
5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.
“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.
8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”
10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.
Thus it turned out to be Peter who acted out of emotion at the moment.
Luke identified the ear as his right ear.
2-5, What does this show about him?
As a top disciple, Peter must have thought that he should do something to protect Jesus.
In the past he said that he would die for Jesus. But he did not pray as much as he should have according to Jesus’ instructions on the mount of Olives.
This resulted in Peter acting out with violence. But this was not God’s approved way.
Jesus could have been disappointed with Peter.
But Jesus bore with Peter and reversed the damage caused to Malchus.
Praise Jesus who is the Good Shepherd for all of us in the same way!
Read verses 51-53. What did Jesus say to His followers? (51a) What did He say to the leaders of a crowd after healing the servant? (52b-53) What meaning can we find in the expression, “But this is your hour—when darkness reigns”?
3-1, Read verses 51-53.
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.”
3-2, What did Jesus say to His followers? (51a)
But Jesus answered, “No more of this!”
Jesus stopped this foolish and ineffective bloodshed by saying, “Permit even this.” “He told His disciples who had relied on violence, “No more of this!”
And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.
Jesus healed Malchus’ ear right away.
Jesus did not want the disciples to come to his defense through physical force.
Jesus took charge of the situation, primarily to protect his disciples.
He stopped their act of passion. He also healed the man whose ear had been cut off. Jesus was different than his disciples.
Jesus had the spiritual power and authority to rule over the situation, even while being arrested.
In contrast to the use of force and the threatening attitude of those who arrest him, Jesus exercised compassion, healing the injury of a wounded enemy.
Jesus came into this world to demonstrate God’s love and to do God’s will.
How could he possibly love His enemies and care about His immature disciples in this extreme time of agony?
It came from prayer. His prayer prepared him to meet his enemies with calm and resolution.
Ephesians 2:14-18 reads,
“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”
John 14:27 reads,
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Isaiah 9:6-7 reads,
“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
Praise Jesus our Lord who called Himself as PEACE. May the Lord heal America and all nations from violence, hatred, and hostility by accepting Jesus!
3-3, What did He say to the leaders of a crowd after healing the servant? (52b-53)
“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.”
Then Jesus made it very clear to everyone that he was not leading a rebellion. Jesus did not allow his messianic ministry to be misunderstood in such a way.
Jesus was a Bible teacher and a shepherd for his people. He taught the word of God publicly and openly. He had no hidden agenda.
The religious leaders could find no fault with Jesus.
3-4, What meaning can we find in the expression, “But this is your hour—when darkness reigns”?
They were driven by the power of darkness, the devil. And for an hour, darkness reigned---with God’s permission.
The Jewish leadership is a symbol of darkness, for they were full of hatred. They were irrational.
But Jesus reasoned with them, pointing out that he had never tried to arouse a rebellion and that he had always worked openly in the daylight.
Jesus tried to help them realize that they were under the power of darkness. Jesus faced the forces of darkness all alone.
He did not put up a fight because now was the time for Jesus to do to Him what they wanted to do all along – to arrest and kill Him.
By all outward appearance it would seem to be their hour, not Jesus’. But it was God’s hour and Jesus’ hour, for Jesus fully obeyed God’s will.
No one understood him or helped him except his Father God. Yet we see that Jesus was full of the love of God.
Jesus overcame hatred with love and darkness with light. It was through his prayer.
So Jesus could face the ordeal of his arrest with wisdom and strength. He was not a victim. Rather He ruled over the situation.
Although Jesus was arrested by the religious leaders, Jesus was the true victor in the sight of God and men.
Events that seem to make him a passive figure of fate actually reflect his compassionate, submissive actions for God.
Conclusion
Through this short passage, we were able to observe who Jesus is and what Jesus chose to do at the time of agony. Jesus is “Prince of Peace” as Isaiah pointed out in his book. In great contrast, Peter tried to cope with hostile atmosphere by using a sword, for he might have been following an eye for an eye and tooth to tooth according to the Old Testament. But Jesus showed a new way to submit himself to God. Jesus gives us new hope in the hostile environment of our days. Thanks to Jesus, we can be powerful and influential witnesses and servants of peace. No matter how dark and violent this generation might be, let us come to Jesus and His Words of peace so that we may serve young people in our times in order to draw their attention to God’s eternal kingdom. Amen.
One Word: Prince of Peace!
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