Unacceptable – Matthew 26:47-56

I’ll never forget him standing in front of us, having been diagnosed with inoperable cancer and having gone through multiple experimental treatments with only temporary results, and telling us that he was grateful that he had gotten this disease. He spoke of the platform it had given him to share the gospel. It had given doctors a chance to test trial drugs that might end up helping someone else. His wife had written a book about caregiving. It seemed an unacceptable thing for God to allow into the life of this faithful servant of Christ, but he glorified God because of it. It eventually took his life.

Jesus was facing the unacceptable, facing his arrest and excruciating death, and asking God to exempt him from it, but had now come to accept the unacceptable.

While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled. (Matthew 26:47-56 ESV)

Judas is leading a cadre of Roman soldiers (carrying swords) assigned to protect the temple and Jewish temple guards (carrying clubs) because there is a concern that resistance might be given to Jesus’ arrest.  Peter does try resisting but Jesus stops him, knowing it would otherwise lead to Peter’s death and knowing that Scripture had to be fulfilled that Messiah would suffer for the transgressions of his people.  The very thing Jesus had been asking to avoid he now willingly submits to.

Jesus does, however, highlight for those arresting him how easy it would have been for them to arrest him any day and any time he was teaching in the temple.  This, of course, was exactly what they wanted to avoid because they knew the people would have objected.  Jesus is pointing out their cowardice and at the same time re-emphasizing that this happened at the sovereign hand of God and fulfills Scripture.  Psalm 22 talks about David suffering at the hands of his enemies and Jesus, as David’s son and the Messiah, recapitulates David’s history.  Isaiah 53 speaks of the servant of Yahweh suffering in Israel’s place but being considered by Israel as a criminal.

God’s sovereign purposes include the wrongdoings of men and often lead to what we would consider unacceptable consequences, but He uses all this for good to bring about the rescue of the world.

What is God doing in your life right now that seems unacceptable? Do you trust Him to bring good out of it?